Countdown to Thanksgiving: Cooking the Turkey

This article may give readers some idea about how long to cook a turkey. Please note that how long to cook a turkey depends upon a number of variables such as the size of turkey and cooking temperature etc.

Posted by Diane Van, Manager, USDA's Meat and Poultry Hotline, on November 23, 2010 at 12:28 PM

November is the busiest month of the year for those of us on the USDA Meat & Poultry Hotline. During the week of Thanksgiving, we get lots of questions about how to safely cook a turkey. Here are answers to the questions we hear most often.

How can I tell when the turkey is done?

Whether you roast, brine, deep fry or smoke your turkey, always use a food thermometer to check the temperature of the meat. You won’t overcook your turkey, and you can ensure it has been cooked to a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F to destroy bacteria and prevent foodborne illness. Check the temperature in the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast. If the turkey is stuffed, the stuffing must also reach 165 °F.

How long to cook a turkey?

Use the Turkey Cooking Time Chart to determine how long to cook your turkey. These times are approximate and based on fresh or thawed birds at a refrigerator temperature of 40 °F or bel
Read More:Countdown to Thanksgiving: Cooking the Turkey

Countdown to Thanksgiving: Cooking the Turkey

Stuff turkeys with ham sandwiches and chocolate, first graders say

Students in Christi Reed’s first grade class submitted their thoughts on how to cook a turkey for Thanksgiving.
    Cook the turkey in the pan at 100 degrees for 400 minutes. I help mom make mashed potatoes, corn and brownies and macaroni, too. Cut the turkey and gobble it down!
    Arica Weis

    I am putting flour and I am going to put in bananas, corn, a ham sandwich and nuts in it. At 1000 degrees I will the turkey on the oven. I am going to set the “stuff” at the table and everybody can come and eat all the turkey and food.
    Meric Veloz

    Put the turkey on a cooking sheet. Put in 1 cup of baking powder. Start the temperature on the stove at 1,00,000 degrees. Put chocolate in it. Cook it in the oven. Take it out of the oven and cut it and eat it.
    Kinzie Kolb

    I would put the turkey on the platter and put the temperature on the oven at 50 degrees. I will put seasoning on the turkey. Wait for it to cook for 20 minutes. Take the turkey out of oven and let it cool.
    Laney Bergstrom

    Put the turkey on a pan. Cook it at 100 degrees for 3 minutes. Take out of oven and cut with a knife. Place cut turkey on a plate and eat!
    Courtney Swemline

    Put the turkey at 40 degrees in the oven with carrots and broccoli. Cook it for 24 minutes. It is done when it is brown.
    Lucas Kessinger

    Put the turkey on the stove a 6000 degrees. Mix a kit-kat, twix, carrots, and strawberries. Put them on the turkey. Water it. Let it cook 6000 minutes.
    Carson Nodine

    Put the turkey in the oven with carrots and boccoli. The temperature is 200 degrees. The turkey is brown when it is in the oven.
    Cameron Tejeda

    Bake a turkey in a pot with lots of ingredients, like carrots, grapes, peas, apples, and blueberries. Cook for 20 minutes.
    Zoey Larson
Read More:Stuff turkeys with ham sandwiches and chocolate, first graders say

Stuff turkeys with ham sandwiches and chocolate, first graders say

Butterball Turkey Talk-Line: 'The West Wing's' President Bartlet asks about stuffing

Have a Thanksgiving or turkey-related question? Don't worry, the best of us do, even the president.

We're talking about President Bartlet (Martin Sheen) of "The West Wing" of course, although we're sure Obama isn't above seeking help during the holidays either.

On a special Thanksgiving-themed episode of "The West Wing," Bartlet discovers the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line (1-800-BUTTERBALL), which Charlie (Dule Hill) calls the "Butterball hotline."

"God, I love my country," says Bartlet. We agree.

The president then proceeds to call and stay on hold until he reaches a helpful poultry expert and then asks some tricky questions about stuffing. Our favorite line about whether or not cooking stuffing inside a turkey could kill his guests: "I'm not saying that's necessarily a deal-breaker."
Read More:Butterball Turkey Talk-Line: 'The West Wing's' President Bartlet asks about stuffing

Butterball Turkey Talk-Line: 'The West Wing's' President Bartlet asks about stuffing

Butterball Turkey, Twinkies, Wonder Bread Agree To Use Less Salt

NEW YORK — The makers of Butterball turkey, Twinkies and Wonder Bread have agreed to use less salt in some products as part of a national campaign against high blood pressure.

New York City health officials announced Tuesday that six more big food companies, including Butterball and Hostess, had joined an effort to cut salt levels in packaged foods by 25 percent over the next five years.

The city and other health departments and medical groups across the country are trying to persuade the nation's food manufacturers to voluntarily use less salt. To date, 22 have signed on to the initiative.

Also joining Tuesday were pretzel and chips maker Snyder's of Hanover, the sausage maker Premio, the tomato and bean packer Furmano's and Delhaize America, which operates 1,600 East Coast supermarkets.

Everyone needs at least some salt, but most Americans consume double the recommended daily amount. Too much salt can lead to high blood pressure, which can be deadly.

By some estimates, cutting the nation's salt intake by the initiative's goal of 20 percent could prevent thousands of deaths each year.

Food manufacturers are traditionally wary about tinkering with tried-and-true recipes, and the initiative asks for subtle changes in product lines that could lose salt without a big effect on taste.

"It's not even about products that taste salty ... A lot of it is about hidden salt," said Dr. Sonia Angell, director of the health department's cardiovascular disease prevention program.

She noted that a muffin can have as much salt as a bag of potato chips.
Read More:Butterball Turkey, Twinkies, Wonder Bread Agree To Use Less Salt

Butterball Turkey, Twinkies, Wonder Bread Agree To Use Less Salt

November 24: Midday Fix - Turkey Tips From Butterball

Open Pan Roasting Technique
This cooking method is simple and results in a tender and juicy turkey every time. Use a shallow pan about 2 to 2 1/2 inches deep, and always use a flat rack so the turkey cooks evenly. Spray the turkey with a cooking spray before putting it in the oven. Cook in conventional oven at 325 degrees and start checking for doneness 1/2-hour before recommended end times for a tender and juicy turkey. To prevent overcooking, place a piece of lightweight aluminum foil loosely over the breast and top of the drumsticks when the turkey is 2/3 done.Thaw
Thawing in the refrigerator is the recommended method. For every four pounds of turkey, allow at least one day of thawing in the refrigerator. The refrigerator temperature should be below 40F.
Read More:November 24: Midday Fix - Turkey Tips From Butterball

November 24: Midday Fix - Turkey Tips From Butterball