Cooking Times and Temperatures: Quick Reference
By The Recipes by Mom kitchen · Last checked October 21, 2026
Quick time charts for boiling, baking, roasting, grilling, air frying and smoking everyday foods. Times are starting ranges; the thermometer has the final word. USDA’s safe minimum internal temperatures:
Baking
- How Long to Bake Bacon in the OvenRegular-cut bacon bakes in about 15 to 20 minutes at 400°F (200°C).
- How Long to Bake Chicken Breast at 350, 375, 400 and 425°FBoneless chicken breasts (6 to 8 oz) bake in about 18 to 25 minutes at 400°F (200°C).
- How Long to Bake Chicken DrumsticksChicken drumsticks bake in about 35 to 45 minutes at 400°F (200°C).
- How Long to Bake Chicken Thighs at 350, 375, 400 and 425°FBone-in, skin-on chicken thighs bake in about 35 to 45 minutes at 400°F (200°C).
- How Long to Bake Chicken WingsChicken wings bake in about 40 to 50 minutes at 400°F (200°C), turned halfway, until crisp and at least 165°F (74°C)..
- How Long to Bake Cod and Other White FishCod fillets about 1 inch thick bake in roughly 12 to 15 minutes at 400°F (200°C).
- How Long to Bake Meatballs1 1/2-inch beef or pork meatballs bake in about 15 to 20 minutes at 400°F (200°C).
- How Long to Bake Meatloaf at 350°FA 2-pound meatloaf bakes in about 60 to 75 minutes at 350°F (175°C).
- How Long to Bake Pork Chops at 350, 375 and 400°FOne-inch boneless pork chops bake in about 15 to 20 minutes at 400°F (200°C).
- How Long to Bake Potatoes at 350, 400 and 425°FA medium russet potato bakes in about 45 to 60 minutes at 400°F (200°C).
- How Long to Bake Salmon at 350, 375, 400 and 425°FA 1-inch-thick salmon fillet bakes in about 12 to 15 minutes at 400°F (200°C).
- How Long to Bake Sweet PotatoesWhole medium sweet potatoes bake in about 45 to 60 minutes at 400°F (200°C).
Roasting
- How Long to Roast AsparagusAsparagus roasts in about 8 to 15 minutes at 400 to 425°F (200 to 220°C), depending on how thick the spears are..
- How Long to Roast BroccoliBroccoli florets roast in about 15 to 20 minutes at 425°F (220°C), or 20 to 25 minutes at 400°F (200°C)..
- How Long to Roast Brussels SproutsHalved Brussels sprouts roast in about 20 to 25 minutes at 400 to 425°F (200 to 220°C)..
- How Long to Roast Sweet PotatoesCubed sweet potatoes roast in about 25 to 30 minutes at 425°F (220°C), tossed once..
- How Long to Roast a Whole ChickenA 3 to 4 pound whole chicken roasts in about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours at 350°F (175°C), per USDA’s chicken chart.
Boiling
- How Long to Boil BroccoliBroccoli florets boil in about 2 to 3 minutes for crisp-tender and 4 to 5 minutes for tender..
- How Long to Boil CarrotsSliced carrots boil in about 5 to 7 minutes.
- How Long to Boil Chicken BreastBoneless chicken breasts gently simmered need about 12 to 18 minutes.
- How Long to Boil Corn on the CobFresh, husked sweet corn needs only 3 to 5 minutes in boiling water.
- How Long to Boil Crab LegsMost crab legs sold in stores are already cooked.
- How Long to Boil Eggs (Hard-Cooked)Large eggs lowered into gently boiling water need about 11 to 12 minutes for a fully firm, classic hard-cooked yolk..
- How Long to Boil Green BeansFresh green beans boil in about 4 to 6 minutes for crisp-tender, or 7 to 8 minutes for soft..
- How Long to Boil Hot DogsHot dogs are already cooked.
- How Long to Boil Lobster TailsLobster tails boil in roughly 1 minute per ounce: about 5 to 6 minutes for a 5 to 6 ounce tail..
- How Long to Boil Potatoes (for Mashed Potatoes and Potato Salad)Cubed potatoes boil in about 10 to 15 minutes.
