Can you cook a stuffed turkey wrapped in foil instead of basting it? How long and at what temp.?

Question

I have a 20lb. turkey that I'm going to stuff...but have never made a turkey EVER!! Need help!!!!

Answer 1

Get a Reynolds baking bag -- they will self baste that way. I would NOT put the stuffing inside though, the bag fills with all the juices. I would not wrap it in foil, tent the foil yes. I would still baste every 30 minutes or so. 30 minutes per 4 lbs of turkey, so 5 hrs at 350.

PS - the cooking time of the bag method is listed on the box, but it is MUCH shorter.

Answer 2

Cooking it in foil will help to keep it moist, but you will still need to baste it, just less often. Make a kind of tent with the foil over the turkey, with enough room for the steam it produces naturally to circulate. I'd baste every 30-45 minutes. And don't forget to remove the foil about 30 minutes before taking it out of the oven, so that the skin browns and goes crispy (otherwise the turkey will look insipid and unappetising). If you cook at 325 F, cook it for about 4 1/2 hours, letting it rest (stand in a warm place) for 30 minutes before carving, otherwise it'll be crumbly. This allows the meat to re-absorb some of its juices too. Good luck!

Answer 3

The only way I make a turkey is by wrapping it in foil, but you still have to baste it once or twice an hour. You're supposed cook a turkey for one hour for every four pounds. Cook slowly at 325 to 350 degrees. For 5 to 6 hours. The longer it takes to cook the more tender it is. Don't listen to these other people because they obviously don't know how to cook. They go to jack in the crack when they're hungry.

Answer 4

they sell bags for cooking the turkeys in, no basting needed, I always use them ( well the 3 times I ever cooked a turkey)

Answer 5

Don't do Turkey. Use to hunt, and eat in the woods, burned myself out with. Eat cornish hens, and salmon grilled.