Cooking Time Calculator

Estimate roasting time by weight for turkey, chicken, beef, pork, ham, lamb, and prime rib with target dinner time planning.

Type of Meat(Select what you are roasting)

Weight (pounds)(Enter the weight of the meat in pounds)

Cooking Method(Select the roasting temperature)

Target Dinner Time (hour, 0-23)(Enter the hour you want to serve dinner (24-hour format, e.g., 18 for 6 PM))

Results

Visualization

How It Works

Cooking time depends on the weight and type of meat, the oven temperature, and whether the meat is bone-in or boneless. These estimates assume room-temperature meat going into a preheated oven. Always use a thermometer for the final check.

The Formula

Total Time = Weight (lbs) x Minutes per Pound. Start Time = Dinner Time - Cooking Time - Rest Time - 15 min buffer.

Variables

Weight (pounds), minutes per pound, oven temperature (F), rest time (minutes), target dinner time.

Example

A 12-pound turkey at 325 F: 12 x 15 = 180 minutes (3 hours). Add 30 minutes rest and 15 minutes buffer = 3 hours 45 minutes total. For a 6 PM dinner, start cooking at about 2:15 PM.

Tips

Take meat out of the refrigerator 30-60 minutes before cooking to bring it closer to room temperature.
Always preheat the oven fully before putting meat in -- this ensures even cooking from the start.
Use a meat thermometer to check doneness -- time estimates are guides, not guarantees.
Tent with aluminum foil if the top is browning too fast before the inside is done.
Resting meat after cooking is essential -- it lets juices redistribute. Cutting too soon makes it dry.