Christmas dinner timer

Say when you want to eat, how big the turkey is and what's on the table. You get a minute-by-minute plan worked back from that time: oven on, turkey in, when to check it, potatoes, pigs in blankets, gravy and pudding, fitted around one oven or two. Print it, or add every step to your phone as an alarm. Free, no sign-up, nothing you type leaves your device.

1. When are you eating?

2. The main

3. Your kitchen

4. The trimmings

Tick what you're making. Minutes are cooking times; change them to match your recipe or packet.

    Remembered on this device only.

    Christmas dinner time plan

    Your time plan

        Times are a guide. Your food's packaging comes first, and meat must be cooked right through: check the turkey with a thermometer (75°C in the thickest part of the thigh) or make sure the juices run clear, there's no pink meat and it's steaming hot.

        Did it help? Buy the cook a mince pie (£3).

        Christmas dinner timings: questions

        What time should I put my turkey in?

        Work back from when you want to eat: take off the resting time (about 45 minutes, which covers carving), then the cooking time, then 20 minutes to heat the oven. These times use the rule of thumb below and a 45 minute rest. The cooking time on your turkey's label comes first.

        TurkeyCooking timeEat at 1pmEat at 2pmEat at 3pmEat at 4pm
        3 kg2 h 10 min10:0511:0512:0513:05
        4 kg2 h 50 min09:2510:2511:2512:25
        5 kg3 h 10 min09:0510:0511:0512:05
        6 kg3 h 30 min08:4509:4510:4511:45
        7 kg3 h 50 min08:2509:2510:2511:25
        8 kg4 h 10 min08:0509:0510:0511:05

        Turkey goes in at the time shown; switch the oven on 20 minutes before.

        How long does a turkey take to cook per kg?

        A common UK rule of thumb for an oven-ready turkey or crown at 190°C (170°C fan, gas 5) is 20 minutes per kg, plus 70 minutes for birds under 4 kg or plus 90 minutes from 4 kg. Guides differ, and so do ovens, so follow the label if it has one and check with a thermometer: the thickest part of the thigh should reach 75°C, or the juices run clear with no pink meat and it's steaming hot. This planner puts a check in 30 minutes before the turkey is due out, so you have time to give it longer.

        How long should a turkey rest?

        At least 30 minutes; many cooks rest it for 45 minutes to an hour or more, loosely covered with foil and a clean tea towel. It stays hot, the meat is easier to carve, and the oven is free for the potatoes and trimmings.

        How long does a frozen turkey take to defrost?

        The Food Standards Agency says to thaw it in the fridge and allow around 10 to 12 hours per kg; a 6 to 7 kg bird can take up to 4 days. Tick "It's frozen" and the plan tells you when to move it from the freezer to the fridge (it uses 12 hours per kg). Check there's no ice in the cavity before cooking.

        How do I fit Christmas dinner into one oven?

        Roast the turkey first, then use its resting time: when it comes out, turn the oven up to 220°C (200°C fan, gas 7) for the roast potatoes, parsnips, pigs in blankets and stuffing. Potatoes take longest, so with a 45 minute rest they go in alongside the turkey for its last stretch and crisp up once the oven is turned up. A longer rest, or a second oven, avoids that; the plan tells you which.

        Can I get alarms on my phone?

        Yes. "Add alarms to my calendar" downloads a calendar file with every step as an event that alerts at its time. Open it on your phone and add the events to your calendar (on an iPhone tap "Add All"). Or keep this page open in Kitchen mode: it shows the next job and a countdown in big type and keeps the screen awake where the browser allows.

        Is my information stored anywhere?

        No. Everything is worked out in your browser and remembered only on this device. The page counts visits without cookies.