Cooking A Turkey Time. The times on this chart are based on placing the whole turkey on a rack in a roasting pan and into a preheated 350 degree f 175 degrees c oven. The general rule for cooking a large bird is about 20 minutes a pound.
First the oven temperature will impact the amount of time it will take to roast. The time to cook a turkey is usually around 20 minutes per pound for an unstuffed turkey. Most recipes call for a 325 degree to 350 degree oven.
A 12 pound bird will cook more quickly than a 20 pound monster which is just one of the reasons why.
About 4 to 4 5 hours at 350 degrees. A 12 pound bird will cook more quickly than a 20 pound monster which is just one of the reasons why. 8 to 12 lbs. Turkey cooking times depend on the size of your bird and what temperature you cook your turkey.