As the holidays approach, it’s time to start thinking about the star of your festive feast – the turkey! And when it comes to juicy, delicious turkey, Jennie-O is a name you can trust. But how exactly do you cook a Jennie-O turkey to golden brown perfection? This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know
Selecting Your Jennie-O Turkey
Jennie-O offers a wide variety of turkey options including:
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Fresh – Never frozen for incredible juiciness, Available in whole turkey or turkey breast
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Frozen – Pre-portioned into a whole turkey or just breast, legs, etc. Allow 1 day per 4-5 lbs to thaw in the fridge.
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Oven Ready – Cooks from frozen! No thawing required. Whole turkeys come pre-bagged and seasoned.
Consider the number of guests, your time constraints, taste preferences and method of cooking when selecting the ideal Jennie-O turkey for your feast.
Prepping Your Turkey
Before cooking, remove the neck and giblets from inside the turkey cavity. Rinse the turkey under cool water and pat completely dry with paper towels.
For whole turkeys, you can truss the legs together with kitchen string to hold its shape for even cooking. Tuck the wing tips under the body.
Rub the skin all over with oil or softened butter. This helps the skin get beautifully browned and crispy.
Generously season under and on top of the skin with salt, pepper and any other desired seasonings. Stuff aromatics like onions, garlic and herbs into the cavity to impart flavor while cooking.
Roasting Tips for Whole Turkey
Roasting is the classic way to cook a whole turkey. Follow these tips for roasting success:
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Preheat oven to 325°F. Use a lower temperature for moist, tender meat.
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Place turkey breast up on a rack in a roasting pan. Tent loosely with foil to prevent over-browning.
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Roast until a thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh reaches 180°F, and the breast is 165°F.
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Allow to rest 20 minutes before carving for juicy meat.
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Roast approximately 15-18 minutes per pound for an unstuffed turkey. Add 15-30 minutes if stuffed.
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Baste periodically with pan drippings, broth, or melted butter for added moisture and flavor.
Oven Ready Turkey Tips
Jennie-O Oven Ready turkeys cook straight from the freezer for true convenience. Follow these easy steps:
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Preheat oven to 375°F. Do not thaw the turkey.
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Remove outer bag and baking net. Leave inner cooking bag on.
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Place turkey in a pan, cut slits in bag. Pull bag away from breast.
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Roast approximately 4 hours until a thermometer reaches 165°F breast, 180°F thigh.
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Let rest 15 minutes before removing cooking bag and carving.
Grilling Your Jennie-O Turkey
Grilling imparts delicious smoky flavor. Try these tips:
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Use a whole turkey breast, bone in or out, for easiest grilling.
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Cook over indirect medium heat. Place breast skin side up on grill, not directly over fire.
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Grill approximately 8-10 minutes per pound until 165°F internal temperature.
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Rotate periodically and mop with sauce to prevent drying out. Add soaked wood chips to coals for smoky flavor.
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Let rest 10 minutes before slicing for juicy meat.
Deep Frying Jennie-O Turkey
Deep fried turkey is crispy on the outside, tender and juicy inside.
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Only fry small whole turkeys up to 12 lbs or turkey pieces. Do not fry a large whole bird.
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Heat oil to 350-375°F in a large propane turkey fryer. Use cooking oil, not butter or shortening.
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Lower turkey slowly into hot oil using the hook and rope. Fry 3-4 minutes per pound.
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Monitor oil temp and turn turkey occasionally as it fries until golden brown and 165°F breast, 180°F thigh temp.
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Drain on a cooling rack before serving. Be extremely careful of hot oil.
Get Creative with Parts
Jennie-O offers pre-portioned turkey parts perfect for easy meals beyond whole roasted birds.
