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.
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 Roaster
An 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:
- Cooking two whole chickens at once
- Making large amounts of baked potatoes, stew, chili, meatballs, ribs, roasts, sauces, hams, casseroles, pies, or pretty much anything for a large group!
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
- Frees up oven space for other delicious dishes
- Turkey generally cooks faster than in a traditional oven
- Low maintenance – set it and forget it (with a thermometer), no basting
Cons to an Electric Roaster
- Without a roaster, it’s harder to brown the turkey and get that classic, roast turkey color and crispy skin. You can use browning sauce for color or put the turkey in your regular oven for the last half hour of cooking for crispness. I personally don’t care too much about the color because I always cut up my turkey up before serving, and no one in my house eats the skin.
- The oven is also pretty big and can take up kitchen space. I keep mine in the original cardboard box in the garage when I’m not using it.
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 Roasting
Here’s what you should keep in mind when you’re selecting a bird at the supermarket:
- Make sure you don’t buy a turkey that’s too big for your roaster. I once got ambitious and bought a huge turkey from Costco. I prepared it, only to realize it too was too large for the lid to close!
- How much turkey per person? Buy 1 pound of raw turkey per guest.
How to Thaw a Turkey
Thawing a turkey is pretty easy, but there are a few tips to keep in mind:
- What’s the best way to thaw a turkey? The folks at Butterball are pros and they have a comprehensive guide for safely thawing a turkey.
- I run my fridge cold. While defrosting a frozen 16-pound turkey, I found ice crystals in the cavity even after refrigerating for 5 days. If your turkey still has ice crystals when you’re ready to cook, don’t worry. As long as the meat feels thawed and the turkey is pliable, it’s still ready to cook. Simply add a few minutes to the cooking time.
How to Prepare a Turkey for Electric Roasting
To 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 Turkey
If 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 Turkey
Pour 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 Roaster
Cook 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 Turkey
A 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.
This table provides a quick reference guide, summarizing key steps in the turkey roasting process:
| Step | Details |
|---|---|
| Choose Turkey | Fit for roaster, 1 lb per guest. |
| Thaw Turkey | Follow safe thawing guidelines. |
| Prepare Turkey | Remove giblets, season, stuff with aromatics. |
| Roasting Setup | Preheat to 400°F, add chicken stock. |
| Cooking Process | Start at 400°F for 1 hour, reduce to 350°F, cook until 170°F. |
| Browning (Optional) | Use browning sauce or finish in regular oven. |
| Resting and Serving | Let rest before carving and serving. |
How To Cook a Turkey in a Roaster
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 thawed whole turkey giblets and neck removed
- 1/4 cup melted butter
- 1/4 cup cold butter sliced into pats
- 1 tsp browning sauce optional
- Seasoning of your choice I use poultry seasoning or Italian seasoning
- Salt
- Pepper
- 1 apple cut into slices
- 1/2 onion cut into slices
- 2 stalks of celery cut into large pieces
- 1 can chicken broth
- Special equipment:
- Electric turkey roaster
- Probe-type meat thermometer
Instructions
- Remove the rack from the turkey roaster and preheat roaster to 400 degrees.
- Place the rack on a large tray (to catch any liquid) and place the turkey on the rack.
- Stuff the turkey cavity with sliced apples, onion, and celery.
- Separate the skin at the top of the bird from the meat and slide the pats of butter in between the skin and the meat.
- Make the browning sauce mixture by mixing together the melted butter and the browning sauce.
- Using a pastry brush, generously brush the turkey with the browning sauce mixture. (This step can get messy, so be careful!)
- Generously season the turkey with salt, pepper, and the seasoning of your choice.
- Insert the meat thermometer into the thickest part of the breast meat, avoiding the bone.
- Pick up the rack, and gently place the rack and the turkey in the turkey roaster.
- Pour 1 can of chicken stock into the roaster and close the lid.
- Cook at 400 degrees for 1 hour.
- After 1 hour, turn the temperature down to 350 degrees and cook until the turkey’s internal temperature reaches 170 degrees. (Cooking times will vary depending on turkey size.)
- Once the turkey is cooked, remove it from the roaster using the rack. Tent the turkey with foil and let it rest for 20 minutes before carving.
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 🙂
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Photos by Allison McGee, Bochkarev Photography/Shutterstock.com, Paul Cowan/Shutterstock.com
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1 tsp of browning sauce? What are the ingredients for this browning sauce. Thank you.
Hi, Linda! Browning sauce is a coloring/seasoning ingredient. The most popular brand is Kitchen Bouquet. You can find it in most grocery stores near the gravy or gravy mix.
Doesn’t the wire from the meat thermometer lift the lid of the roaster up?
Hi Karen – No, that’s really not a problem. The wire is thin and flexible, so you can still close the lid of the roaster.
I have a conventional oven with roaster can I use the same recipe and my turkey won’t dry out ?
I think so, especially with the thermometer. But these directions are mostly for the stand-alone turkey roaster appliance.
Can I wrap the turkey I. Silver foil and put in in an aluminum pan and into the toaster?
