Seasonal Hub

🦃 Christmas Turkey Planner

Enter when dinner is served. We'll tell you exactly when to thaw, preheat, put the bird in, pull it out, rest, and carve. No more Christmas turkey maths.

Temp

Cooking times are estimates. Always verify doneness with a meat thermometer and refer to UK FSA food safety guidelines.

Plan backwards

The Christmas Day timeline

The biggest Christmas dinner stress is timing. Here's the sequence RoastClock calculates for you:

  1. 1
    Thaw deadline

    Move from freezer to fridge. ~10–12 hours per kg.

  2. 2
    Preheat oven

    20 minutes before putting the bird in.

  3. 3
    Into the oven

    The main cook. ~30–35 min/kg unstuffed at 180°C (fan).

  4. 4
    Pull from oven

    When internal temp hits pull temp (~72°C). Carryover cooking during rest brings it to 75°C.

  5. 5
    Rest for 30–45 minutes

    Tent loosely with foil. Juices redistribute. Internal temp reaches safe 75°C. Oven is now free for roasties.

  6. 6
    Carve and serve

    Dinner is on time. No stress. No overcooked bird.

Common questions

Christmas turkey FAQ

How long does it take to cook a Christmas turkey per kg?
A whole unstuffed turkey takes approximately 30–35 minutes per kg at 180°C (fan). A 5kg turkey takes about 2½–3 hours. Stuffed turkeys need about 15% longer. Use the turkey calculator for exact times.
What time should I put the turkey in on Christmas Day?
Work backwards from your serve time. Subtract carving time (15 min), rest time (30–45 min), cooking time, and 20 minutes for preheating. For a 5kg turkey serving at 2:00 PM, you'd put it in around 9:30 AM. The RoastClock planner calculates this for you exactly.
When should I start thawing my Christmas turkey?
Allow 10–12 hours per kg in the refrigerator. A 5kg turkey needs about 2 days to thaw. A 7kg bird needs 3 days. The RoastClock planner tells you the exact date to move it to the fridge.
Should I brine my Christmas turkey?
Brining adds moisture and flavour. A wet brine takes 12–24 hours in the refrigerator. A dry brine (salt rub) can go on 2–3 days before. Plan to brine the day before cooking. RoastClock currently focuses on the cooking timeline — brine time should be added to your preparation schedule.
Should I spatchcock my Christmas turkey?
Spatchcocking (removing the backbone and flattening) reduces cooking time by about 35%, helps it cook more evenly, and makes carving easier. A 5kg spatchcocked turkey can cook in under 2 hours — freeing up oven time for your roast potatoes and trimmings. Select the spatchcock option in the turkey calculator.

Other meats

🐔 Chicken 🥩 Beef 🐖 Pork 🐑 Lamb 🍖 Gammon & Ham