One of the trickiest parts of this culinary project is getting the timing just right, so we spoke to Freda Sugarman, Executive Chef at Sarabeth's Greenwich Village, and asked about the ideal cooking time for the turkey. The expert's advice is to keep the turkey in the oven "for 15 to 20 minutes a pound." That means a 16-pound turkey will cook for at least four hours, so take that into consideration when you're planning your Thanksgiving timeline.
Freda Sugarman emphasizes the importance of proper thawing, stating, "One of the tips for cooking a perfect turkey is to completely thaw it before putting it in the oven. The safest way to do so is in the refrigerator, but you'll have to take into account some more prep time: Each four to five pounds of weight will take a day to thaw. For a 16-pound turkey, that can mean four days of thawing."
In discussing the best temperature for cooking a turkey, Chef Sugarman insists to cook it at 325 degrees Fahrenheit and mentions that "a well calibrated meat thermometer is a chef's best friend for cooking a turkey." The USDA states that the turkey is safe to eat when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit, so measuring the temperature in multiple locations is crucial.
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