Roast Math

Work backward from dinnertime

The hardest part of a holiday roast is the timing: when the turkey has to leave the freezer, when it goes in the oven, and how long it rests. These planners start from the time you want to eat and work backward, using the U.S. Department of Agriculture's thawing and roasting tables.

Times are planning estimates. A food thermometer decides when meat is done: 165 °F for turkey and 145 °F plus a 3-minute rest for beef roasts, according to the USDA.