Everything you need to know about how long it takes to cook a 25-pound turkey in the oven is all right here. You dont need to be a gourmet chef to prep, cook, & serve a juicy on the inside & crispy skin turkey. Ensure it is moist, tender, & ready on time with this easy oven-roasted turkey recipe.
All the tips and tricks on how best to cook a 25-pound turkey in the oven. Keep it moist, juicy, and flavorful at 325° or 350°. No guesswork. You just have to follow this simple recipe & have a great meat thermometer on-hand. The best holiday or Thanksgiving turkey is just a few hours away.
This recipe for a seasoned turkey with lots of flavors couldnt be easier. With a little prep, the oven does all the roasting.
You may want to smoke, deep-fry, or BBQ your turkey and that is great, but the cooking temperature and times will NOT be the same as what I outline below. If you are roasting a turkey and it weighs 25 pounds (stuffing not included in the weight), feel confident this recipe is what you need.[feast_advanced_jump_to]
Be sure your 25-pound turkey is defrosted by the morning of the day you want to cook it. For instance, if you want to roast it on Thanksgiving, I suggest getting it into the refrigerator the Friday before. This is because I love to start the salt dry brine on Sunday and the turkey should not be solid frozen.
When thawing in a refrigerator, it takes 4-5 days to have a fully defrosted turkey that weighs 25 pounds. If you want to brine it, add a few more days to your calendar. This will help you have a turkey that is ready.
Cooking a big 25-pound turkey may seem daunting but with some simple preparation and the right techniques you can have a moist, tender and flavorful centerpiece for your holiday meal. In this article, we’ll walk through a foolproof method for roasting a turkey of this size, from thawing and brining to roasting temps and times. Follow these tips and you’ll have a turkey with crispy golden skin and succulent meat that will wow your guests.
Preparing the Turkey
First, make sure your turkey is completely thawed. The safest way is to thaw it in the fridge for 24 hours per 5 pounds, so for a 25-pounder you’ll need 5 days. Check the turkey a day ahead to be sure. If you’re in a time crunch, you can thaw it in cold water, changing the water every 30 minutes (figure on 5 hours for a 25-pound bird).
Once thawed, pat the turkey dry inside and out with paper towels. Remove the giblets and neck from the cavity. Dry brining the turkey for 12-24 hours is highly recommended, as it seasons the meat and helps it retain moisture as it roasts. Make a brine with 1 cup salt dissolved in 1 gallon of water. Submerge the turkey, cover and refrigerate.
When ready to cook, pat the turkey dry again. Truss the legs together with kitchen string to give the bird a compact shape. Rub the skin all over with softened butter or oil. Season generously inside and out with salt, pepper and any other herbs or spices you like. Stuff the cavity with aromatics like onions, celery, apples and fresh herbs.
Oven Roasting Times and Temps
For best results, we recommend roasting the turkey at a moderate 350°F. This allows the interior to cook through without over-browning the exterior. Figure on about 13 minutes per pound. A 25-pound turkey will need about 5 hours 15 minutes total roasting time.
Use a v-shaped roasting rack inside a large roasting pan. Tent the turkey loosely with foil for the first 2 hours of roasting. This prevents it from over-browning. For the last 3 hours, remove the foil so the skin gets beautifully browned and crispy.
Baste the turkey every 30 minutes with the juices pooling in the bottom of the pan. If the pan gets dry, add a bit of chicken or turkey stock. Turn the roasting pan a couple times during cooking for even browning.
An instant-read thermometer is crucial for determining when your turkey is done. The thickest part of the breast should reach 165°F, and the thighs 175°F. If the breast is getting too brown before the thighs are done, tent it with foil.
Once it reaches the target temperature, remove the turkey from the oven and let rest 30-60 minutes before carving. This allows the juices to redistribute for moister meat.
Estimating Turkey Servings
A good rule of thumb is to estimate 1 to 1 1⁄2 pounds of turkey per person, factoring in that you’ll have ample leftovers. For a 25-pound bird, that means about 16-20 generous servings.
If you have a smaller gathering, carve what you’ll eat right away and refrigerate or freeze the rest in convenient portions to enjoy later. Reheating leftover turkey is simple, whether roasted whole, simmered in soup or gravy, or added to casseroles, sandwiches and more. With a big roasted turkey, you’ll eat well for days!
Helpful Turkey Roasting Tips
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Thaw fully in the refrigerator or in cold water before roasting. Do not roast a frozen turkey.
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Dry brining seasons the meat and helps retain moisture. Dissolve 1 cup salt per 1 gallon water, submerge turkey 12-24 hrs.
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Allow 13 minutes per pound at 350°F for stuffed or unstuffed birds. A 25-lb turkey needs ~5 hrs 15 mins.
