How Long Do You Cook a 20 Lb Stuffed Turkey
Let’s break down the numbers like a friendly kitchen calculator. At 325°F, a 20-pound stuffed turkey averages 4.5 to 5.5 hours total. But here’s the catch: ovens are liars, and birds are unpredictable. Always start checking the internal temperature at the 4-hour mark, especially near the thigh joint and the center of the stuffing.
Pro tip from the pros: Tent the turkey loosely with foil for the first three hours. This prevents the skin from burning while the dense stuffing heats through. Remove the foil for the last hour to get that crispy, golden skin that makes everyone’s mouth water. And never—and I mean never—peek too often. Each time you open the oven, you lose about 25 degrees of heat, adding precious minutes to your cook time.