Whether it’s your first go at cooking Thanksgiving dinner or you’re a seasoned pro, the turkey takes center stage on the table, so it must come out perfect!
Roasting a turkey can be intimidating, especially if you’re tackling your first Thanksgiving dinner. With so much pressure to deliver a perfectly cooked moist and flavorful centerpiece, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. But there’s a secret weapon that takes the guesswork and stress out of roasting turkey – the oven bag.
As a seasoned home cook, I can’t recommend oven bags enough. They lock in moisture and flavor, essentially self-basting the turkey as it cooks, while also cutting down cook time. That means you’re guaranteed tender, juicy meat without having to constantly check and baste the bird. And clean-up is a breeze since everything stays neatly contained.
If you’re new to oven bag turkey roasting, this simple step-by-step guide will walk you through the process. I’ll also answer some common questions about materials, prep, cook times and tips for extra crispy skin.
What You Need
- Reynolds Kitchens Turkey Oven Bag – Pick up an oven-safe bag designed to fit turkeys up to 24 lbs. You’ll find these near the foil and plastic wrap in grocery stores.
- Roasting Pan – A foil pan works for small-medium birds. Make sure the bag lays flat.
- Instant-Read Thermometer – Essential for monitoring temperature and doneness.
- 12-24 lb Turkey – Larger turkeys brown better since they cook longer. Thaw completely if frozen.
- Butter & Herbs – For flavor. Options: garlic, thyme, sage, rosemary, etc.
- Onion, Carrots, Celery – For the pan and gravy.
- Flour – To keep the bag from bursting.
- Salt & Pepper – For seasoning.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps for a foolproof oven bag turkey:
- Prep the bird: Remove giblets, rinse, pat dry and season cavity with salt and pepper. Mix butter with minced garlic, thyme and salt.
- Loosen skin: Use a spoon to separate skin from breast meat. Rub herb butter over and under skin.
- Season turkey: Generously salt and pepper all over outside of turkey.
- Prep bag: Add 1 Tbsp flour to oven bag and shake to coat inside. Place bag in roasting pan.
- Load aromatics: Add chopped onion, carrots and celery to bag. They’ll flavor drippings for gravy.
- Insert turkey: Place prepared turkey breast-side up in oven bag over vegetables.
- Seal bag: Close with oven-safe tie. Make 5-6 half-inch slits in top with a knife for venting.
- Roast turkey: Cook at 350°F until breasts reach 165°F and thighs 175°F. See times below.
- Rest turkey: Let sit 20 mins before removing from bag to carve.
Estimated Oven Bag Cook Times
- 10-12 lbs: 1.5-2 hours
- 12-16 lbs: 2-2.25 hours
- 16-20 lbs: 2.25-2.5 hours
- 20-24 lbs: 2.5-3 hours
Always rely on a meat thermometer for doneness, not just cook time estimates. Cook times vary based on oven calibration and turkey temperature at the start
FAQs
Get answers to common questions about oven bag turkey:
Can you stuff an oven bag turkey?
Stuffing is risky since it may not reach a safe 165°F. Opt for baking stuffing separately.
How do you get crispy skin?
Cook turkey in the bag then transfer to a roasting rack for the last 15 minutes. The brief uncovered roast will crispen the skin.
Can you make gravy with oven bag drippings?
Absolutely! Strain collected juices from bag through a mesh strainer into a saucepan to make gravy.
What size turkey fits in an oven bag?
Standard turkey oven bags accommodate up to 24 pound birds. Make sure excess bag material is tucked under so it doesn’t touch oven walls.
Do you really need flour in the oven bag?
Yes, flour is key. It prevents the bag from bursting by absorbing excess grease and juices. Always coat the bag interior with flour before adding turkey.
Should you baste an oven bag turkey?
No basting needed! The bag seals in moisture, self-basting the turkey. Just set it and forget it.
Handy Tips for Oven Bag Success
Follow these tips for the best oven bag turkey results:
- Pat turkey dry before seasoning and bagging. Excess moisture causes steam which can burst the bag.
- Cut several vents in the bag so steam can escape rather than split the bag.
- Use a thermometer, don’t rely on pop-up timers which can be inaccurate.
- Tuck foil under bag edges so drippings don’t stick to the pan bottom.
- Add vegetables and herbs in the bag to impart flavor to turkey and drippings.
- Let turkey rest 20 minutes before carving for juicier meat.
