The golden rule: work backwards from serving time
Decide when you want to eat (most families: 2–3pm). Work back from there. A 5kg turkey needs approximately 3.5 hours at 190°C. Roast potatoes need 1 hour at high heat. Parsnips need 40 minutes. Stuffing needs 45 minutes. Brussels need 10 minutes. Map each item backwards from serving time. Use our free Christmas Day planner to build the complete schedule.
The things you can do in advance
Christmas pudding: weeks ahead. Bread sauce: the day before (reheat on the day). Roast potatoes: parboil and rough up on Christmas Eve, refrigerate, roast from cold on the day (actually produces better crunch). Gravy: Christmas Eve from the turkey giblets if available. Stuffing balls: make and refrigerate the day before, cook from cold. These six advance tasks cut Christmas morning work by half.
The turkey — the most important calculation
20 minutes per 500g at 190°C, plus 30 minutes resting time. A 5kg turkey: 200 minutes cooking (3 hours 20 minutes) + 30 minutes rest = 3 hours 50 minutes total from oven to carving. The resting time is not optional — it is what makes the meat tender. Cover with foil and a thick layer of tea towels to retain heat.
Our picks compared
| Pick | Product | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top pick | Turkey cooking time calculator guide | Turkey timing | Check price → |
| Thermometer | Meat thermometer instant read digital | Doneness check | Check price → |
| Roasting tin | Large roasting tin with rack turkey 6kg | Turkey tin | Check price → |
| Planner | A4 heavyweight matte card | Day schedule | Check price → |
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