Nothing beats the taste of farm-to-table turkey. When you buy a frozen turkey you can avoid the last-minute run to the grocery store when you’re preparing to host friends and family. Freezing preserves a turkey’s freshness and delays spoilage. However, before stuffing your frozen turkey and cooking it, you have to prepare and thaw it. If you’ve never worked with a frozen turkey, here’s everything to know about how to prepare a turkey without compromising kitchen safety or messing up your oven or outdoor grill.
Use this calculator to determine how much turkey you’ll need. Number of People = Pounds of Turkey
* Whole turkeys smaller than 8 lbs. are hard to find. Consider a turkey breast for feeding 2-4 people.
Cooking a turkey can seem daunting, especially when using a new brand that you aren’t familiar with. Honeysuckle White turkeys are known for their high quality and great taste. But to get the most out of your Honeysuckle White turkey, it’s important to cook it properly so it turns out juicy, flavorful and tender.
So how long does it take to cook a Honeysuckle turkey to perfection? The answer depends on the size of your turkey. Honeysuckle White provides roasting times for turkeys of different weights cooked in a conventional oven at 325°F.
Honeysuckle White Turkey Roasting Times
Here are the recommended roasting times for Honeysuckle White whole turkeys of different sizes when cooked in a conventional oven at 325°F:
- 14 to 18 pounds: 3 3/4 hours to 4 1/4 hours
- 18 to 20 pounds: 4 1/4 to 4 1/2 hours
- 20 to 24 pounds: 4 1/2 hours to 5 hours
- 24 to 28 pounds: 5 to 5 1/2 hours
As you can see, the roasting time increases as the turkey weight goes up. A smaller 14-18 lb turkey may take only 3 3/4 to 4 1/4 hours to fully cook. But a large 24-28 lb turkey could take up to 5 1/2 hours in the oven.
Always rely on the roasting time range for the specific size of your Honeysuckle White turkey to determine the approximate cooking time.
Factors That Affect Cook Times
While the roasting time ranges provided by Honeysuckle White are very helpful guidelines, there are several factors that can impact the actual time it takes your turkey to finish cooking.
1. Stuffing
Stuffing a turkey adds extra volume and mass that takes longer to heat through. An unstuffed or lightly stuffed turkey will cook faster than one that is heavily stuffed. If heavily stuffing your turkey, expect the cooking time to be towards the higher end of the range.
2. Thawing
A fully thawed turkey will cook much faster than one that is still partially frozen. Ensure your turkey is completely thawed before roasting.
3. Oven Temperature
The oven temperature used for roasting makes a major difference in cook times. Honeysuckle White’s times are based on roasting at 325°F. Higher oven temperatures will decrease the time while lower temps will increase it.
4. Oven Accuracy
Not all oven thermostats are properly calibrated Use an oven thermometer placed inside your oven to check the true temperature. Ovens that run hot or cold will impact cook times
5. Pan and Rack Position
Use a shallow roasting pan and rack as recommended by Honeysuckle White and place the turkey breast side up. Keep the pan uncovered for crispy skin.
6. Basting and Tenting
Basting the turkey as it cooks adds extra moisture. Tenting with foil prevents over-browning. Both can affect cook times.
7. Turkey Shape and Density
The specific shape and density of each turkey can lead to variances in cooking. Some may take a bit longer than others of the same weight.
Checking Doneness
With so many factors impacting cook time, you can’t rely on time alone to determine doneness. Use a reliable meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the thickest part of the breast and thigh. Once both register 165°F the turkey is fully cooked and safe to eat.
For optimal safety, Honeysuckle White recommends sticking with their provided roasting times as a starting point. But always use a food thermometer to confirm the turkey has reached 165°F internally before removing it from the oven.
Let the fully cooked turkey rest for 10-15 minutes before carving for better moisture retention. The internal temperature will continue rising 5-10 degrees during the rest time.
Cooking Methods Beyond Conventional Ovens
The Honeysuckle White cooking times are for conventional ovens. If using another cooking method, adjust accordingly:
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Convection Oven: Convection ovens cook faster due to increased hot air circulation. Reduce temperature to 300°F and check turkey earlier.
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Grilling: Whole turkeys can be successfully grilled over indirect medium heat. Use a 2-zone fire with no direct heat under the turkey. Close the lid for increased heat.
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Smoking: Figure 12-15 minutes per pound at 225-250°F for smoking a whole turkey. Use wood chips for flavor.
