About this tool
Roast & Turkey Cooking Time Calculator is a free, in-browser tool that estimates how long a roast needs based on its weight and type. Choose the meat, enter the weight in pounds or kilograms, and it returns the total time, an oven-temperature guide and — if you give a target serving time — the clock time to put it in. Everything is computed locally; nothing is uploaded.
It multiplies weight (converted to pounds) by a minutes-per-pound figure at a moderate 325–350°F oven: turkey 13 min/lb unstuffed or 15 stuffed, whole chicken 20 (30 if stuffed), pork 30, ham 15, beef 15/20/27 for rare/medium/well, and leg of lamb 20/25/30. If you enter a 'ready at' time, it subtracts the cook time to show when to start.
These are planning estimates only — actual time varies with shape, bone, starting temperature and your oven, and stuffed birds run longer. Always confirm with a meat thermometer against safe internal temperatures rather than the clock alone.
Frequently asked questions
How is the total time calculated?
Weight is converted to pounds (1 kg = 2.20462 lb) and multiplied by a minutes-per-pound rate for the meat and doneness at roughly 325–350°F. For example a 12 lb unstuffed turkey at 13 min/lb is about 156 minutes, shown as 2:36.
How does the 'ready at' time work?
Enter the clock time you want the roast finished and the tool subtracts the estimated cook time to show when to put it in the oven. Add extra minutes of your own for resting and any preheat, which the calculation does not include.
Why does stuffing add time?
A stuffed bird heats more slowly because the dense stuffing in the cavity must also reach a safe temperature. The tool uses a higher minutes-per-pound rate when 'stuffed' is ticked for turkey or chicken.
Should I trust the time or a thermometer?
Always the thermometer. These figures are approximations for planning; ovens and cuts differ. Cook to the safe internal temperature — check our meat doneness guide — and rest the meat before carving. Nothing you enter leaves your browser.
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