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Use a roasting rack in a pan. Tent loosely with foil halfway, then remove foil to brown the skin.
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Baste every 30 minutes with pan juices. Add a little broth if needed to prevent pan drying out.
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Check temperature in breast and thighs with an instant-read thermometer before removing turkey from oven.
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Let rest 30-60 minutes before carving to allow juices to redistribute for moister meat.
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Estimate about 1 – 1 1⁄2 pounds of turkey per person, with leftovers. A 25-lb bird serves ~16-20.
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Refrigerate or freeze leftovers in portions to add to soups, casseroles, sandwiches, salads and more!
Cooking a large turkey is easier than you think with the right techniques. We hope these step-by-step instructions give you the confidence to roast a fabulous 25-pound bird this holiday season that will become a new family tradition. Let us know how your big turkey turns out!
Time & Temperature for 25-Pound Turkey
You can cook a turkey at either 325° or 350° in the oven. Below is the information on how long to cook a turkey depending on the temperature and timing you want to use. Whether your turkey is unstuffed or full of stuffing, here are how many hours it will take to roast in the oven so it is ready on time for your Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, or other holiday meal.
I recommend cooking your turkey both covered and uncovered. I like to loosely tent foil over the turkey for the first half of the cooking process. Once it is halfway done, I remove the foil and let the skin begin browning so it is crispy and amazing.
Always use a meat thermometer to check internal temperatures when cooking a turkey. I like to use an instant-read thermometer. I prefer this over leaving one in the turkey the entire time it cooks.
An instant-read thermometer is the best way to check that your turkey is ready. With an instant-read thermometer, you can check several places on your turkey in a few seconds. Its best to check the breast, thigh, & stuffing if your bird is stuffed. These recommendations for checking doneness are even shared by Butterball.
ALL TIMES SHARED HERE ARE ESTIMATES – EVERY TURKEY, OVEN TEMPERATURE, ROASTING PAN, ELEVATION, AND MORE CAN ALTER THE COOKING TIMES.
Once your 25-pound turkey is in the pan and ready to go into the oven, make sure you set a timer to be sure you check it on time. If you are cooking the turkey at 325°, it will take 5 ½ – 6 hours to cook. At 350°, it will take 5-5 ½ hours. Place your turkey covered in foil in the oven and set a timer for 2 ½ hours.
Once the halfway point is done, remove the foil so the turkey can cook uncovered for the final cooking time. I suggest using an instant-read thermometer and starting checking the thickest part of the thigh after another 2 ½ hours. You want the turkey to reach an internal temperature of 175° at the thigh.
Remember that at 325° it will take 30-60 minutes longer for the turkey to cook than if you cooked it at 350°. This is for a turkey without stuffing.
- 350° a 25-lb turkey takes 5-5 ½ hours to cook in the oven
- 325° a 25-lb turkey takes 5 ½ – 6 hours to cook in the oven
25-Pound Turkey in a Roasting Bag
If you like to cook your turkey in a bag, such as Reynolds bag, here is how long it will take for a 25-lb turkey. Cooking a turkey in an oven bag does speed up the cooking time. Since a turkey cooked in one of them cooks faster, I do not recommend stuffing a turkey when you cook in a bag.
Wondering how to cook a large turkey faster. A roasting bag is a way to go. When cooking a 25-pound unstuffed turkey in an oven bag at 350°, it takes 4 – 4 ½ hours. I suggest starting to check the internal temperature of the turkey at the 3 ½ -hour mark. If the thickest part of the thigh is 175°, it is done.
Any sized turkey, chicken, roast, steak, etc will stay juicier if you let it rest before slicing into it. What that means for a 25-pound turkey is that make sure you add some resting time to your overall prep and cooking calculations.
The recipe card below adds an hour for resting time. Once the turkey comes out of the oven, let it rest on the counter loosely covered with foil. This final hour is a great time to prep and cook other dishes in your oven that is now empty and already preheated – perfect!
If you have decided that next time you need a smaller turkey and wondering if it will save time, here are some great guides. For turkeys that weigh less than 25 pounds, these cooking times by temperature will help for your next holiday meal.
How to cook a PERFECT 25 pound Buttered Turkey for Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter!
FAQ
How long does it take to bake a 25 pound turkey?
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Weight
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Cook Time (Unstuffed)
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Cook Time (Stuffed)
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10-18 lbs.
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3-3½ hrs.
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3¾-4½ hrs.
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18-22 lbs.
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3½-4 hrs.
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4½-5 hrs.
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22-24 lbs.
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4-4½ hrs.
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5-5½ hrs.
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24-30 lbs.
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4½-5 hrs.
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5½-6¼ hrs.
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What is an acceptable method for cooking a 25 pound turkey?
How long does it take to cook a 25 lb turkey without stuffing?