Cooking Basics For Dummies
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The tables here give approximate cooking times and temperatures for roasting beef, poultry, pork, and lamb. You want to remove a meat roast when its internal temperature is 5 to 10 degrees F less than final internal temperature, and then let it rest for about 15 minutes.

During the resting time, the roast cooks 5 to 10 degrees F more. None of this is an exact science, though; you have to use a meat thermometer to get the results you like.

[Credit: Illustration by Elizabeth Kurtzman]
Credit: Illustration by Elizabeth Kurtzman

When inserting a meat thermometer into a roast, don’t let the metal touch the bone — the bone is hotter than the meat and registers a falsely higher temperature.

Keep in mind that every oven is different. Some ovens are off by as much as 50 degrees F, which can be like trying to make gourmet coffee with hot tap water. Roasting can be a disaster without precision. Investing in an oven thermometer is worthwhile.

Beef Roasting Chart
Beef Roast Preheated Oven Temperature (Degrees F) Weight Approximate Total Cooking Time Remove from Oven at This Meat Temperature
Boneless rib eye roast (small end) 350 degrees 3 to 4 pounds Medium rare: 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 hours 135 degrees F
Medium: 1-3/4 to 2 hours 150 degrees F
4 to 6 pounds Medium rare: 1-3/4 to 2 hours 135 degrees F
Medium: 2 to 2-1/2 hours 150 degrees F
6 to 8 pounds Medium rare: 2 to 2-1/4 hours 135 degrees F
Medium: 2-1/2 to 2-3/4 hours 150 degrees F
Bone-in rib roast (chine bone removed) 350 degrees F 4 to 6 pounds (2 ribs) Medium rare: 1-3/4 to 2-1/4 hours 135 degrees F
Medium: 2-1/4 to 2-1/2 hours 150 degrees F
6 to 8 pounds (2 to 4 ribs) Medium rare: 2-1/4 to 2-1/2 hours 135 degrees F
Medium: 2-3/4 to 3 hours 150 degrees F
8 to 10 pounds (4 to 5 ribs) Medium rare: 2-1/2 to 3 hours 135 degrees F
Medium: 3 to 3-1/2 hours 150 degrees F
Round tip roast (sirloin tip) 325 degrees F 3 to 4 pounds Medium rare: 1-3/4 to 2 hours 140 degrees F
Medium: 2-1/4 to 21/2 hours 155 degrees F
4 to 6 pounds Medium rare: 2 to 2-1/2 hours 140 degrees F
Medium: 2-1/2 to 3 hours 155 degrees F
6 to 8 pounds Medium rare: 2-1/2 to 3 hours 140 degrees F
Medium: 3 to 3-1/2 hours 155 degrees F
Tenderloin roast 425 degrees F 2 to 3 pounds Medium rare: 35 to 40 minutes 135 degrees F
Medium: 45 to 50 minutes 150 degrees F
4 to 5 pounds Medium rare: 50 to 60 minutes 135 degrees F
Medium: 60 to 70 minutes 150 degrees F

Source: National Cattlemen’s Beef Association

Medium rare doneness: 140 degrees F to 145 degrees F final meat temperature after 10 to 15 minutes standing time

Medium doneness: 155 degrees F to 160 degrees F final meat temperature after 10 to 15 minutes standing time

Allow 1/4 to 1⁄3 pound of uncooked boneless beef per serving and 1/2 to 1 pound of bone-in meat per serving, depending on the cut.

