Instead of roasting a giant turkey, try cooking two smaller birds at the same time — not only is it faster, but the end result may be more delicious.

Image Credit: Thomas Barwick/DigitalVision/GettyImages

Image Credit: Thomas Barwick/DigitalVision/GettyImages

  • Important Tips
  • Cooking Together
  • Cooking Time
  • Cooking Separately
  • Other Methods

Another way to promote circulation: Elevate the turkey on either a roasting rack or a bed of root vegetables, Phojanakong recommends. “This will create some more space for the heat to circulate.”

The safest bet is to cook your stuffing separately, per the USDA. Phojanakong recommends against stuffing the bird because cooking stuffing fully means that you’ll overcook the turkey. If you want to stuff the bird despite this, do so before step 4 — here’s how: Spoon in moist stuffing into the bird’s cavity. Use about 3/4 cup stuffing for every pound of turkey, according to the USDA. At step 7, check the temperature of the stuffing — that needs to reach 165 degrees as well.

If you want to stuff the bird despite this, do so before step 4 — here’s how: Spoon in moist stuffing into the bird’s cavity. Use about 3/4 cup stuffing for every pound of turkey, according to the USDA.

At step 7, check the temperature of the stuffing — that needs to reach 165 degrees as well.

Turkey Weight Cooking Time (Unstuffed) Cooking Time (Stuffed) 8-12 pounds 2 hrs. 45 mins. - 3 hrs. 3 hrs. - 3 hrs. 30 mins. 12-14 pounds 3 hrs. - 3 hrs. 45 mins. 3 hrs. 30 mins. - 4 hrs.

Source: USDA

Source: USDA