I'm roasting a turkey right now and need help?!


Question: I put it in 2 hours ago, convection oven at 325. I covered it with foil per the directions, it is supposed to cook for 4.5 hours. I am supposed to take the foil off the last half hour for the final browning. I just checked on it and it is BROWN, perfuming the house...I'm wondering if it will be done sooner? I don't have a meat thermometer, it broke, so I can't check the internal temp. It has one of those pop up timers and it hasn't popped yet. What do you think? I've roasted a turkey before obviously, but I am always nervous when it comes to poultry and cooking times. Do you think it needs to cook for another 2 hours? It's a 20 pound bird. Thanks for your help!


Answers: I put it in 2 hours ago, convection oven at 325. I covered it with foil per the directions, it is supposed to cook for 4.5 hours. I am supposed to take the foil off the last half hour for the final browning. I just checked on it and it is BROWN, perfuming the house...I'm wondering if it will be done sooner? I don't have a meat thermometer, it broke, so I can't check the internal temp. It has one of those pop up timers and it hasn't popped yet. What do you think? I've roasted a turkey before obviously, but I am always nervous when it comes to poultry and cooking times. Do you think it needs to cook for another 2 hours? It's a 20 pound bird. Thanks for your help!

I would try to pierce the thigh at the thickest point with a small pointed object like a skewer or a very narrow knife. When the juices run white and foggy with out any red, the bird is done.

Avoid using the pop-up thermometer, as they are notoriously unreliable and are calibrated to too high of a temperature even when they do work.

I would let it alone and wait for the timer to pop up.

Yes. Just keep it cooking.

Don't trust those pop-up timers..they're a joke. By the time the timer pops the bird is actually overdone.

Do you have neighbors? You could run next door real quick and see if they have a thermometer that you could borrow.

If you can't do that, then just keep taking it out and checking on it. I'm sure it's not done yet since it's only been in for less than half the time recommended.

Keep the foil on (since it's already brown) and start checking it at 3 hrs. and then check every 15 minutes after that until it's done.

Well I would wait for the pop up timer to pop. Meats, turkeys, chickens etc will cook faster in an oven bag. But you stated foil only so I would definitely wait. also depends on what pound size your turkey is. small one would be done. 18-20 pd. no way.

leave it for the full amount of cooking time!!!
the pop up and recommended guidelines are reliable!!!
food poisoning is no fun!

If it's leg wiggles easily in the socket it is done. Yes, I would cook it longer, until the pop up timer pops up. Recover it with foil if it gets too brown and to prevent it from drying out. Go out and get a meat thermometer tomorrow. They are only about $10.00.

Don't panic. The top of your oven is hotter than the rest and because of the size of the bird the top has just cooked off fast,
Simply turn the whole bird up-side down and put the foil back on. A big bird needs a long time to cook through. You'll see it'll taste just great, but give it the long time,

poke it a few thimes where it's the thickest if juice runs clear it's done

yeah it may turn brown early but i would leave it in till the timer pops up ...20 pound birds need a while to cook


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YOU MAY HAVE YOUR TURKEY PAN TOO CLOSE TO THE TOP. YOU MIGHT NEED TO LOWER THE OVEN SHELF TO LET IT COOK LONGER AND ADD EXTRA TIN FOIL FOR PROTECTION. I ALWAYS CUT MY TURKEY TO THE BONE JUST TO BE SURE IT IS DONE.

Mostly deifintly let it cook for longer jst keep and eye on it, but remember that the more you open the oven dore the more the temp of the oven falls.





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