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Roast Timing Calculator

Pick the meat and the weight and this works out the roasting time, oven temperature and how long to rest it, using the usual UK conventions. A thermometer is still the honest test.

In grams. 1500 g is 1.5 kg.

roasting time
oven temperature
resting time
target internal

The conventions used

MeatOvenTimeRest
Beef180°C (160°C fan)rare 20, medium 25, well 30 min per 500 g15-20 min
Lamb180°C (160°C fan)medium 25, well 30 min per 500 g, plus that same figure once over15 min
Pork180°C (160°C fan)30 min per 500 g plus 30 min10-15 min
Chicken200°C (180°C fan)45 min per kg plus 20 min15 min
Turkey180°C (160°C fan)under 4 kg: 45 min per kg plus 20 min. 4 kg and over: 40 min per kg plus 20 min30 min

These times assume the joint starts near room temperature and your oven is accurate, which most are not, so treat the number as a guide and the temperature probe as the truth. Target internal temperatures: beef 52°C rare, 60°C medium, 70°C well. Lamb runs much the same. Pork, chicken and turkey should reach 70-75°C right through, with poultry never served pink. A cheap digital meat thermometer settles every argument, so use one. Resting matters: the juices redistribute and the joint carries on cooking a few degrees while it sits, so pull it a touch early.

Common questions

What is the roasting time per kg for beef?
At 180°C (160°C fan), roughly 20 minutes per 500g for rare, 25 for medium and 30 for well done, then rest 15 to 20 minutes.

How long do you roast a chicken?
About 45 minutes per kilogram plus 20 minutes at 200°C (180°C fan), until it reaches 70 to 75°C with no pink meat.

How do I know when it is done?
By internal temperature, not the clock. The full list is in the internal temperatures that actually matter.