For a Perfectly Roasted Turkey, Skip the Roasting Pan (2024)

FAQs

For a Perfectly Roasted Turkey, Skip the Roasting Pan? ›

It might be surprising and somewhat untraditional, but for the most evenly browned turkey, you should roast it on a sheet pan. Here's why: Traditional roasting pans are quite deep; the one I own (and use for making huge batches of party mix, not for roasting turkeys) is nearly four inches tall.

You don't need a roasting pan and roasting rack to cook a turkey. By replacing the pan with a rimmed sheet pan, Dutch oven, or skillet, you can still get a boatload of delicious bird. And wire cooling racks, spoons, scrunched aluminum foil, and chopped veggies are all fair game as roasting rack replacements.

At the end of the day, roasting your turkey in a covered roaster will most likely yield the moistest meat out of the three techniques above, while roasting it in a roasting pan covered in foil or cheesecloth will probably make for crispier skin.

When your turkey is ready to go in the oven, place it upside-down in the oven tray first. Placing the turkey, breast side down, on a roasting rack for the first hour or so of roasting essentially allows it to baste itself. Any marks left by the rack will disappear once you flip the turkey over and finish roasting it.

Yes, with a little creativity a rimmed baking sheet can double as a roasting pan. It is important that it is rimmed, so that the pan liquids don't overflow. You may also want to place a sheet of aluminum foil underneath the baking sheet to catch any spills.

Classic Aromatics

Add halved onions, carrot chunks, celery and fresh herbs to the cavity of your turkey, inserting them loosely. These flavor builders are the base of stock and most soups. As your turkey cooks, they'll steam and infuse your bird with moisture and flavor.

To Cover Or Not To Cover

So, yes, you do want to cover the turkey with foil to give it a chance to roast without getting dry. But then, towards the end of the cook time, remove the foil so the skin—the best part in this writer's opinion—gets a chance to crisp up.

Place roast, skin side up, on a flat roasting rack in 2-inch deep roasting pan. Do not add water to pan. Roast uncovered according to Cooking Schedule or until meat thermometer in center of breast roast reaches 170° F and in center of turkey roast reaches 175° F.

We recommend roasting turkey at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 13 minutes per pound for an unstuffed turkey. We've done the math for you — check out the chart below to determine both turkey cook times and estimated servings (with leftovers!).

What is the best temperature to cook a turkey to keep it moist? ›

Oven-Roasted Turkey

We recommend starting the turkey in a 425 degree oven for 30-45 minutes before tenting the pan with foil and lowering the temperature to 350 degrees until a meat thermometer reads 165 degrees when inserted into the thickest part of the bird.

Impart rich flavor and add moisture to your Thanksgiving turkey by adding a layer of butter under the skin before roasting. Learn how to do this simple (but genius) technique for a delicious Thanksgiving turkey.

If your turkey is done several hours before your meal, let it rest. Then carve off the breast meat, the legs and the thighs and arrange them on a serving platter and cover with foil. Just before you're ready to serve, reheat the platter in the oven (about 20 minutes at 350°F).

Collagen in the bird (one of three protein fibers that attaches muscles to the bone) breaks down into softer gelatin molecules as it unwinds. If a turkey is cooked too long, the muscle proteins coagulate within the meat and cause dryness.

Roast the Turkey

Bake turkey, uncovered, in the preheated oven until no longer pink at the bone and juices run clear. Remove the turkey from the oven and allow it to rest for at least 15 minutes before carving.

The preferred method is to roast the turkey in the center of the lowest rack or oven shelf so the top of the turkey will be centered in the oven. If two racks must be used, place the turkey on the lowest or middle rack. When cooking with two roasting pans, position the pans in opposite corners of the oven.

A small (14-inch) roasting pan works for birds up to 12 pounds. A medium (16-inch) roasting pan is ideal for birds up to 16 pounds. A large (18-inch) roasting pan can fit turkeys up to 20 pounds.

If you are using a dedicated offset, electric, or pellet smoker, preheat your grill to 225 degrees F. To the grill! Once your smoker is ready to go, get that bird on the grill! Place the turkey on the grill breast side up (no need for a roasting pan) on the indirect heat side of the grill.