How Long To Cook 16 Lb Turkey In Convection Oven

IF you agreed to cook Thanksgiving dinner for your family this year, you'll probably be feeling the pressure to serve up the perfect roast.

Most families tuck into turkey on Thanksgiving Day so we've provided some tips to keep you on top of your dinner preparation.

Thanksgiving Day traditions include roasting a turkey Credit: Getty Images - Getty

How long does a turkey take to cook?

You should cook your bird at 180C (fan oven), 375F, or Gas Mark 5.

A 5lb bird takes around two hours to cook, a 10lb bird three hours and a 15lb bird takes four hours.

Turkey calculators are available online, so finding the perfect amount of time to cook your turkey is easy.

The weight you enter should include any stuffing - not just the size of the bird you bought.

What size turkey do I need?

When picking the perfect turkey, you're considering more than the roast dinner itself.

Part of the fun of Thanksgiving is having enough leftovers for turkey sandwiches in the evening, and maybe a homemade curry or pie the next day.

However, this doesn't mean you need to panic-buy the biggest bird in the store.

This would be unnecessarily expensive and the bigger the bird, the longer it will take to cook.

The general rule of thumb is to allow 1lb, or 500g, per person.

For a group of six to eight, you're recommended to buy an 8lb turkey - but some birds grow to much larger than that.

Whole birds are the best value, but crowns are easier to carve - because the legs have already been removed.

How long will it take to defrost my turkey?

If you've bought a frozen turkey or bought it fresh ahead of time and then shoved it in the freezer, you need to be wary of how long it will take to thaw.

The weight of the turkey will dictate how many hours you need to set aside for the bird to defrost.

Here's our handy guide you can prepare your Thanksgiving meal in time:

5lb bird: Thaw in the fridge for 27 hours, or in a cool room for 9 hours.
6.5-7.5lb bird: Thaw in the fridge for 42 hours, or in a cool room for 12-14 hours.
10lb-12lb bird:Thaw in the fridge for 66 hours, or in a cool room for 18-22 hours.
15lb-16.5lb bird:Thaw in the fridge for 90 hours, or in a cool room for 27-30 hours.Should I buy fresh or frozen turkey?

Frozen turkeys will be cheaper, although fresh will taste slightly better.

If you've opted for frozen, the turkey can defrost either in the fridge or out on the kitchen counter (the quicker option).

If you're using fresh meat, simply take the turkey out of the fridge an hour before cooking - to bring the bird up to room temperature.

You can prepare the stuffing in advance, but don't stuff the bird until it's about to be cooked.

Only stuff the neck cavity, not the body, as this will not cook through.

How do I know if the turkey is cooked through?

The classic test is to pierce the thickest part of the leg with a fork or a skewer.

If the meat juices are a pale gold color and run clear, the turkey is cooked.

If there are any traces of blood, return the bird to the oven.

The rule of thumb is to allow 1lb of turkey per person Credit: Getty Images

You should rest your turkey for at least half an hour before carving it.

Cover it tightly in foil to ensure the meat is kept moist and juicy.

This also gives you time to blast the heat on the oven - and crisp up your roast vegetables and potatoes.