This holiday season, get delicious turkey without using valuable oven space by making electric roaster oven turkey! The turkey cooks separately, and you can enjoy a juicy, perfect roast turkey with golden brown skin.
One of the big problems home cooks face at Thanksgiving is fitting everything in the oven! You have pies, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, scalloped potatoes, rolls, and more, all fighting for precious oven space.
And a turkey will take up most of the space. I’ve never had a house with a double oven, so my solution is to cook the turkey in an electric roaster oven. A separate roaster oven cooks the turkey and contains all the juices and mess.
And your holiday bird cooks even faster in an electric turkey roaster than a regular oven, so you don’t have to get up at 7 am to start dinner!
Cooking a juicy and flavorful turkey for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner just got a whole lot easier with an electric roaster oven These countertop appliances make roasting a turkey foolproof and free up oven space for all your side dishes If you’ve never used one before, have no fear! Here’s my complete guide to cooking a perfect turkey with an electric roaster.
Why Use an Electric Roaster for Turkey?
Electric roaster ovens have several advantages over conventional ovens when it comes to roasting turkey:
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Moistness – Electric roasters seal in moisture exceptionally well. The tight-fitting lid allows the turkey to baste in its own juices rather than drying out.
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oven space – Roasting your turkey frees up the entire oven for baking side dishes and pies.
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Convenience – Electric roasters heat up quickly, cook faster than ovens, and have removable pans for easy cleaning. You can even bring the entire roaster right to the table for carving.
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Consistency – The contained environment of electric roasters leads to more even cooking and reliable doneness. No more dried out breast meat or undercooked thighs.
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Lower Cost – Electric roaster ovens are very affordable compared to building an extra oven into your kitchen They’re also energy efficient
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Portability – Choose a roaster with handles so you can cook the turkey at a friend’s or family member’s house
Choosing an Electric Roaster
Electric roasters come in a range of sizes, usually identified by quart capacity. Here are some size guidelines:
- 16-18 quart roaster – good for turkeys up to 14 pounds
- 22 quart roaster – fits turkeys up to 20 pounds
- 26 quart roaster – accommodates turkeys up to 26 pounds
I recommend getting the largest roaster your budget and storage space allows so you have flexibility for future holidays. The Oster and Rival brands are popular and reliable.
Thawing and Preparing the Turkey
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Thaw – Keep the turkey in its original wrapping and thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours per 4-5 pounds of turkey.
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Remove giblets – Check both cavities of the turkey and remove the bag of giblets. Reserve for gravy or discard.
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Brine (optional) – For added moisture and flavor, soak the turkey in a salt-and-sugar brine for 8-16 hours before cooking.
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Dry – Pat the turkey dry with paper towels before seasoning.
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Season – Coat the skin liberally with oil or butter then sprinkle with salt, pepper and any additional herbs or spices.
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Stuff (optional) – Fill the cavity loosely with your favorite stuffing or aromatics like onions, lemons, thyme and sage.
Cooking the Turkey in an Electric Roaster
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Preheat roaster oven to highest temperature, usually 450°F-500°F.
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Place turkey breast-side up on roasting rack in pan. Tuck wing tips under.
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Cook at max temperature for 30 minutes to brown the skin.
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Reduce temperature to 325°F. Cover and continue roasting until fully cooked.
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Use a meat thermometer to check doneness, not a timer. Turkey is done when breast reaches 165°F and thighs reach 175°F.
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Let rest 20-30 minutes before carving.
The total roasting time depends on the size of your turkey. I recommend starting to check the temperature about 2 hours before the estimated finish time. Electric roasters often cook turkeys faster than conventional ovens.
For example, my 22-quart roaster can fit up to a 16 lb turkey. I’ll cook it at max temp for 30 minutes then turn the heat down to 325°F. I start checking the temperature around the 2 hour mark because I find my 16 lb turkeys are often done in about 2.5 hours.
Roaster Oven Turkey Cooking Times
Use these cooking times as a rough guide, but always rely on a meat thermometer for doneness:
| Turkey Weight | Suggested Total Cook Time |
|---|---|
| 12-14 pounds | 2 – 2.5 hours |
| 14-18 pounds | 2.5 – 3 hours |
| 18-22 pounds | 3 – 3.5 hours |
| 22-24 pounds | 3.5 – 4 hours |
Make Delicious Gravy from Roaster Drippings
One bonus of cooking your turkey in an electric roaster is the rich drippings left in the pan for incredible gravy.
After removing the cooked turkey, use a turkey baster to suction up as many drippings as possible from the roaster pan. Transfer to a saucepan and follow your favorite gravy recipe, usually involving:
- Sprinkle of flour to thicken
- Chicken or turkey broth
- Milk, cream, or cream of mushroom soup (optional)
- Seasonings like pepper, poultry seasoning, Worcestershire sauce etc.
Bring the gravy to a simmer and serve piping hot!
Get Perfectly Cooked Turkey Every Time
Cooking your holiday turkey in an electric roaster oven helps ensure a moist, delicious bird that your family will rave about. The contained environment traps in steam and juices for reliable tenderness.
How to Cook Turkey in an Electric Roaster Oven
- Optional – Brine: Brine the bird for 12-24 hours before roasting. Get turkey brining instructions here.
- Preheat: Preheat the roaster to 450 degrees F.
- Prepare Turkey for Roasting: Take the turkey out of its wrapping and rinse it. Pat it dry with paper towels and remove the neck and giblets from the body cavity.
- Season: Put the bird on the roaster rack. Use a pastry brush to brush the melted butter over the skin. Sprinkle the poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper evenly on the outside.
- Optional – Add Fruit: Add some apple slices or oranges to the body cavity. I don’t recommend adding stuffing to the body cavity, but a little fruit in the cavity can infuse it with extra flavor.
- Cook: Roast it at 450 degrees F for 30 minutes.
- Reduce Heat: Without lifting the lid, reduce the heat to 350 degrees F. Roast it for the remainder of the cooking time. Allow about 15-20 minutes per pound for cooking time. See the timing section for more information.
- Check Temperature: Use a meat thermometer to test the meat’s internal temperature. It is safe to serve at 165 degrees F.
- Rest: Lift the turkey out of the roaster. Cover the bird with foil and let it rest for 20 minutes before carving.
FAQ About Cooking Turkey in a Roaster Oven
Maybe, but I don’t recommend it because it increases the chance of undercooked food. An electric roaster frees up oven space, so use some of that space to bake the stuffing or make slow cooker stuffing.
I’ve had a Nesco 18-quart roaster oven for years, which holds up to a 22-pound turkey, and it works great. The Oster 22-quart is also very popular and can hold a bird up to 26 pounds. You can’t go wrong with either.
Start at 450 degrees F. Then after half an hour, reduce the heat to 350 degrees F. This allows the skin to brown quickly at the start of the cooking time for a golden brown color.
No basting is necessary. The smaller size of the roaster oven keeps the turkey moist and juicy. There is also no need to add water to the bottom.
How to Cook a Turkey in an electric roaster, EASY and QUICK! I Episode 6
FAQ
Do you put water in the bottom of an electric roaster when cooking a turkey?
Is it better to put turkey in the oven or electric roaster?
Do you use a bag to cook a turkey in an electric roaster?