How long to cook a 6 pound turkey

You've properly thawed and seasoned your turkey with a flavor-boosting dry brine — now it’s ready for the oven! But the question of how long to cook a turkey remains. Before we get to that, make sure your kitchen is equipped with the right tools: While a timer is helpful to keep track of the hours, the real hero for roasting is a great meat thermometer, which will register the internal temperature for perfect results every time.

For a ballpark estimate on timing, figure about 13 minutes per pound of turkey when cooking an unstuffed bird.

Why unstuffed? You'd have to overcook your bird to ensure the stuffing inside reaches a safe temperature. And no amount of Thanksgiving gravy can save bone-dry turkey like that. Opt instead to bake your stuffing recipe in a separate pan. If you’re curious how long it will take when cooking your turkey upside down, you might want to reconsider that method altogether. According to our Test Kitchen pros, it doesn’t lead to a juicier bird and all that flipping can actually be dangerous!

Let's talk turkey tips

• Bigger isn’t better when it comes to turkey. Buy two smaller birds (or one whole turkey and one turkey breast) if you’re feeding a crowd. A pair of 10-pound birds will cook more evenly and stay juicier than a 20-pound beast (plus, they'll be easier to carve!).
• For the oven, the Test Kitchen agrees that 375℉ is the Goldilocks of temperatures for turkey roasting — it’s not too hot, not too cold, and cooks quickly enough to ensure that a bird is just right by dinnertime.
• To check if the turkey is done, insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh. The internal temperature should register 165°F and its juices should be clear, not pink.
• Allow your turkey to rest for at least 25 minutes before carving. Cover it loosely with foil to keep it hot.

How long does it take to cook a turkey?

Here’s our handy guide for cooking times by turkey weight:

• Turkey 8–10 lbs, cook for 1 hr 45 mins–2 hrs 15 mins
• Turkey 10–12 lbs, cook for 2 hrs 15 mins–2 hrs 30 mins
• Turkey 12–14 lbs, cook for 2 hrs 30 mins–3 hrs
• Turkey 14–16 lbs, cook for 3 hrs–3 hrs 30 mins
• Turkey 16–18 lbs, cook for 3 hrs 30 mins–4 hrs
• Turkey 18–20 lbs, cook for 4 hrs–4 hrs 15 mins

Bump up the time if your turkey is still a little bit frozen on Thanksgiving morning. It's actually completely safe to roast an icy turkey, but it’ll take about 50% longer to cook than a fully thawed bird. Dinner might have to wait a few hours — hey, more time for Thanksgiving appetizers — but you'll still be rewarded with a delicious turkey.

This content is imported from OpenWeb. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Once you master how to cook a turkey breast, you'll always be less than 30 minutes of prep time away from a showstopping, juicy, family-sized entrée. So whether your cooking time for a turkey breast is fast, whipped up in a pressure cooker or your Instant Pot, or a set-and-forget slow cooker method, or you preheat your oven to follow our instructions for how to bake a small turkey breast, it doesn't take long to get this smartly-sized protein ready to roast.

With enough servings for a family, plus a round of leftovers (most of our turkey breast recipes serve 8 to 12), cooking turkey breast is a smart choice for Sunday dinners or an intimate Thanksgiving menu.

How to Cook a Turkey Breast 3 Ways

Here's our complete guide to the three best options for cooking a turkey breast, including in the oven, in a slow cooker, and in a pressure cooker, such as an Instant Pot.

How to Roast a Turkey Breast in the Oven

Step 1: Prep

Preheat your oven to 325°F. Remove the turkey breast from its packaging and pat dry. Place the meat on a flat, lightly greased roasting rack-lined pan. For the best appearance and flavor, brush lightly with vegetable oil, cooking oil, or melted butter.

Step 2: Season

Season as desired (we love the rub on this Barbecue Spice-Rubbed Turkey Breast), then loosely cover turkey with foil.

Step 3: Cook

Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest portion of the breast where it's not touching a bone. Roast until juices run clear and a meat thermometer ($23 Williams Sonoma) reads 165°F.

Curious about cooking time for turkey breast in the oven? Timing varies based on the size and shape of each turkey breast. As a general rule when buying turkey, plan on 1 pound per person of bone-in or ½ pound to ¾ pound per person of boneless. If you like leftovers, opt for 1½ pounds per person.

As you plan ahead for cooking time per pound, use this turkey breast roasting time chart as a rough guide for roasting:

• 1¼- to 1½ -pound boneless turkey breast half: Roast at 325°F for 35 to 40 minutes
• 2- to 2½-pound bone-in turkey breast half: Roast at 325°F for 60 to 70 minutes
• 2½- to 3-pound boneless turkey breast: Roast at 325°F for 40 to 60 minutes
• 4- to 6-pound whole turkey breast: Roast at 325°F for 1½ to 2¼ hours
• 6- to 8-pound whole turkey breast: Roast at 325°F for 2¼ to 3¼ hours

Remove from the oven and allow the turkey breast to rest for 15 minutes. Carve and serve alongside your favorite side dish recipes.

How to Make Slow Cooker Turkey Breast

For a slow cooker turkey breast recipe like our Mediterranean cuisine-inspired Greek Breast of Turkey, you can follow a similar game plan as explained above. The major differences:

• Place the turkey breast in a slow cooker ($28, Target) instead of a roasting pan.
• Add ¼ cup of chicken broth and consider citrus and aromatic elements instead of spices alone.
• "Roast" the slow cooker turkey breast on low for 5½ to 6 hours (for a medium-sized whole turkey breast) or until a meat thermometer reads 165°F.

How to Make Pressure Cooker Turkey Breast

Hungry, like, 30 minutes ago? Hit fast-forward with a pressure cooker turkey breast. Including prep, cook, and pressure release time, it takes just a smidge over one hour to cook 4 pounds of turkey breast. That's it! For recipes like our classic Pressure Cooker Turkey Breast, a similar method for how to cook a turkey breast holds true. Just make these minor adjustments:

• Place the turkey breast in an electric pressure cooker, like an Instant Pot, instead of a roasting pan.
• Add 1 cup of chicken broth and consider citrus and aromatic elements such as onions, garlic, carrots, and celery.
• Lock the lid and heat the pressure cooker turkey breast on high pressure for 25 minutes for two 2-pound bone-in or 20 minutes for two 1½-pound boneless turkey breasts.
• Quickly release pressure, then use a meat thermometer to ensure the meat has reached 165°F.
• Broil the meat 5 inches from the oven heat for 1 to 2 minutes to crisp and brown the skin.

How to Buy, Store, and Thaw Turkey Breast

Food safety is of utmost importance as you prepare to dive into any of these methods for cooking turkey breast. Keep raw turkey in its original package in the refrigerator, and plan to cook it within two days of purchase. For more extended storage, freeze turkey up to 2 months. Before freezing, wrap turkey in foil for the freshest result. When ready to proceed, follow these tips to thaw your turkey safely.

Follow any of these three methods for how to cook turkey breast, and you'll be all set to serve a juicy, tender entrée for dinner any night of the year.

How long does a six pound turkey take to cook?

How long do you cook a 6

Is it better to cook a turkey at 325 or 350?

How long does it take to cook a 6