usda turkey cooking times
1 Allow 1 pound of turkey per person. 2  Buy your turkey only 1 to 2 days before you plan to cook it. 3  Keep it stored in the refrigerator until you're ready to cook it. 4  Place it on a tray or in a pan to catch any juices that may leak. Add Â½ cup of water to the bottom of the pan. 2  If your roasting pan does not have a lid, you may place a tent of heavy-duty aluminum foil over the turkey for the first 1 to 1 Â½ hours. 3  This allows for maximum heat circulation, keeps the turkey moist, and reduces oven splatter.