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Weve cooked a fair number of turkeys over the years at Country Living and, without tooting our horns too much, weve got the technique pretty dialed in. (We can even help you fix a burnt turkey if need be.) So follow these simple instructions, and youll be carving a perfectly browned bird worthy of a Norman Rockwell painting this year.
Cooking a stuffed turkey for the holidays can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. With some simple guidelines, you can roast a moist, flavorful 13 pound stuffed turkey with confidence.
Overview of Cooking Times
Here is a quick overview of approximate cook times for a stuffed 13 pound turkey:
- 13 pound turkey – Cook for about 4 to 4 1/4 hours at 325°F
- Expect about 10-13 servings with leftovers
These times can vary based on oven temperature and whether the turkey is fully defrosted. It’s always best to use a meat thermometer to determine doneness.
Step-by-Step Guide
Follow these tips for roasting a perfect 13 pound stuffed turkey
1. Thaw the Turkey Completely
- Allow 1 day of thawing for every 4-5 lbs of turkey in the refrigerator
- A 13 lb turkey will need 2-3 full days to thaw
- Thaw in the fridge, not on the counter to prevent bacterial growth
2. Remove the Giblets
- Check the inner cavities for a bag of giblets (neck, heart, gizzard, liver)
- The giblets can be used for making gravy or stock
3. Prepare the Aromatics
- Stuff the cavity with chopped aromatics like onion, celery, apples, and herbs
- This adds moisture and flavor
- You can make a classic bread stuffing or cornbread stuffing too
4. Truss the Turkey
- Trussing brings the legs together and wings in close to the body
- This allows for more even cooking
- Use kitchen string or silicone trussing bands
5. Prepare the Turkey Skin
- Gently loosen the skin from the breast meat with your fingers
- Rub room temperature butter or oil under the skin
- Drizzle over the skin as well
- Sprinkle with poultry seasoning or other dried herbs
6. Roast the Turkey
- Place turkey breast-side up on a roasting rack in a pan
- Roast in a 325°F oven
- Use a probe thermometer in the thickest part of the breast and thigh
- Roast until it reaches 165°F in the stuffing, 170°F in the breast, and 175°F in the thigh
- For a 13 lb stuffed turkey, this will take around 4 to 4 1/4 hours
7. Let It Rest
- Remove turkey from the oven and let rest 20-30 minutes
- This allows juices to redistribute for easier carving
- The internal temperature will rise about 5°F as it rests
8. Carve and Serve
- Carve the turkey by slicing the breast meat off the bone
- Cut the wings, legs and thighs into pieces
- Arrange on a platter with stuffing and gravy
- Enjoy this flavorful holiday meal!
Turkey Roasting Tips
- Use a roasting rack to elevate the turkey for even cooking
- Maintain oven temperature by only opening the door when basting or checking temp
- Baste every 30 minutes with pan drippings for added moisture and flavor
- Cover breast with foil if it browns too quickly
- Letting the turkey rest is key for properly cooked meat
Food Safety
Take these precautions when handling raw turkey
- Refrigerate immediately and cook within 2 days
- Wash hands and surfaces after touching raw turkey
- Use a food-safe meat thermometer to verify doneness
- Cook stuffing to 165°F whether in the bird or cooked separately
- Do not leave turkey or stuffing out for more than 2 hours after cooking
- Refrigerate all leftovers within 2 hours
Make Ahead Turkey Tips
You can prep your turkey a day or two in advance
- Thaw turkey in the fridge 1-2 days before
- Remove giblets and rinse turkey when thawing is complete
- Prepare aromatics and mix stuffing (but don’t stuff the turkey)
- Brine turkey for added moisture and flavor
- Cover turkey and store in the fridge until ready to roast
With some planning and these simple tips, you can roast a delicious 13 pound stuffed turkey for your holiday meal. Monitor the cooking times and temperature and let your turkey rest before carving for perfect results. Enjoy this festive centerpiece!
How Long to Cook an Unstuffed Turkey (Recommended)
The first thing you should do before you embark on cooking a turkey is invest in an instant-read thermometer. Cooking by temperature is the best and safest way to know when your turkey is ready. Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the bird between the breast and part of the thigh (being sure not to hit bone). Its done when the thermometer just reaches 165ºF.
