How long does it take to cook a farm fresh turkey?

How Long Does it Take to Cook a Farm Fresh Turkey? Pasture-raised turkeys cook faster than factory-farmed birds. At 325 degrees, you should plan on eight to ten minutes per pound for an unstuffed bird (or 12 to 15 minutes if it is stuffed).

Can a farm fresh turkey be too big for roasting?

For one, the size of a farm-fresh or pasture-raised turkey can be highly variable. These are not factory-farmed birds so they might be larger or smaller than what you’re used to. If the bird is too large to fit in your roasting pan, just remove the legs first.

Should you brine or baste a farm-fresh turkey?

Both brining and basting are optional when it comes to cooking a farm-fresh turkey. These steps are usually taken to help ensure that the bird does not dry out. Since pastured birds are far less likely to dry out, these steps aren’t necessary. Plus, every time you open the oven door to baste a turkey, you will be wasting energy.

Can you cook a fresh turkey instead of a frozen turkey?

There’s no difference in cooking a fresh turkey versus a frozen one that you bought at the store – except, of course, that you can skip the thawing process. That said, there are a few things to keep in mind. For one, the size of a farm-fresh or pasture-raised turkey can be highly variable.

Can You Cook Fresh Turkey?

Absolutely! There’s no difference in cooking a fresh turkey versus a frozen one that you bought at the store – except, of course, that you can skip the thawing process.

How Do You Cook a Freshly Killed Turkey?

Cooking a freshly killed turkey is just about identical to preparing a frozen turkey. You can often shave off some of the cooking time but otherwise, you’ll cook your fresh turkey almost exactly as you have cooked any other turkey in the past.

Unconventional Farm Fresh Turkey Recipes to Try

Want to think outside the box when you’re cooking your farm fresh turkey? When you’re coming up with potential recipes, you don’t have to limit yourself just to the traditional Thanksgiving roaster with the stuffing, potatoes, and green bean casserole.

Is Cooking a Fresh Turkey Different?

As you can see, there are a few steps in the turkey preparation process that are a bit different than what you might be used to from the past.

Sourcing

So, a pasture raised turkey sounds fabulous, but where the heck do I get one?

Prep

You’ll want to make sure you have the right tools before you begin cooking. You will need a large, sturdy roasting pan with a rack and handles as well as a good meat thermometer. I would suggest spending a little more cash for a high quality pan. It will be something that will last the ages if you invest in it right.

Cooking

Because pasture raised turkeys are leaner than conventional, they cook faster. A pasture raised turkey will need about 12-15 minutes per pound to cook.

Leftovers

You spent good money (expect somewhere between $3-8 a pound) on your excellent Thanksgiving turkey so be sure to not let any of it go to waste.

Sides

Here are a few bonus side dishes you might consider with your perfectly cooked pastured raised turkey…