roasting

Cooking Time Calculator: How Long to Cook Meat by Weight

Cooking Time Calculator: How Long to Cook Meat by Weight The basic formula for roasting is 15-20 minutes per pound at 350°F (175°C). A 4-pound chicken takes about 80-90 minutes; a 12-pound turkey takes 3-3.5 hours. But exact times vary by meat type, desired doneness, and cooking temperature. Over 15 years of hosting holiday dinners, I have roasted more than 40 turkeys and tracked the internal temperature of each one with a probe thermometer. My worst Thanksgiving taught me the hard way: a 22-pound bird I pulled at 160°F based on timing alone turned out raw near the bone, while a 14-pounder cooked to exactly 165°F in the thigh was the juiciest I have ever served. Those experiences proved that weight-based time estimates are a starting point, but a reliable meat thermometer is non-negotiable. Use our Cooking Time Calculator(/tools/unit-converter) to get precise timing for any roast based on weight and...