A Thanksgiving timeline that fits one oven
A 16 lb turkey at 325°F is in for about four hours, and the casseroles all want 350°F, so most of the sides go in while the bird rests. Carve lines them up so the oven goes up once, not five times.
Thanksgiving 2026 is Thursday, November 26. If your turkey is frozen, tick Frozen: at a day per 4 lb, a 16 lb bird goes in the fridge on Saturday or Sunday before.
Turkey roasting times, metric
| Turkey | At 180°C | Fridge thaw |
|---|---|---|
| 3 kg | 2 h 35 min | 1.5 days |
| 4 kg | 3 h 20 min | 2 days |
| 4.5 kg | 3 h 00 min | 2.3 days |
| 5 kg | 3 h 20 min | 2.5 days |
| 6 kg | 4 h 00 min | 3 days |
| 7 kg | 4 h 05 min | 3.5 days |
| 8 kg | 4 h 40 min | 4 days |
| 9 kg | 5 h 15 min | 4.5 days |
| 10 kg | 5 h 50 min | 5 days |
Turkey roasting times, pounds
| Turkey | At 325°F | Fridge thaw |
|---|---|---|
| 8 lb | 2 h 45 min | 2 days |
| 10 lb | 2 h 53 min | 3 days |
| 12 lb | 3 h 00 min | 3 days |
| 14 lb | 3 h 45 min | 4 days |
| 16 lb | 4 h 00 min | 4 days |
| 18 lb | 4 h 15 min | 5 days |
| 20 lb | 4 h 30 min | 5 days |
| 22 lb | 4 h 45 min | 6 days |
| 24 lb | 5 h 00 min | 6 days |
Unstuffed. Sources: Food Standards Scotland turkey guide (metric) and USDA FSIS roasting timetable (pounds). Upper end of each USDA band.
Questions
How long does a turkey take?
Food Standards Scotland's guide, unstuffed at 180°C: under 4.5 kg, 45 minutes per kg plus 20 minutes; 4.5 to 6.5 kg, 40 minutes per kg; over 6.5 kg, 35 minutes per kg. A 5 kg turkey is 3 hours 20 minutes. In pounds, Carve follows the USDA timetable at 325°F: a 16 lb turkey is about 4 hours. Always check the thickest part reaches 75°C (165°F).
How long should the turkey rest?
At least 30 minutes and up to 90 under foil and a tea towel. It stays hot, and the rest is when the potatoes and Yorkshires get the hot oven. Carve starts at 45 minutes for a turkey and lets you change it.
What if I only have one oven?
Carve keeps one oven by default. While the bird is in at 180°C, anything that wants 200°C or more gets an ember note on its line: put it on the top shelf and give it longer, or wait until the bird comes out. Once the bird is resting, Carve tells you when to turn the oven up and back down. Tick Two ovens and the clashes go away.
How long does a frozen turkey take to thaw?
In the fridge, 10 to 12 hours per kg (Food Standards Scotland), or a day for every 4 to 5 lb (USDA). A 6 kg turkey needs about three days. Tick Frozen and Carve puts the day and time to move it to the fridge at the top of the run sheet.
Can I set alarms for each step?
Yes. Alarms and print gives you a calendar file with every step as an event with a reminder at the minute it's due. Open it on your phone and add it to your calendar. You can also print the run sheet for the fridge or copy it into the family chat.
Do you keep my menu?
No. Your menu stays on this device. We count page views without cookies.