Poultry Roasting Chart
Bird Weight Preheated Oven Temperature Cooking Time
Chicken, broiler/fryer (unstuffed) 3 to 4 pounds 350 degrees F 11/4 to 1-1/2 hours
Chicken, roaster (unstuffed) 5 to 7 pounds 350 degrees F 2 to 2-1/4 hours
Whole turkey (thawed and unstuffed) 8 to 12 pounds 325 degrees F 2-3/4 to 3 hours
Whole turkey (thawed and unstuffed) 12 to 14 pounds 325 degrees F 3 to 3-3/4 hours
14 to 18 pounds 325 degrees F 3-3/4 to 4-1/4 hours
18 to 20 pounds 325 degrees F 4-1/4 to 4-1/2 hours
Duck (whole, unstuffed) 4 to 5-1/2 pounds 325 degrees F 2-1/2 to 3 hours

Source: National Chicken Council

Depending on the size of the bird, allow 15 to 20 minutes additional cooking time if stuffed.

Internal temperature for stuffing should be 165 degrees F.

Internal temperature for meat should be minimum 165 degrees F in the thigh.

Allow about 3/4 to 1 pound of uncooked chicken or turkey on the bone per serving.

The associations and companies that produce and market poultry use these roasting tables only as a rough guideline. For actual cooking times, they recommend always using a meat thermometer to ensure that poultry of any kind reaches a safe minimal internal temperature of 165 degrees F.

Pork Roasting Chart
Cut Thickness/Weight Remove from Oven at This Meat Temperature Cooking Time
Loin roast (bone-in) 3 to 5 pounds 145 degrees F 20 minutes per pound
Boneless pork roast 2 to 4 pounds 145 degrees F 20 minutes per pound
Tenderloin (roast at 425 degrees F to 450 degrees F) 1/2 to 1-1/2 pounds 145 degrees F 20 to 30 minutes
Crown roast 6 to 10 pounds 145 degrees F 20 minutes per pound
Boneless loin chops 1 inch thick 145 degrees F 12 to 16 minutes
Ribs Tender 1-1/2 to 2 hours

Source: National Pork Producers Council

Roast in a shallow pan, uncovered, at 350 degrees F.

Internal temperature should be minimum 145 degrees F.

Allow about 1/4 to 1⁄3 pound of uncooked boneless meat per serving and about 1/2 to 1 pound of bone-in meat per serving, depending on the cut.

Lamb Roasting Chart
Roast Weight Final Internal Temperature Approximate Cooking Time Per Pound
Leg (bone-in) 5 to 7 pounds Medium rare: 145 degrees F to 150 degrees F 15 minutes
Medium: 150 degrees F to 155 degrees F 20 minutes
Boneless (rolled and tied) 4 to 7 pounds Medium rare: 145 degrees F to 150 degrees F 20 minutes
Medium: 150 degrees F to 155 degrees F 25 minutes
Sirloin roast (boneless) about 2 pounds Medium rare: 145 degrees F to 150 degrees F 25 minutes
Medium: 150 degrees F to 155 degrees F 30 minutes
Top round roast about 2 pounds Medium rare: 145 degrees F to 150 degrees F 45 minutes
Medium: 150 degrees F to 155 degrees F 55 minutes

Source: American Lamb Council

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F and remove from oven about 10 degrees F below desired temperature.

Internal temperature should be minimum 145 degrees F.

Allow 1/4 to 1⁄3 pound of boneless lamb per serving and 1⁄3 to 1/2 pound of bone-in lamb per serving.

Although it can be irresistible, don’t keep opening the oven door to see whether your roasted dish is done. Your kitchen will get hot, you’ll get hotter, and the meat or vegetables will take longer to cook.

About This Article

This article is from the book:

About the book authors:

Marie Rama has worked as a professional pastry chef and recipe developer for numerous food companies and associations. She is a regular guest-chef on hundreds of TV and radio shows in the U.S. and Canada.

John Mariani is the author of several of the most highly regarded books on food in America today. He is currently food and travel correspondent for Esquire and restaurant columnist for Forbes magazine.

Marie Rama has worked as a professional pastry chef and recipe developer for numerous food companies and associations. She is a regular guest-chef on hundreds of TV and radio shows in the U.S. and Canada.

John Mariani is the author of several of the most highly regarded books on food in America today. He is currently food and travel correspondent for Esquire and restaurant columnist for Forbes magazine.

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