You forget to thaw the turkey? 24 hours per 4-5 pounds in the fridge. For 20 pounds, that’s 5 days. Did you start on Tuesday for a Thursday dinner? You might be eating pizza.
Or you accidentally roast at 350°F instead of 325°F. The outside will be done at hour three, but the inside will be raw. Check your oven temp with a separate thermometer. I’m not kidding. Ovens lie.
The Final Word
Cooking a 20-pound stuffed turkey is a marathon, not a sprint. You will stress. You will swear. You might open a second bottle of wine. That’s fine. Just keep the thermometer handy, and remember: even a slightly dry turkey is still amazing with gravy.
And if all else fails? Order a pizza and tell everyone the turkey is “artisanal.” They’ll believe you. Happy roasting, you magnificent bird-wrangler.
