How long to cook a turkey? Enter the weight from the package — or tap a common size — and choose Unstuffed or Stuffed. The calculator shows the roasting time at 325°F, how long to thaw it in the fridge or in cold water, and the temperature to check for. Add the time you want to eat and it works backward to tell you when to put the bird in the oven. Switch to Metric to enter kilograms.

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Estimate only — ovens, roasting pans and birds vary. Times are a guide; the turkey is done only when a food thermometer reads 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part of the thigh, the wing and the breast, and in the center of any stuffing. Never thaw a turkey on the counter.

How it works: roast times follow the USDA chart for a fully thawed turkey in a 325°F (163°C) oven — for example 3¾ to 4¼ hours unstuffed for 14–18 lb, up to about 30 minutes longer when stuffed. Fridge thawing takes about 1 day per 4–5 lb; cold-water thawing about 30 minutes per lb, changing the water every 30 minutes. Oven start time = dinner time − 30 minutes rest − the longest roast time. For a turkey breast under 8 lb, allow about 1½ to 3¼ hours.