I think you can, but I haven’t tried it. This video gives some info about roasting a turkey wrapped in foil: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sROEjJeJaJM&app=desktop. The video is about cooking the turkey in the regular oven, but you could use the electric roaster instead.
It will only take 2 hours to cook a full turkey in the roaster oven?
Hi Jaimie – Cooking time depends on the size of the turkey, as explained in the recipe. A standard cooking time for roasting at 350 degrees is 13 minutes per pound. With the this recipe, it will be a little faster, because you’re cooking it for the first hour at 400 degrees. An average Thanksgiving turkey is about 15 pounds, so it will probably take 3 to 3 1/2 hours to cook. Good luck!
I can’t find any info on how long to cook a 24 or 27 pound turkey. Can you please help?
In the turkey roaster, plan on 6-8 minutes per pound at 350 degrees. So about 3 hours in your case. In the oven, the turkey will take longer – probably 15 minutes per pound at 350 degrees. I recommend starting a little early and using a food thermometer. If you have the instructions for your roaster, those will include a chart of cooking times. Good luck, Doreen!
Can I bribe my turkey before roasting it this way?
I meant brine the turkey ?
No – don’t bribe your turkey, because it won’t work! (haha) You definitely can brine the turkey if you want. I usually don’t, because commercially available turkeys are already injected with broth. I do have friends and family who swear by brining.
I just bought the Oster Roaster with the self basting lid? Questions – How hot does your roaster get on the outside? (It doesn’t burn the thermometer wire? ) Also does steam come out of the little holes on the top? (not sure if I should have it under the window?)
Thank you for your recipe.. I am definitely trying the apple with the onions and celery.. (And maybe some garlic.)
Hi, Nancy – you are right that the roaster does get somewhat hot on the outside. Don’t touch it with bare hands when it’s hot. The roaster is designed for countertop use. Follow the safety instructions that come with the roaster. It definitely won’t burn the thermometer wire. Those wires are designed for high heat. There is a little bit of steam, but no more than you would get from cooking a turkey in your regular oven. Good luck, and Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you for this recipe!! I just returned my countertop turkey fryer and bought the Oster you recommended. I have been scared of cooking turkeys my whole life ( bad past experience) and now I feel confident ! Appreciate your thorough instructions! 🙂
Thank you, Carrie! I hope it turns out well for you!
I got two 12 pound turkeys. Do you think it would be possible to cook them together in the roaster?
The 22-quart roaster is supposed to be able to hold a 26 pound turkey, so it can probably hold two 12 pound turkeys. I would suggest giving yourself plenty of time. Don’t expect two turkeys to cook in the same amount of time as one turkey. I’ve never tried to cook two turkeys in mine, but I have used it to cook two chickens, and I found having two in the roaster made them take longer to get done. Good luck!
Hi
Just bought an Oster Roaster…curious about cooking time….it is a fresh 14 lb turkey…they say 325 degrees for 1 3/4 hour (or 6 to 8 minutes per lb…does this sound right to you?
thanks
Yes, this is about right. I would say 1 3/4 hours is a minimum, and the maximum would probably be 2 1/2 hours. Different electric roaster models will cook the turkey a little faster or slower. Use the manual that came with your roaster as a guide, and verify the turkey’s internal temperature with a thermometer.
Hi! Just for planning purposes on timing to start cooking, I have a 23lb turkey. After the timeframe for 400 degrees, when I drop the roaster temp to 350 about how Much longer would you say it’ll take to finish the turkey? I bought the same thermometer you use.
Hi Hope – My estimate is you will need an additional 2 1/2-3 1/2 hours after the first hour. Timing can vary, but I would guess 3 1/2-4 1/2 hours total.
Can a frozen stuffed turkey be cooked in the turkey roaster?
Hi Paula – I haven’t tried this before, but I’d imagine it can be done. This article may be helpful to you: https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-cook-a-completely-frozen-turkey-for-thanksgiving-225796
Hi, I am wondering how you think stuffing the turkey will affect the time. I’ve seen a lot of place say it will take longer, but can’t find any estimates as to how much longer. It’s a 14lb turkey, if that helps.
Hi Lindsey,
Thanks for your question. I haven’t tried it myself with a stuffed bird, but I did find this resource, that may be helpful: https://www.bhg.com/recipes/how-to/handling-meat/how-long-to-cook-a-stuffed-turkey/
Have a great Thanksgiving!
Thanks for your guidance and love that you respond as well!
Thank you for posting this! I cooked a brined, fresh, 27-pound turkey in my electric roaster and it came out perfect! The meat was tender and juicy and the aromatics added great flavor! I seasoned the outside of my turkey with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. I will be following this method from now on!
I am SO thrilled to hear it, Jonalee! I hope you and your family had a fantastic holiday.
Hi I’m going to make my first Turkey in my roaster and I want to stuff it with a bread stuffing. Can I do this in a roaster?
Hi Judy,
Yes, though you will need to add some time. Here’s a useful resource: https://www.google.com/search?q=how+long+to+add+for+a+stuffed+turkey&oq=how+long+to+add+for+a+stuffed+turkey&aqs=chrome..69i57j33i22i29i30l6.4808j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Enjoy!