Turkey Breast – Roast, grill, sear, air fry or slice for sandwiches
Turkey Legs – Braise, grill or roast for hearty drumsticks
Wings – Crisp wings in the air fryer or coat in your favorite flavors
Ground Turkey – Make burgers, meatballs, tacos, chili and so much more
Deli Meat – Craft sandwiches, wraps, flatbreads and more
Safety Tips
Follow these tips for safe handling and cooking:
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Refrigerate raw turkey at 40°F or below until ready to cook.
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Wash hands, utensils, cutting boards after touching raw poultry. Avoid cross-contamination.
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Use a food thermometer to ensure safe internal temperatures are reached.
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Do not leave turkey at room temp more than 2 hours after cooking. Refrigerate leftovers within this time.
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Reheat leftovers to minimum 165°F internal temperature. Discard any turkey left out over 2 hours.
With this guide, you can cook a mouthwatering Jennie-O turkey feast! Follow these tips for tender, juicy meat, crispy skin, and delicious flavor your guests will rave about.
How to Cook a Whole Turkey
- Heat oven to 325°F. Remove neck, giblet and gravy packet, if applicable. These may be used to prepare gravy or stuffing.
- The plastic leg clamp should be left on during cooking.
- Place turkey on rack in shallow pan, breast side up, and loosely cover with foil. Remove foil after 1 hour of cooking.
- Roast until timer pops up and turkey is fully-cooked, 180°F as measured by a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh. ALWAYS confirm doneness with a meat thermometer. Juices should run clear.
- Let turkey stand 20 minutes before carving.
- For optimal safety, cook stuffing and turkey separately. If desired, add fully cooked stuffing to cooked turkey just prior to serving.
Approximate Oven Roasting Time at 325°F.
- 8-12 pounds, 3-1/2 hours to 4 hours.
- 12-18 pounds, 4-1/4 hours to 4-3/4 hours.
- 18-22 pounds, 4-1/2 hours to 5 hours.
- 22-24 pounds, 4-3/4 to 5-1/4 hours.
Wash hands and all items that come into contact with uncooked turkey.
Cooking a Turkey Breast
- Preheat oven to 325°F.
- Place turkey breast on a rack in shallow pan.
- Roast skin side up at 325°F, using the times in the chart below and until meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast registers 165°F.
- Juices should run clear.
- Let turkey breast rest for 15 minutes prior to carving.
Approximate oven roasting time at 325°F:
- 3-6 pounds, 2-1/4 to 2-3/4 hours
- 6-8 pounds, 3-1/4 to 3-3/4 hours
Previous How Tos
JENNIE-O® Turkey – How to Cook a Turkey
FAQ
Do you cook a 12 pound turkey at 325 or 350?
Do you cook turkey covered or uncovered?
How to cook Jennie O’ turkey tenderloin in the oven?
How do you cook a Jennie-O ® whole turkey?
How do I cook a JENNIE-O ® whole turkey? Step 1: Heat oven to 325°F. Remove neck, giblet and gravy packet, if applicable. Step 2: The plastic leg clamp should be left on during cooking. Step 3: Place turkey on rack in a shallow pan, breast side up, and loosely cover with foil. Remove foil after 1 hour of cooking.
How do you cook a Jennie-O Turkey Tenderloin?
Now that your Jennie-O Turkey Tenderloin is prepped and ready, it’s time to cook it to perfection: Place the seasoned turkey tenderloin on a baking dish or roasting pan. Insert a meat thermometer in the thickest part of the tenderloin, making sure it doesn’t touch the bone if any. Transfer the baking dish to the preheated oven.
How do you know if a Jennie-O Turkey Tenderloin is cooked?
To ensure that the Jennie-O Turkey Tenderloin is fully cooked, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. The turkey tenderloin is ready when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the tenderloin without touching the bone or pan.
How long does it take to cook a Turkey in the oven?
Place in oven allowing room for bag to expand without touching oven racks or walls. Roast the turkey until a meat thermometer reaches 165°F in the thickest part of the breast and 180°F in the thickest part of the thigh. *Note: meat temperature increases rapidly during last hour of cooking. Cook time: approximately 4 hours at 375°F.