How long to cook a 12 lb turkey
At 325°F, unstuffed, a 12 lb (5.4kg) turkey takes
2¾ to 3¾ hours
Stuffed, allow 3 to 4 hours. Start checking with a thermometer at the shorter time. It's done at 165°F, then rest it 20 minutes.
12 lb sits where two rows of the USDA chart meet, so the range covers both: 8 to 12 lb takes 2¾ to 3 hours and 12 to 14 lb takes 3 to 3¾ hours unstuffed.
| 12 lb turkey | Time |
|---|---|
| Roast unstuffed at 325°F | 2¾ to 3¾ hours |
| Roast stuffed at 325°F | 3 to 4 hours |
| Thaw in the fridge | 2½ to 3 days |
| Thaw in cold water | about 6 hours |
| Rest before carving | 20 min |
Plan your Thanksgiving: put in your weight and dinner time and get the time it goes in, and when to start thawing.
Is it done?
Check with a food thermometer. It's safe once it reaches 165°F in the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast. Then let it stand for 20 minutes before carving.
The USDA's other rules
- Allow 1 pound of turkey per person.
- Set the oven no lower than 325°F.
- Cooking the stuffing in a separate dish is the safer choice. If you stuff the bird, the center of the stuffing must also reach 165°F.
- You can cook a turkey from frozen. It takes at least 50 percent longer.
- Remove the giblets after thawing and cook them separately.
- Throw away turkey, stuffing and gravy left out for more than 2 hours (1 hour above 90°F). Eat refrigerated leftovers within 3 to 4 days.
Other sizes
Times, temperatures and thawing advice from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, Let's Talk Turkey: A Consumer Guide to Safely Roasting a Turkey (updated 2023-11-17), checked 2026-10-25. USDA's times assume a fully thawed turkey in an oven set to 325°F.