My amazing turkey!

[3DisneyBuggs]

I am cooking an 18 lb turkey today. It is defrosted and unstuffed. Me and DH decide it should take about 6 hours to cook. I put it in the oven at 9 am at 350. By 12 the timer had popped up saying the bird is done. How is it that I cooked drumsticks last night and they took close to 2 hours but a turkey is done in 3! DH said I should have cooked it at 325. So I am going to let it stay in the oven at 325 until it has cooked at least 4.5 hours. Our meat therm. is in the grill drawer outside. The grill is wrapped for winter so I can't get it out. What do I do- let it cook until it looks burned? The outside is nice and brown now but it can't possibly be cooked.

I hate cooking!

 

[Christine]

Generally, the pop up things are correct; however, sometimes I've had the drumsticks not be done enough and another 30 minutes will do it. I wouldn't keep it in there for too much longer.

It will also continue to "cook" for about 30 minutes after you remove it.

 

[CarolG]

If you haven't already, cover it loosely with foil to keep it from browning any more than it already has.


Mmmmm, turkey! What are you having with it?

 

[minnieandme]

3 hours to cook an 18 lb turkey just doesn't sound right. That would mean that 6 lbs cooked every hour which is impossible in a regular oven. Was the thermometer in right?

 

[brasswillow]

Could you run out and get another thermometer? It would be worth the hassle rather than risking getting sick.

Mmmm turkey!

 

[MareQ]

Grab the leg and wiggle it - if it moves freely and feels like you coudl just pull it off- the bird is done - if it's still stiff - not done. You can also poke a hole with a skewer deep into the thigh - if the juice rune clear - done - pink/red- not done.

 

[mickeyboat]

http://www.hormel.com/templates/knowledge/knowledge.asp?catitemid=56&id=644

This site says 18 lb. turkey should take 4 1/4 to 4 1/2 hours at 325. Good idea to leave it in a little longer.

Denae

 

[piratesmate]

Did you by any chance cover the turkey? I often do an unstuffed 16 lb turkey in about 3.5 hours...and the meat is falling off the bone...all of it, not just the legs. I start mine at 425 for 20 min & then lower it to 275 for the rest of the time. But my turkey roaster has a lid and I always use it. It really screws up the time tables they give you but it's oh-so-good that way! Oh - and it always turns brown too - even though it's covered.

 

[3DisneyBuggs]

Well the turkey is still in there. I just feel better letting it cook the 4.5 hours the charts say it takes. It is very brown but I've covered it with foil. The leg bone does move apart easily and the juices in the open cavity are clear. I'm taking him out in 10 minutes. Then i gues he'll be sitting out until 5. is that safe??

 

[megan4777]

My mom cooked a 24lb turkey last Thanksgiving and it took 2hrs less than it should have. We ended up eating at 11:45 am instead of 1:45!

Of course we did eat again later so there weren't many leftovers the next day.