Keto Oven Roasted Turkey Legs [Recipe + How To Cook] (2024)

FAQs

What temp should turkey legs be cooked to? ›

Cook until the deepest sections of the turkey legs reach an internal temperature of 165°F, or about 2 1/2 hours. Hot TipUse an instant read thermometer to determine the internal temperature of the turkey. 7. Remove the turkey legs from your smoker and let rest at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving.

It's better to cook a turkey at 350°F after preheating the oven to 450°F. This makes the skin crispier and ensures the turkey will get cooked evenly.

Cook your turkey at 325 degrees F for most of the cook time; in the final 45 minutes, remove the cover or foil tent from the turkey, increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees F and baste the bird with butter. The initial lower oven temperature cooks the turkey through evenly.

Use a thermometer .. breast should be at 160, legs and thighs at 165 when you pull them out of the oven. 2. Let it rest, about 3 minutes per pound so for a 10lb turkey, it should rest for about 30 minutes.

So, yes, you do want to cover the turkey with foil to give it a chance to roast without getting dry. But then, towards the end of the cook time, remove the foil so the skin—the best part in this writer's opinion—gets a chance to crisp up.

The meat should feel soft and the leg will move easily when twisted. Another check is to run a long-tined fork into thick muscle; the meat should feel tender and the juice should show no pink tinge.

To achieve a perfectly golden, juicy turkey, let the bird spend time both covered and uncovered in the oven. We recommend covering your bird for most of the cooking time to prevent it from drying out; then, during the last 30 minutes or so of cooking, remove the cover so the skin crisps in the hot oven.

The Right Way to Take the Temperature of Your Turkey

The government recommends cooking turkey breast to 165°F (74°C). I prefer my turkey breast at 150°F (66°F), at which point it is far, far juicier (especially if you dry brine it!).

Is it better to cook a turkey at 350 or 400? ›

While the best temperature to cook a turkey is always 325°F, how much time your bird will need in the oven will depend on its weight. An unstuffed 8-pound turkey can take less than 3 hours, while a stuffed 24-pound turkey can take over 5 hours.

The Professional Method: 425°F, then 350°F

This method requires a little more attention, but it pays off in the end. Compared to the other method mentioned, this cooking process is faster and creates a crispy golden exterior and tender meat that naturally retains more of its moisture.

The most important thing to keep in mind with Turkey Drumsticks is that, especially for our pastured birds, they're going to be tough if they aren't cooked long enough. Just like a brisket, Turkey Drumsticks do best when cooked low and slow, to allow the muscle fibers to relax and become tender.

How do you clean a turkey before cooking it? Well... you don't! Just like with other meat, the USDA recommends skipping washing your turkey before you cook it. It doesn't matter if you're roasting, frying, or smoking your turkey, there's no need to give it a rinse unless you've brined it (more on that below).

Average about ¾-pound per person for bone-in turkey breast, or one turkey leg per person clocking in at around 1½ pounds per leg.

First thing first: The Agriculture Department says that the safe internal temperature for a turkey is 165 degrees Fahrenheit. It recommends confirming this in the thickest part of the breast, innermost part of the thigh and innermost part of the wing.

Turkey Doneness Temp: 157°F (69°C) in the breast—not 165°F!, and 175°F (79°C) in the thigh for moist turkey. (USDA charts here or read more below to see why this is safe.)

A food thermometer should be used to ensure a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F has been reached to destroy bacteria and prevent foodborne illness. Many variables can affect the roasting time of a whole turkey: A partially frozen turkey requires longer cooking. A stuffed turkey takes longer to cook.