In general, you should plan to cook a turkey for around 15-20 minutes per pound of turkey at 325ºF to get to that temp. But thats only an estimate! The time will vary based on the exact size of the bird, as well as the size of the oven and how accurate your temperature gauge works, and whether or not the bird is stuffed. Thats why we always recommend you use a thermometer to be safe. Heres a quick breakdown of weights and times. At 325°F for an unstuffed turkey:
- 10-12 pounds: cook 2 3/4 to 3 hours
- 15-16 pounds: cook 3 1/2 to 4 hours
- 18-20 pounds: cook 4 to 4 1/2 hours
For a turkey that is 20-pounds or more, settle in for the afternoon. This could take around 4 1/2 to 5 hours.
One note: We actually dont recommend you cook the stuffing inside the turkey (and the USDA agrees). It increases the chances the turkey will cook unevenly. It also increases the Thanksgiving turkey cook time and will dry the turkey out.
But most importantly: you miss out on the delicious crispy-crunchy bits that you get when the stuffing is cooked in a pan or dish! Why would you give that up? We have plenty of delicious stovetop and baked stuffing recipes that will impress.
First: Thaw the Turkey
If youre still selecting the right turkey to cook, well say smaller is actually better. Itll cook faster and more evenly, and the meat will be more tender. If youve got a big crowd, you can even cook two small turkeys.
Either way, if your turkey is frozen, youll need to thaw it. The best and safest way to do this is in the fridge, and youll want to start several days ahead. Here are some general thaw times:
- Under 7 pounds: 1 day
- 8 to 11 pounds: 2 days
- 12 to 15 pounds: 3 days
- 16 to 20 pounds: 4 days
- 21 pounds or more: 5 days at least.
If you need a quicker method, check out our Turkey Thawing Guide.
How long does it take to cook a 13 pound turkey?
FAQ
Is it better to cook a stuffed turkey at 325 or 350?
What is the best temperature to cook a 13 lb turkey?
How long to cook a 14 lb stuffed turkey in a Reynolds bag?
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OVEN BAG TURKEY COOKING TIMES The cooking times are consistent with food safety guidelines for cooking poultry.
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Turkey Weight
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Cooking Time @ 350°F
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10 to 12 pounds
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1 1/2 to 2 hours
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12 to 16 pounds
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2 to 2 1/4 hours
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16 to 20 pounds
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2 1/4 to 2 1/2 hours
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How many will a 13 lb turkey feed?
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Number of Guests
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Turkey Weight–
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10
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13lbs
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12
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15lbs
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15
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20lbs
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20
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25lbs
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How long does a stuffed turkey take to cook?
A stuffed turkey cooks at a rate of 15 minutes per pound in a 350ºF oven. At this rate, a 6-pound turkey will take 90 minutes (or 1 1/2 hours). A 15-pound turkey will take 225 minutes (or 3 hours and 45 minutes). Be sure to check that both the stuffing and the turkey reach an internal temperature of at least 165°F to prevent food-borne illness.
How long does it take to cook a 6 pound turkey?
At this rate, a 6-pound turkey will take 78 minutes (or 1 hour and 18 minutes). A 15-pound turkey will take 195 minutes (or 3 hours and 15 minutes). We generally prefer to cook stuffing separately from the turkey, but if you decide to cook it inside, know that a stuffed turkey will take a little bit longer to cook through than an unstuffed turkey.
How long does it take to cook a Turkey at 325?
These times are based on cooking a room temperature turkey at 325 degrees F the entire time; plan on 10 to 12 minutes per pound. These times are based on starting a room temperature turkey at high temp (450 degrees F), then lowering it to 325 degrees F after 45 minutes to 1 hour (recommended for crispy skin).
How long does it take to cook a thawed Turkey?
While the best temperature to cook a turkey is always 325°F, how much time your bird will need in the oven will depend on its weight. An unstuffed 8-pound turkey can take less than 3 hours, while a stuffed 24-pound turkey can take over 5 hours. Here’s how long it takes to cook a fully thawed turkey. Can You Cook a Frozen Turkey?