Enter the weight of the item in pounds into the calculator to determine the total cooking time at 18 minutes per pound.

18 Minutes Per Pound Formula

The following formula is used to calculate the total cooking time at 18 minutes per pound.

TT = W * 18

Variables:

  • TT is the total time (minutes)
  • W is the weight of the item (pounds)

To calculate the total cooking time at 18 minutes per pound, multiply the weight of the item by 18.

What is the 18 Minutes Per Pound Rule?

The 18 minutes per pound rule is a cooking guideline that suggests cooking certain types of meat for 18 minutes for every pound the meat weighs. This rule is often used for roasting or smoking meats like turkey, pork, and beef to ensure they are cooked thoroughly without becoming overcooked. It is a simple way to estimate cooking times for large cuts of meat based on their weight.

How to Calculate Total Cooking Time?

The following steps outline how to calculate the total cooking time using the 18 minutes per pound rule.


  1. First, determine the weight of the item (W) in pounds.
  2. Next, use the formula from above = TT = W * 18.
  3. Finally, calculate the Total Time (TT) in minutes.
  4. After inserting the weight and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.

Example Problem : 

Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.

Weight of the item (W) = 5 pounds

Using the 18 minutes per pound rule, the total cooking time (TT) would be 5 pounds * 18 minutes per pound = 90 minutes.