Help! Turkey cooking time question.

[spotbird]

There is much discussion and disagreement here about the proper cooking time for an unstuffed 20lb turkey. We are in danger of entering a too many cooks situation.

Betty Crocker says 7 hours at 325.

Some internet sources advise 31/2 hours at 325.

Other internet sources suggest 4 1/2 hours at 325.

There must be a definitive answer out there somewhere, but what is it? Betty's cooking time is so long that it must be wrong, but the difference suggested is still quite wide.

Please help! Thank you, and Happy Thanksgiving!

[tigereye]

1. use the time that's on the turkey package (if you have one)

that always works for me and I back it up with my cookbook time. 7 seems way too long.

Happy Cooking.

[spotbird]

2. It's long gone.

but thanks.

[spotbird]

4. It is long gone

but thanks anyway.

[mzteris]

3. try this

http://butterball.com/en/main_canvas.jsp?includePage=prep_cook_calculator.jsp&t=Turkey%20Cooking%20Time%20Calculator&s0=plan_n_prep&s1=plan

[spotbird]

6. Thanks.

I wonder why there is so much variation in suggested cooking time at the same weight.

One of life's mysteries I suppose.

[spotbird]

7. Thanks

We needed a way tell if it's done.

[cwydro]

5. Rule of thumb

is an hour for every five pounds of bird.

When the juices run clear and tugging on a leg or wing, the leg should separate easily from the bird.