Regular Roasting Questions & Answers, Frozen Roasts

REGULAR ROASTING QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Q. Is it necessary to check for doneness with a meat thermometer?

Q. Do I need to preheat my oven each time I cook a roast or poultry?

A. Checking the finished internal temperature at the completion of cooking time is recommended if you did not use the probe while cooking. Temperatures are shown in the Regular Roasting Guide. For roasts over 8 lbs., check with thermometer at half-hour intervals after half the cooking time has passed.

Q. Why is my roast crumbling when I try to carve it?

A. Roasts are easier to slice if allowed to cool 10 to 20 minutes after removing them from the oven. Be sure to cut across the grain of the meat.

A. It is not necessary to preheat your oven.

Q. When buying a roast, are there any special tips that would help me cook it more evenly?

A. Yes. Buy a roast as even in thickness as possible, or buy rolled roasts.

Q. Can I seal the sides of my foil “tent” when roasting a turkey?

A. Sealing the foil will steam the meat. Leaving it unsealed allows the air to circulate and brown the meat.

REGULAR ROASTING GUIDE

Frozen Roasts

Frozen roasts of beef, pork, lamb, etc., can be started without thawing, but allow 15 to 25 minutes per pound additional time (15 minutes per pound for roasts under 5 pounds, more time for larger roasts).

Make sure poultry is thawed before roasting. Unthawed poultry often does not cook evenly. Some commercial frozen poultry can be cooked successfully without thawing. Follow the directions given on the package label.

				Oven			Approximate Roasting Time
	mue		Temperature		Doneness		in Minutes per Pound
	Meat						3 to 5 lbs.	6 to 8 lbs.
	Tender cuts; rib, high quality	325°			Rare:	24-33		18-22
	sirloin tip, rump or top round*				Medium:	35-39		22-29
					Well Done:	40-45		30-35
	Lamb leg or bone-in shoulder*	325°			Rare:		21–25	20-23
					Medium:	25-30		24–28
	Veal shoulder, leg or loin*	325°			Well Done:	3&35		28-33
	Veal shoulder, leg or loin*	325°			Well Done:	35-45		30-40
	Pork loin, rib or shoulder*	325°			Well Done:	3545		30-40
	Ham, precooked	325°			To Warm:		17-20 minutes per pound (any weight)
	Poultry						3 to 5 lbs.	Over 5 lbs.
	Chicken or Duck	325°			Well Done:	3540		30-35
	Chicken pieces	350°			Well Done:	35-40		Over 15 lbs.
	Turkey						10 to 15 lbs.	Over 15 lbs.
	Turkey	325°			Well Done:	18-25		15-20
*For boneless rolled roasts over t				lches thick, adl	j to 10 minutes per pound to times given above.

Internal

Temperature “F.

140°-1500t 150°-1600 170°–1850 140°-15007 150°–1600 170°-1850 170°-1800 170°–1800 115°–1200

185°–1900

185°–1900 In thigh: 185°–1900

fThe U. S. Department of Agriculture says “Rare beef is popular, but you should know that cooking it to only 140”F. means some food poisoning organisms may survive.” (Source: Safe Food Book. Your Kitchen Guide. USDA Rev. June 1985.)