How Long to Roast a Turkey at 275 Degrees for Moist, Juicy Meat

If you were shocked to learn that you could roast a frozen turkey, you’re in for another surprise: You can roast that turkey while you sleep, too.

At a typical roasting temperature (around 325ºF), a large turkey can take upwards of four hours to roast. Add in pulling the bird out of the fridge beforehand to take off the chill, rest time, and carving, and you’re looking at nearly six hours. If you aim to serve your turkey around lunchtime, this means starting things at 7 a.m. If you can feel your blood pressure rising just thinking about it, don’t fret, there’s an easier way: roast the turkey overnight.

The unconventional cooking method of roasting a turkey while you sleep might seem crazy on the outset, but it actually makes a lot of sense. Cooked low and slow, turkey is tender, juicy, and pretty hard to mess up.

Roasting a turkey can seem daunting, especially when it comes to figuring out the time required. Cooking your bird at the right temperature and for the proper duration ensures tender, juicy meat. When roasted at 275 degrees Fahrenheit, you can expect moist, flavorful results. In this article, we’ll go over everything you need to know to roast your turkey perfectly at 275 degrees.

Why Roast at 275 Degrees?

Roasting at a lower temperature like 275 degrees may take longer, but it provides several advantages:

Moist tender meat The slower cooking gives the collagen in the meat time to break down into gelatin keeping the turkey juicy and stopping it from drying out.
Better fat rendering The lower heat gives the fat time to slowly render and baste the meat, rather than simply melting and running off
More even cooking: The turkey cooks more gradually, preventing the outer areas from overcooking while the interior finishes cooking.
Better browning: While high heat can burn the outside before the inside cooks, 275 degrees allows the Maillard reaction to kick in for browned, flavorful skin.
Less smoke: You’ll get less smoking at 275 degrees versus higher temperatures like 325 degrees F.

So for the juiciest, most evenly-cooked and flavored turkey possible, roasting low and slow at 275 degrees is the way to go. Now let’s look at timing.

Calculating Roasting Time

The total roasting time depends on two factors – the size of your turkey and whether it is stuffed or unstuffed. Here are general guidelines:

Unstuffed Turkey

For an unstuffed turkey, the roasting time is simple: plan on cooking for 10 minutes per pound at 275 degrees.

So for examples:

8 lb turkey: 80 minutes
12 lb turkey: 120 minutes (2 hours)
15 lb turkey: 150 minutes (2 hours, 30 minutes)
18 lb turkey: 180 minutes (3 hours)

An unstuffed 15 lb turkey will take around 2 1/2 hours at 275 degrees until it reaches 165 degrees F internally in the thigh.

Stuffed Turkey

For a stuffed turkey, the timing changes because the stuffing adds mass that needs to be cooked through. The general guideline is:

15 minutes per pound for a stuffed turkey

So a 15 lb stuffed turkey will take about 3 3/4 hours (15 lb x 15 minutes per lb = 225 minutes total).

Always use a meat thermometer to confirm the turkey reaches 165 degrees F in the thigh and stuffing reaches 165 degrees F before removing from the oven.

Seasoning and Preparing the Turkey

To ensure delicious flavor, be sure to season both the interior cavity and exterior skin:

Inside the cavity, rub the turkey with salt, pepper, fresh herbs like thyme or sage, and compounds like garlic, onions, or lemon.
Slide your hand between the skin and breast meat to loosen, then rub the meat underneath with butter or oil along with salt and pepper for added moisture and flavor.

Truss the turkey legs together with kitchen string so they don’t overcook. Place the turkey on a roasting rack in a pan to allow air circulation for even cooking.

Maintaining Moisture While Roasting

To prevent the turkey skin from drying out while roasting, use these tips:

Rub the skin with butter or oil before cooking for added moisture. Make sure to get under the skin.
Tent the turkey with aluminum foil after the first 1-2 hours of roasting to prevent excess moisture loss.
Baste the turkey every 45-60 minutes with the juices pooling in the bottom of the pan. Use a baster to collect and distribute them over the top.
Keep the pan partially filled with broth, wine or water to create steam and moisture. Add more liquid as needed.

Following these straightforward time and temperature guidelines will reward you with a perfectly cooked 275 degree roasted turkey with tender, juicy meat. Let the savory aroma fill your kitchen as you celebrate the flavors of the season. Enjoy!

how long to roast a turkey at 275 degrees

How to Cook a Turkey Overnight

When you’re starting to think about going to bed, preheat your oven to somewhere between 170-180ºF. If your oven temperature does not go this low, set it to its coolest setting; anything up to 200ºF is fine. Pull the turkey out of the refrigerator, season it with salt and aromatics, and rub the outside with butter. Set a rack in a roasting pan, fill the pan with about a quart of water, arrange the turkey breast-side up on the rack, and wrap the pan tightly in aluminum foil.
Roast the turkey while you sleep and get ready in the morning (as long as 9-11 hours). Don’t worry about basting; the low temperature and moisture from the water will cook it gently.
Remove the foil and take the turkey’s temperature with an instant-read thermometer. Your end goal: a temperature of 160ºF in the breast and 170-175ºF in the thigh. Keep roasting at a low temperature until it is getting close to these numbers, around 155ºF. Remove the pan from the oven and turn up the heat to 475ºF. Once preheated, roast the turkey until the skin has browned and it is 160ºF in the breast and 170-175ºF in the thigh, about 15-30 minutes.
Let the turkey rest for 20-30 minutes.
Carve and serve!

We tested this with a 14-pound turkey, and it took 10-1/2 hours for it to come to 155ºF, and another 15 minutes for the skin to brown and the temperature to read 160ºF. Do note that smaller birds may dry out a bit if cooked for this long, and don’t take very long to roast to at a conventional temperature, eliminating the problem this overnight method solves. This technique might make sense, however, if you’re roasting a turkey in the neighborhood of 16-20 pounds. For the most freshly-cooked bird possible, plan to tuck in to your Thanksgiving meal around lunchtime.

How long does it take to cook a 12-pound turkey at 275 degrees?

FAQ

How long to cook a 9 lb turkey at 250 degrees?

It can take anywhere from 4 to 12 hours to bake a turkey at 250 degrees, depending on the size of your bird: Plan on 30 minutes per pound. Of course, the larger your turkey is, the less practical this cooking time becomes, so you’ll likely want to set the temperature higher for all but the smallest birds.

Is it better to cook a turkey at 325 or 350?

We recommend roasting turkey at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 13 minutes per pound for an unstuffed turkey. We’ve done the math for you — check out the chart below to determine both turkey cook times and estimated servings (with leftovers!).

Can you cook a turkey at high temperature then lower?

Begin by roasting your turkey at 425°F for 40 to 45 minutes before lowering the temperature of the oven to 350°F for the rest of the cooking time. Like the other method, it’s a good idea to brush the turkey every 15 to 20 minutes with butter or olive oil to help the surface brown and keep the meat moist.

How long to roast a 17 lb turkey?

The simplest way to roast a whole turkey: The most straightforward approach is to roast an unstuffed turkey, breast-side up, for 13 minutes per pound of turkey at 350°.