- How Long to Boil ShrimpLarge raw shrimp boil in about 2 to 3 minutes.
- How Long to Boil Sweet PotatoesCubed sweet potatoes boil in about 10 to 15 minutes.
Steaming
- How Long to Steam BroccoliBroccoli florets steam in about 4 to 7 minutes: closer to 4 for crisp-tender, closer to 7 for soft..
Grilling
- How Long to Grill BurgersHalf-inch to three-quarter-inch beef patties grill in about 4 to 5 minutes per side over medium-high heat.
- How Long to Grill Chicken BreastBoneless chicken breast halves grill in about 6 to 8 minutes per side over direct medium heat, per USDA’s chicken chart.
- How Long to Grill Corn on the CobHusked corn grills in about 10 to 15 minutes over medium-high heat, turned often.
- How Long to Grill Pork ChopsOne-inch pork chops grill in about 4 to 6 minutes per side over medium-high heat, to 145°F (63°C) with a 3-minute rest..
- How Long to Grill SteakA 1-inch steak grilled over high heat needs roughly 4 to 6 minutes per side to reach USDA’s 145°F (63°C), followed by a 3-minute rest..
Air frying
- How Long to Air Fry Chicken BreastBoneless chicken breasts (6 to 8 oz) usually air fry in about 15 to 20 minutes at 375 to 380°F (190°C), flipped halfway.
- How Long to Air Fry Chicken ThighsBoneless thighs air fry in about 15 to 18 minutes at 380°F.
- How Long to Air Fry Chicken WingsFresh wings usually air fry in about 20 to 25 minutes at 380 to 400°F (195 to 200°C), shaken or flipped halfway..
- How Long to Air Fry SalmonSalmon fillets about 1 inch thick air fry in roughly 7 to 10 minutes at 390 to 400°F (200°C)..
Smoking
- How Long to Smoke BrisketA whole beef brisket smoked at 225 to 250°F (107 to 121°C) usually takes about 1 to 1 1/2 hours per pound, so a 12 pound packer can take 12 to 18 hours..
- How Long to Smoke Pork Shoulder (Pork Butt)At 225 to 250°F (107 to 121°C), pork shoulder usually takes about 1 1/2 to 2 hours per pound to become tender enough to pull..
- How Long to Smoke RibsAt 225 to 250°F (107 to 121°C), pork baby back ribs usually take about 5 to 6 hours and spare ribs about 6 to 7 hours..
Slow cooker
- How Long to Slow Cook Chicken BreastBoneless chicken breasts usually take about 3 to 4 hours on LOW or about 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours on HIGH in a slow cooker.
Microwave
- How Long to Microwave a Potato or Sweet PotatoA medium potato or sweet potato usually needs about 5 to 8 minutes on high, turned halfway.
Stovetop and oven
- How Long to Cook Ground BeefGround beef browned in a skillet over medium-high heat takes about 7 to 10 minutes for a pound, until no pink remains and it reaches 160°F (71°C)..
- How Long to Cook LentilsRed lentils simmer in about 15 to 20 minutes.
- How Long to Cook Pork TenderloinA 1 to 1 1/2 pound pork tenderloin roasts in about 20 to 25 minutes at 400 to 425°F (200 to 220°C), to 145°F (63°C) plus a 3-minute rest..
- How Long to Cook QuinoaQuinoa simmers covered for about 15 minutes in twice its volume of water, then rests 5 minutes before fluffing..
- How Long to Cook Rice (White, Brown, Jasmine, Basmati)Long-grain white rice simmers covered for about 15 to 18 minutes.
- How Long to Cook a HamAt 325°F (165°C), a fully cooked half ham (5 to 7 lb) takes about 18 to 24 minutes per pound to reheat to 140°F (60°C), per USDA’s ham timetable..
- How Long to Cook a TurkeyAt 325°F (165°C), an unstuffed 12 to 14 pound turkey takes about 3 to 3 3/4 hours, per USDA’s roasting timetable.
Thawing
- How Long to Thaw a TurkeyIn the refrigerator, allow about 24 hours for every 4 to 5 pounds of turkey.