Turkey in an electric roaster usually cooks faster than in a regular oven, but you still need to go by weight and internal temperature rather than time alone. A good general range is about 10–13 minutes per pound at 325–350°F for an unstuffed turkey in a roaster, but always cook until the breast reaches 165°F and the thigh 170–180°F.

Approximate cook times

These are ballpark times for an unstuffed bird in an electric roaster set around 325–350°F; check early and use a meat thermometer.

• 10–12 lb turkey: about 2.5–3 hours.

• 12–14 lb turkey: about 3–3.5 hours.

• 14–16 lb turkey: about 3.5–4 hours.

• 16–20 lb turkey: about 4–4.5 hours.

• 20–24 lb turkey: about 4.5–5 hours.

If your turkey is stuffed, add roughly 30–60 minutes, but it is generally safer to cook stuffing separately.

Time-per-pound guidelines

Different recipes give slightly different rules, but they all stress using internal temperature as the real test.

• Many roaster recipes suggest about 10 minutes per pound at 325°F for an unstuffed turkey.

• Others suggest closer to 13 minutes per pound at 350°F for an unstuffed turkey.

• Some guides advise 10–12 minutes per pound at 325°F as a planning range.

Because roasters can cook hotter or cooler than stated, start checking the temperature 30–45 minutes before the earliest expected finish time.

Key safety and doneness checks

• Place a meat thermometer in the thickest part of the breast and the inner thigh, without touching bone.

• The turkey is done when:
  • Breast is at least 165°F.
  • Thigh is about 170–180°F.

• Let the turkey rest 20–30 minutes under foil before carving so the juices redistribute.

If you tell the turkey’s weight and whether it’s stuffed, a more specific time estimate can be given using these ranges.