How Long Does It Take to Cook a Turkey for Medium Rare?

When it comes to cooking turkey, there are a lot of variables to consider, such as the size of the bird, the temperature of your oven, and whether you are stuffing the turkey or not. But the desired level of doneness is the most important factor for determining how long to cook a turkey. If you want your turkey medium-rare, follow specific guidelines to ensure it is perfectly cooked.

Normally, the turkey’s internal temperature should reach 165F in the thickest part of the meat to be considered fully cooked and safe to eat.

However, suppose you want your turkey to be medium rare. In that case, the temperature should be around 145F in the thickest part of the meat, and the meat should be allowed to rest for at least 10-15 minutes after cooking to aid in the even distribution of flavorful juices.

Cooking a turkey to medium rare can be challenging, but achieving a perfectly cooked bird is possible with the right techniques and equipment. To impress your guests, follow this article to create a delicious, juicy medium-rare turkey.

Guide on How to Make Medium-Rare Turkey

Preparing medium-rare turkey can be challenging as it requires careful attention to the cooking time and temperature to ensure the turkey is cooked to a safe internal temperature while remaining tender and juicy. Here is a detailed process for preparing a medium-rare turkey.

Ingredients

• 1 turkey (10-12 pounds)
• Oil or butter
• Salt and pepper
• Herbs and spices (optional)

Equipment:

• Roasting pan with rack
• Meat thermometer
• Basting brush or spoon
• Aluminum foil

Procedures:

• Preheat your oven to 325F
• Remove the turkey from its packaging and rinse it under cold water. Pat the turkey dry with paper towels.
• Rub the turkey with oil or butter and season it with salt, pepper, and other desired herbs and spices.
• Place the turkey on a roasting rack in a roasting pan, breast-side up.
• Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the turkey breast without touching the bone.
• Roast the turkey in the preheated oven for about 2 to 2.5 hours or until the thermometer registers 135F (57C)
• Remove the turkey from the oven and cover it with foil. Let it rest for about 20 minutes.
• Increase the oven temperature to 450F(232C)
• Remove the foil from the turkey and return it to the oven. Roast the turkey for 10 to 15 minutes or until the thermometer registers 145F (63C).
• Remove the turkey from the oven and let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes before carving.

It is important to note that consuming undercooked poultry can pose health risks. The USDA recommends cooking turkey to an internal temperature of 165F (74C) as measured with a food thermometer in the thickest part of the bird. Since you have chosen to prepare your turkey medium rare, monitor the cooking time and temperature closely to ensure it is safe to eat.

How Long Should I Cook a Cook a Turkey for Medium Rare?

When cooked properly, the meat remains, the meat remains tender and juicy. The internal temperature at the thickest part should be 145F

Please note that cooking a turkey to medium-rare readiness is not recommended due to the potential risks of foodborne illness. It is important to ensure that the turkey is cooked to a safe internal temperature or undergoes treatment when raw.

What Is the Cooking Time for Medium-Rare Turkey?

The cooking time for a medium-rare turkey can vary depending on the weight of the turkey, the cooking method, and the temperature of the oven or grill.

What Is the Perfect Temperature for Medium-Rare Turkey?

For a tender and juicy turkey, you can aim for an internal temperature of 160F (71C) in the thickest part of the meat, which will be slightly pink and have some moisture. This is considered a medium temperature for turkey.

To achieve this, you can roast your turkey at 325F (163C) and plan for approximately 15-20 minutes per pound of turkey.

Let the turkey rest for 15-20 minutes before carving to allow the juices to distribute evenly throughout the meat.

What Is the Doneness Level for Medium-Rare Turkey?

Turkey should be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165F to ensure they are safe to eat.

However, if you are cooking another type of poultry or meat and are aiming for a medium-rare level of doneness, the internal temperature should reach approximately 135F-140F (57C-60C). This will result in pink meat in the center with some juices running but not raw.

Using a meat thermometer to measure the internal temperature and achieve your medium-rare turkey accurately is important.

The table below will help you understand better the cooking time for the type of turkey meat you are using:

Can turkey be cooked to a medium-rare level of doneness?

No, cooking turkey to a medium-rare level of doneness is not recommended as it can pose a risk of foodborne illness. Turkey should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165F (74C) to ensure it is safe to eat.

What does medium-rare turkey look like when done?

If you cook another type of meat to a medium rare level of doneness, it will have an internal temperature of around 135F – 140F (57C – 60C) and be pink in the center with some juices running but not raw.

How long do I cook a turkey per pound for medium rare?

A general rule of thumb states that a turkey cooked in medium rare be cooked for approximately 15-20 minutes per pound in a 350F (175C) oven to reach an internal temperature of 165F (74C)

Can I stuff a turkey that is cooked to medium rare?

It is not recommended to stuff a turkey cooked to medium rare as the stuffing may not reach a safe temperature to destroy harmful bacteria. It is safer to cook the stuffing separately or to stuff the turkey after it has been cooked to the proper temperature.

How Long Does It Take to Cook a Turkey for Medium Rare?

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Equipment

• Roasting pan with rack
• Meat thermometer
• Basting brush or spoon
• Aluminum foil

Ingredients

  

• 1 turkey (10-12 pounds)
• Oil or butter
• Salt and pepper
• Herbs and spices (optional)

Instructions

 

• Preheat your oven to 325F
• Remove the turkey from its packaging and rinse it under cold water. Pat the turkey dry with paper towels.
• Rub the turkey with oil or butter and season it with salt, pepper, and other desired herbs and spices.
• Place the turkey on a roasting rack in a roasting pan, breast-side up.
• Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the turkey breast without touching the bone.
• Roast the turkey in the preheated oven for about 2 to 2.5 hours or until the thermometer registers 135F (57C)
• Remove the turkey from the oven and cover it with foil. Let it rest for about 20 minutes.
• Increase the oven temperature to 450F(232C)
• Remove the foil from the turkey and return it to the oven. Roast the turkey for 10 to 15 minutes or until the thermometer registers 145F (63C).
• Remove the turkey from the oven and let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes before carving.

Notes

It is important to note that consuming undercooked poultry can pose health risks. The USDA recommends cooking turkey to an internal temperature of 165F (74C) as measured with a food thermometer in the thickest part of the bird. Since you have chosen to prepare your turkey medium rare, monitor the cooking time and temperature closely to ensure it is safe to eat.

Conclusion

The cooking time of a turkey can vary depending on several factors, such as the size of the bird, the cooking method, and the oven’s temperature. As a general rule of thumb, allowing approximately 10-15 minutes of cooking time per pound of turkey is recommended.

However, it is always best to use a meat thermometer to confirm that the internal temperature has reached the desired level of doneness.