Roast Turkey Cooking Times
Based upon what I’ve read in various sources from Elizabeth David to the Sunday Times, I’ve adopted a fast then slow method of cooking meat.
To begin with, smear your turkey with butter then clothe in a layer of fatty bacon.
Then in an oven preheated to 220C / 425F / Gas 7, sear the turkey for 50 minutes.
Then baste the bird with the juices from the pan and cover with foil.
Return to the oven, with the heat reduced to 170C / 325F / Gas 3 for the amount of time as follows depending on the size of the turkey:
| Weight kgs | Weight lbs | Time to cook |
|---|---|---|
| 3.6 | 8 | 1.5 hours |
| 4.5 | 10 | 1.75 hours |
| 5.4 | 12 | 2 hours |
| 6.3 | 14 | 2 hours + 20-30 minutes |
| 7.2 | 16 | 2 hours + 30-40 minutes |
| 8.1 | 18 | 2 hours + 40-50 minutes |
| 9 | 20 | 3 hours |
Baste every 20 to 30 minutes. The end result will be the tastiest, juiciest turkey!
