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Our Easy Christmas Turkey Cooking Guide

Our Easy Christmas Turkey Cooking Guide

22nd Dec 2025

If the thought of cooking a whole turkey this Christmas fills you with dread - we've got you covered!

Our easy-to-follow guide provides all the essential steps to help your Christmas preparations run smoothly.

Allowing you to focus more time on enjoying the day with friends and family!

(Guidelines based on our Appledore Turkeys. Always make sure your turkey is fully cooked before serving.)

Our Easy Christmas Turkey Cooking Guide:

1. Take the turkey out of the fridge 2 hours before cooking to come to room temperature. 

2. Your turkey may have been trussed with string; make sure to remove the string before cooking. Do not wash or rinse the turkey before cooking.

3. Insert the Pop Up thermometer fully at a point 2" angle to the right or left side of the front tip of the breast bone. Do not use the Pop Up if cooking the turkey breast down. 

4. Do not stuff your turkey, stuffing must be cooked separately. Alternatively, you could place a large peeled onion into the body cavity. 

5. The oven should be preheated before cooking according to the guidelines below:

Fan ovens - 160°C / 320°F

Conventional ovens - 180°C / 375°F

AGA - hot oven

6. See the table below or suggested cooking times. The giblets are included in the weight of the box - remember to deduct approximately 10% of the weight to account for the giblets when selecting the cooking time. Alternatively, you could weigh the giblets separately and deduct this from the weight of the box. 

7. We do not recommend using tin foil during cooking. However, you may find tin foil useful towards the end of cooking to avoid any excess browning. *If you decided to use tin foil, then extra cooking time must be allowed.

8. Your Pop Up thermometer will tell you when your turkey is ready. Cut through the skin between the legs and breast to allow juices to run and also allow the thighs to cook more evenly. Test if your turkey is ready by using a carving fork on the inside of the thigh. If the juices run clear, the turkey is ready. If it is still pink, return to the oven to cook further. 

9. If you have a digital thermometer, it should read 70°C in the thickest part of the flesh. The bird will continue to cook while resting, and the temperature will rise to its own accord to 74°C or higher.

10. Remove the Pop Up thermometer and allow the turkey to rest for a minimum of 30 minutes before carving. 

11. Carve your turkey and enjoy!

Carving Guide:

1.  Hold the leg by the knuckle, cut close to the bone and twist off. Carve the dark leg meat. 

2. Similarly, remove the wings and cut in half. 

3. Slice the breast meat from one side. 

4. Repeat on the other side. 

*Ovens may vary, this chart should only be used as a guide only. Always check the juices run clear and use a digital thermometer where possible.*

Suggested cooking times:

KILOS TIME
3 kg 1 hr 45 mins
4 kg 2 hrs
5 kg 2 hrs 15 mins
6 kg 2 hrs 30 mins
7-8 kg 3 hrs
9-11 kg 3 hrs 30 mins