Christmas Dinner Timings Planner (UK)
Tell it when you want to eat and how big your turkey is; it works out when everything goes in the oven.
The short answer: work backwards from the time you sit down. A 5 kg turkey takes about 3 hours 10 minutes at 190 °C (180 °C fan, gas 5) — 20 minutes per kg plus 90 minutes — and should rest for 30 to 60 minutes. For dinner at 2pm with a 45-minute rest, it goes in at 10:05 am and comes out at 1:15 pm, which frees the oven for the roast potatoes. Always follow the cooking time on your turkey's pack if it has one.
Plan your Christmas dinner
How long does a turkey take to cook?
A common UK guide, from the British Turkey Information Service: at 190 °C (180 °C fan, gas 5), allow 20 minutes per kg plus 70 minutes for a turkey under 4 kg, and 20 minutes per kg plus 90 minutes from 4 kg. Treat it as an estimate: oven, bird and stuffing all change it, so the time on the pack comes first and a thermometer decides.
| Turkey | Estimated time at 190 °C (180 °C fan) | In the oven for 2pm dinner* |
|---|---|---|
| 3 kg | 2 hours 10 minutes | 11:05 am |
| 4 kg | 2 hours 50 minutes | 10:25 am |
| 5 kg | 3 hours 10 minutes | 10:05 am |
| 6 kg | 3 hours 30 minutes | 9:45 am |
| 7 kg | 3 hours 50 minutes | 9:25 am |
| 8 kg | 4 hours 10 minutes | 9:05 am |
* With a 45-minute rest. Estimates for whole birds and bone-in crowns; boneless joints and stuffed birds take a different time — use the pack.
How do I know the turkey is cooked?
The Food Standards Agency's checks: cut into the thickest part — the juices should run clear and there should be no pink meat — and it should be steaming hot all the way through. With a thermometer, the centre should reach 70 °C for 2 minutes (avoid the bone).
When should I take a frozen turkey out of the freezer?
Defrost it in the fridge, following the time on the pack — a large turkey can take several days, so check it the weekend before Christmas. The FSA says to use defrosted food within 24 hours of it fully defrosting.
When do the trimmings go on?
| Trimming | Start before sitting down | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Roast potatoes | 75 minutes | Parboil for 10 minutes, then roast at 200 °C (180 °C fan) for 50–60 minutes, turning once |
| Roast parsnips | 45 minutes | Roast at 200 °C (180 °C fan) for about 40 minutes |
| Stuffing (balls or tray) | 40 minutes | Bake for 30–35 minutes |
| Pigs in blankets | 35 minutes | Roast for about 30 minutes, until browned and cooked through |
| Gravy | 25 minutes | Make with the turkey resting juices; 10–15 minutes |
| Carrots | 20 minutes | Boil or steam for 10–15 minutes |
| Brussels sprouts | 12 minutes | Boil or steam for 6–8 minutes |
| Bread sauce | 20 minutes | Warm the infused milk with the breadcrumbs for 10–15 minutes |
Typical home-cooking times — check them against your own recipes and oven. The turkey resting time is when the oven goes up for the potatoes.
Sources
- Which? — How to cook a turkey crown (British Turkey Information Service timings)
- Food Standards Agency — Cooking your food
- Food Standards Agency — How to chill, freeze and defrost food safely
Checked against the sources on 16 October 2026. Food-safety advice can change; the source pages are the final word.