Take the Stress Out of Roasting Turkey
If you’re looking to simplify holiday cooking, an oven roasting bag is a game changer. It locks in juices for succulent meat and cuts down on cook time. Follow this easy step-by-step for moist, delicious turkey that’s sure to wow your Thanksgiving guests!
TURKEY OVEN BAG COOKING TIMES
Add 1 tablespoon of flour to coat the bag when preparing your turkey oven bag. Do not add any water (unless directed).
| OVEN BAG TURKEY COOKING TIMES Until internal temp reaches 165°F in the breast and thigh in several places, not touching the bone (If you prefer a well-done turkey with no pink juices, cook until 180°F in the thickest part of the thigh, not touching the bone) | |
| Turkey Weight | Cooking Time @ 350°F |
| Whole Turkey, unstuffed | |
| 10-12 pounds | 1 1/2 to 2 hours |
| 12-16 pounds | 2 to 2 1/4 hours |
| 16-20 pounds | 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 hours |
| 20-24 pounds | 2 1/2 to 3 hours |
| Whole Turkey, stuffed (stuffing temperature should be 165°F) | |
| 10-12 pounds | 2 to 2 1/2 hours |
| 12-16 pounds | 2 1/2 to 2 3/4 hours |
| 16-20 pounds | 2 3/4 to 3 hours |
| 20-24 pounds | 3 to 3 1/2 hours |
| Turkey Breast, bone-in | |
| 8-12 pounds | 1 3/4 to 2 1/4 hours |
| Turkey Breast, boneless | |
| 8-12 pounds | 2 1/2 to 3 hours |
| Wild Turkey | |
| Same as whole turkey, but if skinless, add 1/4 cup water and brush with extra oil or butter. | |
If you want all the juicy details about how to cook a turkey in an oven bag, and our oven bag cooking times, peek at our oven bag cooking charts for turkey, chicken, beef, pork, and more!
COOKING A TURKEY IN AN OVEN BAG
Cooking your Thanksgiving turkey in a Reynolds Kitchens® Turkey Oven Bag is a fantastic way to ensure that your turkey stays moist and succulent while also turning out a golden light brown. Plus, with an oven bag, you wont even have to worry about scrubbing the roasting pan. Just follow these easy steps to roast a turkey in an oven bag for your next dinner.
- Reynolds Kitchens® Turkey Oven Bag
- One 8 to 24-pound turkey
- 1 tablespoon flour (wheat, rice, potato, nut or gluten-free flour, corn starch, corn meal, or matzo meal can be used as a substitute for flour)
- Ties that come in the oven bag package
- Large oven-safe roasting pan or disposable aluminum roasting pan
- Seasonings
- Meat thermometer
Preheat your oven to 350°F.
Place a turkey-size oven bag into a large roasting pan that is at least two inches deep. Sprinkle one tablespoon of flour into the bag and shake to distribute (you may use wheat, rice, potato, nut or gluten-free flour, corn starch, corn meal, or matzo meal instead of flour). Then, add sliced vegetables, depending on the recipe. Turn down the ends of the bag several times to help hold it open while you place the turkey inside.
Remove the neck and giblets from the turkey. If you like to stuff your turkey, place the stuffing into the cavity. Be careful not to overstuff. Pat the skin dry, brush the turkey with oil or melted butter, and season as desired. Not sure what to use for seasoning? Try this herb-roasted turkey recipe. Place turkey in the oven bag atop your sliced vegetables.
Close the bag with the nylon tie found in the turkey oven bag carton. It’s usually folded inside the cooking chart.
Make 6 half-inch slits in the top of the bag to allow steam to escape as the turkey cooks. Tuck the corners of the bag in the pan and trim or fold down the extra bag beyond the tie to ensure it doesn’t touch the oven or heating elements when cooking.
Place the turkey on the lowest rack of your oven to roast. There’s no need to baste or attend to the turkey. Look at the cooking chart included in the carton for the estimated time for cooking a turkey in an oven bag. To check if the turkey is done cooking, measure the temperature through one of the cut slits on the top of the bag. Place a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the turkey thigh, not touching the bone.
Let the turkey stand in the bag for 15 minutes after removing it from the oven. Then, cut the top of the bag open with cooking shears or a paring knife.
To remove the turkey from the bag, insert serving forks in the neck and chest cavities of the turkey. Then, transfer your turkey to a serving dish for dinner. Use the juices to make flavorful gravy to pair with the moist turkey.