Turkey Cooking Time Calculator
Enter the weight of your turkey, as it goes into the oven including any stuffing, for a full set of timings.
Use the weight as it goes in the oven, including any stuffing you have added.
Answer
3 hr 10 min at 180°C
What to do
- 1Prepare the whole turkeyTake the meat out of the fridge, season it and get the tin ready.
- 2Preheat the ovenHeat the oven to 180°C.
- 3Cook at 180°CCook for 190 minutes.
- 4Check whether it is doneCheck the thickest part reads 75°C or more.
- 5Rest the meatCover loosely with foil and rest for 45 minutes. Resting is part of cooking, not dead time.
- 6Carve15 minutes.
How to check it is done
- Birds over 4.5kg: 20 minutes per kg plus 90 minutes at 180°C (160°C fan).
Next step
Food safety
- Poultry must be cooked all the way through. Cut into the thickest part and check it is steaming hot, the juices run clear and there is no pink meat. With a food thermometer, the middle should reach 70°C for two minutes, or an equivalent combination such as 75°C for 30 seconds.
- Cooking times are a guide only. Ovens, joints and starting temperatures vary, so always check the food is cooked before serving rather than relying on the clock.
Source: Food Standards Agency, Cooking your food: cooking poultry and pork (GOV.UK) · Reviewed 2026-09-11 · Guidance version 2.0.0
Source: Standard UK roasting guidance (Food Standards Agency doneness advice, common UK joint timings) · Reviewed 2026-09-10 · Guidance version 1.1.0
Reference and detail
Weigh it after stuffing
Stuffing adds weight and slows the heat reaching the middle of the bird. Always weigh the turkey once it is stuffed and use that figure.
Resting a big bird
A large turkey can rest for 45 minutes to an hour, covered with foil and a tea towel. That gives you the oven back for roast potatoes and gravy.
Questions and answers
Questions about cooking a whole turkey
Do I weigh the turkey before or after stuffing it?
Weigh it after stuffing. Stuffing adds weight and slows the heat reaching the middle of the bird, so the weight you enter above should be the oven-ready weight, stuffing included.
How do I check a whole turkey is properly cooked?
Check the thickest part of the thigh, away from the bone: the juices should run clear with no pink meat. A thermometer should read at least 75°C in the thickest part.
Food safety
Poultry must be cooked all the way through. Cut into the thickest part and check it is steaming hot, the juices run clear and there is no pink meat. With a food thermometer, the middle should reach 70°C for two minutes, or an equivalent combination such as 75°C for 30 seconds.
Source: Food Standards Agency, Cooking your food: cooking poultry and pork (GOV.UK) · Reviewed 2026-09-11 · Guidance version 2.0.0
How long does a large turkey need to rest?
A large bird can rest for 45 minutes to an hour, covered with foil and a tea towel to hold the heat in. That long rest is deliberate. It frees the oven for roast potatoes and gravy while the turkey holds its temperature.
Should I cover the turkey with foil while it roasts?
A loose foil tent over the breast for the first part of cooking stops it browning too fast before the legs are done, then remove it for the last part of the time so the skin colours and crisps.
What size turkey do I need for Christmas Day?
That depends on how many people you are feeding and whether you want leftovers.
How do I get the turkey, potatoes and gravy ready at the same time?
Add the turkey to the Meal Synchroniser along with your other dishes. It works backwards from the time you want to eat and tells you when each one needs to go in.
Guidance
Read the full guide
- How to Cook a Turkey for ChristmasA full Christmas turkey plan: what size to buy, how many days it needs to defrost, when to put it in, and how to keep the rest of the dinner moving around it.
Safety guidance reviewed against Food Standards Agency sources on 11 September 2026. How we calculate cooking times and safety guidance.