Everything you need to know for perfect turkey in a turkey roaster oven. How long it takes, how to know when it’s done and all of your other questions answered. Show
The holiday season is one full of cookies, eggnog, mashed potatoes, stuffing, pies, and, of course, roast turkey. I always roast several turkeys between November and December and there is one trick I absolutely swear by: my electric turkey roaster oven. I didn’t know what an electric roaster oven was until I got married and received one as a wedding gift. After trying it once, I’ve never cooked a bird in a traditional oven since! How to Choose the Best Electric RoasterAn electric roaster oven is basically a smaller version of a regular oven, powered by electricity. I always think of it as a cross between a Crock-Pot and a toaster oven. I recommend the 22-Quart Oster Roaster Oven with Self-Basting Lid, which can cook a turkey up to 26 pounds. This is an updated and slightly larger version of the roaster I own. I’ve owned my turkey roaster for over five years, I use it a few times a year, and it still pretty much looks and works as if it’s brand new. You can use it for way more than just cooking turkeys:
I always use my electric roaster for Maple Glazed Ham. Some electric roaster models come with removable serving dishes, which I really think are worth buying. They’re great for serving at parties, and you can buy them separately too. Pros of Buying an Electric Roaster Oven
Cons to an Electric Roaster
How Much Does an Electric Roaster Cost?Prices for electric roasters generally range from $30 to $130, depending on size and quality. Bird size maximums generally range from 16 to 28 pounds. I swear by my electric roaster, but there are a few pros and cons to consider: What is the Best Turkey to Buy for RoastingHere’s what you should keep in mind when you’re selecting a bird at the supermarket:
Thawing a turkey is pretty easy, but there are a few tips to keep in mind:
How to Prepare a Turkey for Electric RoastingTo cook a turkey in an electric roaster, all you really need is the turkey and 1/2 cup of melted butter. Of course, all the extras make it great! But if all you have is butter, you’ll still get a delicious, browned, and crisp-skinned bird. Start by pre-heating the turkey roaster to 400 degrees. Meanwhile, remove the neck and giblets from the bird and make sure the turkey is thawed. I recommend placing it on the roaster rack for this (something I forgot to do in this picture). Stuffing is my favorite Thanksgiving side, but I don’t cook my stuffing in the turkey cavity for sanitary reasons. Instead, I stuff my turkey with slices of apple, onion, and celery to add flavor. Then, I discard the fillings after cooking. I make my stuffing in a casserole dish and cook it in the regular oven. After stuffing the cavity, slide a few pats of butter in between the skin and meat on the top of the bird. How to Make Browning Sauce for Roast TurkeyIf you like, you can make a simple browning sauce for your bird by mixing the seasoning packet with melted butter. Use a pastry brush to cover the turkey with the browning mixture. The browning sauce is for color only, so if you don’t want to use it, melted butter works too. Then season the turkey generously with salt, pepper, and whatever other seasonings you prefer (I use Italian seasoning.) Finally, place the entire turkey, rack and all, itto in the roaster oven. How to Make Moist Roast TurkeyPour a can of chicken stock into the roasting pan. This step makes your turkey extra juicy and ensures you’ll have enough drippings for tons of homemade gravy. Insert the thermometer into the thick part of the turey thigh and place the lid on the roaster. How Long to Cook A Turkey in a RoasterCook the turkey at 400 degrees for 1 hour. After 1 hour, turn the temperature down to 350 degrees and cook until the internal temperature reaches 170 degrees. No one in my family eats the skin of the turkey, but I know crispy skin is a must for some people. If you want a crispy skin, wait until your bird is about half an hour away from being done, remove the lid, carefully remove the roasting pan with the turkey, and place the pan in a 350 degree preheated oven. Bake without the lid until the desired internal temperature is reached. How to Use a Meat Thermometer for TurkeyA meat thermometer is a necessity when cooking a turkey in a roaster. I have a Taylor Precision Products Digital Cooking Thermometer with Probe and Timer, and it works perfectly. If you want a top-of-the-line probe thermometer, I also recommend the ThermoWorks ChefAlarm, rated #1 by Cook’s Illustrated. I love using the probe thermometer because I can plug it into my turkey, and set it to go off when it reaches the desired temperature. After you set the thermometer, you can forget about it until the alarm goes off. I can also see the current temperature, and a timer keeps track of how long the turkey has been cooking. I don’t have to lift the lid at all to check the temperature, so my turkey stays nice and juicy. Once the turkey cooks through, remove it from the roaster oven, tent with tin foil and let it rest for 20 minutes before carving. How To Cook a Turkey in a RoasterHow to cook a turkey in an electric turkey roaster, with step-by-step instructions for a beautiful, juicy roast thanksgiving meal every time. Prep Time 10 mins Additional Time 1 hr Total Time 1 hr 10 mins Course Holiday Recipes Cuisine American Kitchen Knives GORILLA GRIP Original Oversized Cutting Board, 3 Piece, BPA Free, Dishwasher Safe, Juice Grooves, Larger Thicker Boards, Easy Grip Handle, Non Porous, Extra Large, Set of 3, Red, Blue, Lime Green Bastig Brush – Grilling BBQ Baking, Pastry, and Oil Stainless Steel Brushes “Lavatools PT12 Javelin Digital Instant Read Meat Thermometer for Kitchen, Food Cooking, Grill, BBQ, Smoker, Candy, Home Brewing, Coffee, and Oil Deep Frying “ Wilton Industries Perfect Results Mega Cooling Rack Pyrex 2Piece Basics Value Pack 3 Quart Oblong Bake Dish, 2.2, Clear
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Se See all of my festive holiday recipes here, including plenty of side dishes to serve with your bird made in an electric turkey roaster. And for all the leftover turkey, I love to make keto cucumber and turkey sandwiches 🙂 Disclosures: The author was not compensated by any person or company for the content of this post. The post may contain affiliate links. If you buy a product using these links, we receive a commission. This helps with the cost of publishing recipes on this website. For more recipes like this one, follow us on Pinterest, follow us on Twitter or like us on Facebook. Photos by Allison McGee, Bochkarev Photography/Shutterstock.com, Paul Cowan/Shutterstock.com How long does it take to cook turkey in roaster?How Long to Cook Turkey in an Electric Roaster. 12- to 13-pound turkey, 1¾ hours.. 14- to 24-pound turkey, 2 to 3 hours.. 25- to 28-pound turkey 3½ to 4 hours.. How long to cook a turkey at 350 in a roaster?Calculate turkey cooking time and temperature. The simplest way to figure out turkey roasting times is to calculate 13 minutes per pound at 350°F for an unstuffed turkey (that's about 3 hours for a 12- to 14-lb. turkey), or 15 minutes per pound for a stuffed turkey.
How long does a 20 pound turkey take in a roaster?After 30 minutes, DO NOT OPEN LID. Simply turn roaster heat down to 325*F and cook for an additional 4 1/2hours (approximate for 20 pound turkey). Rule of thumb is 15 minutes per pound of unstuffed turkey. So a 20 pound turkey would need to cook for an approximate total of 5 hours.
How long does is take a 13 pound turkey to cook in an electric roaster?You'll want to plan about 8-10 minutes per pound for an unstuffed bird at 325º Fahrenheit. You should always read your instruction manual because each roaster may be different.
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