Turkey Crown Cooking Time Calculator
Enter the weight on the label for the roasting time, the oven temperature and the resting time.
Use the weight as it goes in the oven, including any stuffing you have added.
Answer
2 hr 13 min at 190°C
What to do
- 1Prepare the turkey crownTake the meat out of the fridge, season it and get the tin ready.
- 2Preheat the ovenHeat the oven to 190°C.
- 3Cook at 190°CCook for 133 minutes.
- 4Check whether it is doneCheck the thickest part reads 75°C or more.
- 5Rest the meatCover loosely with foil and rest for 25 minutes. Resting is part of cooking, not dead time.
- 6Carve10 minutes.
How to check it is done
- A crown is breast meat only, so it cooks faster than a whole bird of the same weight.
- Cover loosely with foil for most of the time and uncover for the last 30 minutes to brown the skin.
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
A crown cooks faster than a whole bird
There is no cavity and no legs, so heat reaches the middle sooner. Timing a crown as though it were a whole turkey of the same weight will dry it out badly.
Check the thickest part
The juices must run clear with no pink, and a thermometer in the deepest part of the breast should read 70°C for two minutes, or an equivalent combination such as 75°C for 30 seconds. Do not test near the bone.
Rest it properly and carve later
A crown holds its heat for a good 30 minutes under foil. Resting frees the oven for roast potatoes and makes carving much easier.
Questions and answers
Questions about cooking a turkey crown
Is a turkey crown quicker to cook than a whole turkey?
Yes, for the same weight. A crown has no cavity and no legs, so heat reaches the middle sooner. Timing it as though it were a whole bird of the same weight will dry it out.
How do I check a turkey crown is cooked through?
Test the deepest part of the breast, not near the bone: the juices must run clear with no pink meat, and a thermometer should read at least 75°C.
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
Should I stuff a turkey crown?
A crown has no cavity to fill, so stuffing is usually cooked separately in a dish rather than inside the joint. If you tie stuffing under the skin or against the breast, weigh the crown with it attached and check the middle of the meat, not the stuffing, for doneness.
How long should a turkey crown rest before carving?
About 30 minutes under foil. It holds its heat well over that time, which frees the oven for roast potatoes and makes carving easier.
How much turkey crown do I need per person?
A crown is all breast meat, so you need less oven-ready weight per person than for a whole bird of legs and breast.
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.