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!
Cooking the perfect turkey can be intimidating, especially on Thanksgiving when all eyes are on you. Undercook it and you risk giving your family food poisoning. Overcook it and you’ll have dried out, flavorless meat. It’s a high-stakes situation. That’s why many home cooks turn to oven bags to take some of the guesswork out of roasting a turkey. But does cooking a turkey in a bag really speed up the cooking time? Let’s take an in-depth look at the evidence.
Why Do Oven Bags Speed Up Cooking?
Oven bags are made from heat-resistant nylon that can withstand temperatures up to 400°F. When you seal the turkey inside one of these bags it transforms into a mini oven of sorts. The bag traps all the moisture and juices inside with the turkey creating a humid environment.
This moisture does two key things:
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It keeps the turkey extra juicy and tender
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It transfers heat more efficiently, allowing the turkey to cook faster.
The steam created inside the bag essentially braises the turkey from the inside out. The hot air trapped in the bag surrounds the entire surface of the turkey at once, rather than just circulating around the outside of it. This allows it to cook more evenly and quickly.
Evidence That Oven Bags Reduce Cook Time
Every recipe and cooking chart confirms that oven bags do indeed reduce the time it takes to roast a turkey. Here’s a look at the evidence:
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Reynolds Oven Bags – Their cooking chart shows turkeys cooking approximately 1 hour less than standard roasting times when using their turkey oven bags.
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Butterball – Their instructions for cooking turkey in a bag specify cooking for 1 hour less than the recommended oven roasting time.
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Food Network – Their guide explains turkeys cook about an hour faster in an oven bag compared to cook times for standard roasting.
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Allrecipes – Their oven bag turkey recipe states to start checking the temperature of the turkey 1 hour before the shortest cook time range given.
The shortened cook times reported by all these major cooking resources confirm that turkeys do cook faster when roasted in a bag. While cook times can vary based on factors like a turkey’s size and whether or not it is stuffed, you can reliably count on oven bags to reduce roast times by approximately 1 hour.
Key Factors That Impact Oven Bag Cook Times
There are a few key factors that can influence just how much faster your turkey will cook when using an oven bag:
Turkey Weight – Heavier turkeys over 16 pounds will have a more noticeable reduction in cook time compared to smaller birds when using a bag.
Stuffed vs. Unstuffed – An unstuffed turkey cooks faster than a stuffed one, so cook time savings may be greater for an unstuffed bird.
Cooking Temperature – Higher oven temperatures above 350°F will result in greater cook time reductions compared to lower oven temperatures.
Turkey Shape – Irregularly shaped turkeys cook less evenly so may not experience the full hour of cook time savings.
Oven Bag Quality – Off-brand bags may not perform as well as Reynolds Oven Bags designed specifically for turkeys.
Tips for Success When Cooking a Turkey in a Bag
Follow these tips to maximize your cook time savings and end up with a perfectly cooked oven bag turkey:
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Always use an oven-safe thermometer to check for doneness instead of relying solely on cook times.
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Be sure to make slits in the bag so steam can escape and the bag doesn’t burst.
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Add a tablespoon of flour to the bag before adding the turkey to prevent bag melting.
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Let the cooked turkey rest in the closed bag for 15-20 minutes before removing.
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Monitor the bag carefully and don’t let it touch oven walls or heating elements.
The Bottom Line
Yes, turkey does cook faster when roasted in an oven bag! The moist environment inside the bag conducts heat efficiently for quicker, more even cooking. While cook time reductions vary based on factors like turkey size and oven temperature, you can expect your bird to roast approximately 1 hour faster than standard cook times when using an oven bag. Just be sure to always rely on a meat thermometer to determine true doneness. An oven bag provides a foolproof way to get a tender, juicy turkey on the table faster on Thanksgiving or any occasion.
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.
Why does a turkey cook faster in an oven bag?
FAQ
Does turkey bag shorten cooking time?
Is it better to cook a turkey in a bag or foil?
Do you poke holes in turkey bag?
Can you cook a Turkey in an oven bag?
If you roast your turkey in an oven bag for the entirety of its cooking, the answer is no. However, for crispier results, let the turkey cook on the roasting rack for the last 15 minutes of roasting time. Take the turkey out of the bag by carefully slitting the skin and lifting it out of its cooking liquid, then place it, uncovered, on the rack.
How to cook a Turkey in the oven?
Season the entire turkey generously with salt and pepper. Prepare the oven bag: Add 1 tablespoon of flour to the bag and shake it to distribute evenly. Place the bag in the roasting pan and add the chopped vegetables (if using). Add the turkey: Place the seasoned turkey on top of the vegetable layer in the oven bag.
Can you cook a Turkey in a paper bag?
If the bag touches the top or sides of the oven, it will melt. Allow space for it to expand during cooking. You cannot cook a turkey in a paper bag (or other type of bag). The glue, ink and other materials are not food-safe. Plus, you can never be sure how your bag will survive in the hot oven.
Should you roast a Turkey in a bag?
Roasting in a bag has its roots in the 1970s, and is ideal for anyone who might be nervous about roasting their first turkey and wants some serious guarantees. (With this method, you get them.) Why roast a turkey in an oven bag? There’s no hands-on work and it’s really hard to mess up.