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Air Fryers: Air fryers can cook a whole turkey breast or other pieces. Adjust time and temperature as needed.
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Deep Frying: Figure 3-4 minutes per pound at 350°F to deep fry a turkey. Use a turkey fryer for safety.
No matter what cooking method you use, always rely on a meat thermometer over cook times to determine doneness. Cook to an internal temp of 165°F in the breast and thigh for safe, properly cooked turkey.
Moist and Delicious Results
Cooking a Honeysuckle White turkey using their recommended roasting times for your turkey’s size, checking internal temps with a thermometer, and allowing the turkey to rest before carving will reward you with a tender, juicy, and satisfying holiday meal.
Proper roasting brings out the signature flavor and quality that makes Honeysuckle White the go-to turkey for Thanksgiving and other occasions. Just follow their guide and you’ll enjoy mouthwatering turkey with your loved ones.
How to Prepare a Whole Turkey
After thawing your whole turkey, you only have to prepare and cook it. Here’s how to prepare turkey for the oven:
- Gather your ingredients – salt, onions, black pepper, orange slices, melted butter, and aromatic herbs (rosemary, bay leaves, thyme, and so on).
- Remove the neck and giblets from inside the turkey cavity and pat the turkey dry with paper towels.
- Stuff the turkey with your orange slices, herbs, and other aromatics.
- Brush the body with the melted butter, then generously season with black pepper and kosher salt.
- Tuck the legs and wings so that the turkey cooks evenly.
- Place the turkey in a pan and wash your hands.
- Let the turkey sit in the fridge for two to three hours to absorb the seasonings.
- If you don’t have two to three hours to spare, you can immediately put the turkey in the oven to cook after prepping it.
For the juiciest and tastiest meat, go the extra mile by brining the turkey before cooking.
Prepare Your Turkey for Roasting
You want to thaw your turkey without causing cross-contamination in your kitchen, so here are your best options:
Our recommended method is refrigerator thawing. However, you’ll have to plan ahead because your turkey won’t be ready for cooking same-day. That’s because it takes approximately 24 hours to thaw four to five pounds of frozen meat, meaning you will need about three days to thaw a 10 to 15-pound bird fully.
Follow these steps to thaw your turkey in the fridge safely:
- Set your fridge to 40°F. Doing this will ensure that your turkey stays safe from harmful bacteria.
- Leave the turkey in its original wrapping and place it in a baking pan with the breast facing upwards. The pan will catch drippings and prevent a mess as the turkey thaws in the fridge.
- Place the pan in the fridge and check on the turkey in 48 hours.
After the turkey has thawed, you can leave it in the fridge for up to two days. However, note that refreezing a turkey after refrigerator thawing may lead to some loss of quality.
Refrigerator Thawing Times 4 to 12 pounds – 1 to 3 days 12 to 16 pounds – 3 to 4 days 16 to 20 pounds – 4 to 5 days 20 to 24 pounds – 5 to 6 days
Cold water thawing is the ideal solution if you need to thaw and cook your turkey on the same day. It can completely thaw a 15-pound turkey within seven to eight hours. That means if you intend on cooking the turkey for dinner, you may need to start cold water thawing as early as the night before but no later than the morning of the cook.
Below are the cold water thawing steps:
- Leave the turkey in its original packaging, then place it in a leak-proof plastic bag. Remove excess air from the leak-proof bag and seal it with the turkey inside. Doing so will help prevent the turkey from absorbing water.
- Fill a large container with regular tap water and put the bagged turkey in it. You must fully submerge the turkey in the water.
- Change the water at least every 30 minutes until the turkey has completely thawed. Changing the water speeds up the thawing process by keeping the turkey in water that’s a higher temperature.
- You can season and cook the turkey immediately after the thawing is complete. If you are not ready to use the meat after it has thawed, put it in a baking pan and store it in a fridge set at 40°F or lower.
Cold Water Thawing Times 4 to 12 pounds – 2 to 6 hours 12 to 16 pounds – 6 to 8 hours 16 to 20 pounds – 8 to 10 hours 20 to 24 pounds – 10 to 12 hours
Do not use hot or warm water to thaw your turkey. Raising the surface of the turkey to above 40 degrees Fahrenheit can trigger bacteria growth as the bird thaws within the bag.
How to Cook a Turkey – Honeysuckle White
FAQ
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