Cooking a large turkey can be tricky because the breast meat can dry out before the whole bird is fully cooked. By cooking in parchment bags designed for large birds, the turkey steams in its own juices, which creates very moist and tender meat. Total cooking time will depend on the size of your bird; use the guide below for determining cooking time. To find how many pounds of turkey you need to feed your guests, plan on about 1 pound of turkey per person. A 16-pound turkey could feed 16 people, depending on how much meat each guest normally consumes. One pound of bird approximates to about seven ounces of cooked meat. For guests that eat less, or for children, plan on a half pound of bird per person.
Bring the turkey to room temperature before roasting! It can take up to 2 hours for a whole bird to come to room temperature. Place the bird in your sink or in a large pan on your counter to catch any juices. Then proceed with the recipe.
