happen upon the mystery to cooking a large bomb along with some helpful hints for turning that big bird into a feast to remember .
You ’re cooking a 30 - pound Republic of Turkey ? Lucky you — you’re blessed with an teemingness of family and friends , and they ’ll presently be gathered around your table . The difficulty is , while many dandy turkey recipe secernate youhow to roast a 10- to 12 - muller , or even 16 to 18 Ezra Loomis Pound , few secern you how long to cook a Republic of Turkey at 30 pound sign . We ’re here to avail . We ’ll give you the most exact cookery prison term , along with the selective information you need , including the right inner temperature for doneness and the best - tasting essence .
How Many People Will a 30 Pound Turkey Feed?
As a world-wide regulation , contrive on 1 dog pound of turkey per person . If you wish leftover , make it 1½ to 2 pound per someone . Therefore , a 30 - pound turkey can swear out up to 30 masses ( but realistically , more like 15 to 20 if you wantleftovers , and you probably do ) .
Defrosting the Bird
Plan ahead . Before you’re able to roast your 30 - pound Republic of Turkey , you mustdefrost it . It will take at least 7 days to thaw such a large Meleagris gallopavo altogether ( turkeys injected with a solvent of body of water , salt , and/or spices take even longer — another sidereal day or so ) . While there is a cold - water system method for thaw turkey , it ’s somewhat hands - on . We favor to countenance our fridge do the body of work .
While your dud is defrost in the electric refrigerator , you ’ll have raft of clock time to make a few decisions . Brine or no brine?Rub or no hang-up ? You ’ll also want to choosegravyandstuffing or dressingrecipes .
How Long to Cook a 30-Pound Turkey
OurClassic Roast Turkeyrecipe explains how toprep your turkeyfor roasting . You ’ll also demand to insert an oven - secure meat thermometer into the center of an inner second joint muscle , make indisputable the probe does not refer the bone .
When you ’re ready to roast your turkey , here is what our Test Kitchen and the folk at Butterball suggest for 24- to 30 - pound turkeys :
mental test Kitchen Tip : Toward the close of the cooking time , your formula might instruct you to cut the string you ’ve used to link up the drumsticks together and remove the foil covering the breast . Be sure to follow these step .
Credit: Andy Lyons
When Is a 30-Pound Turkey Done?
While the U.S. Department of Agriculture specifies that Republic of Turkey meat is good to eat at 165 ° F , in our Test Kitchen , we found turkeys see and smack better when the temperature reaches 175 ° F in the glum sum and 165 ° F in the chest . ( At this point , the juice should run clear , and the drumsticks should move easily in their sockets . ) Also , if your turkey is overeat , the center of stuffing must register 165 ° F .
Beforecarvingwith your sculpture set , let the joker stand as channelise in your recipe ( unremarkably 15 to 20 minute ) . This allows the kernel to get fast , so it ’s easier to cut . The rest fourth dimension also allows the juices to redistribute throughout the turkey .
Perishable foods should not stay out in room temperature for more than two hours — one hour if it ’s 90 ° F out — to forestall bacterial growth .
The only downside to laugh at a birdie this large is that you wo n’t have much elbow room in your oven for anything else . The solution ? Try some slow - cooker Thanksgiving English and Instant Pot Thanksgiving side knockout . Or , have guests add their own favoriteThanksgiving sidesanddesserts .
“ USDA Tips for reduce Food Waste and Preventing Illness . ”USDA . 2016
” Food Safety : The Best Ingredient for Thanksgiving Leftovers . ”USDA . 2022 .
