How to Roast a Turkey in a Roaster Oven

Make multiple dishes more easily with a roaster.

A tabletop roaster frees up needed space in your oven. You can cook the turkey in the roaster and other dishes inside the oven on holidays or for family meals. Roasters are smaller than a conventional oven and will partially steam rather than fully roast the bird in the traditional sense. This helps hold in juices and makes it easier to avoid a dry bird come dinner time.

Things You'll Need

• Turkey
• Electric roaster
• Meat thermometer
• Serving dish

Instructions

1. Preheat your roaster to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Place the turkey in the roaster. Turkeys under 22 lbs. should fit in most roasters. Place the lid on the roaster securely.

3. Cook undisturbed for about 13 minutes per pound. For example, cook a 20-lb. turkey for four hours and 20 minutes.

4. Check the temperature by inserting a cooking thermometer into the turkey at the end of the cooking time. Remove the turkey from the roaster when temperatures deep inside the thigh reach 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Continue cooking if the temperature is lower, checking the temperature at 15- to 20-minute intervals.

5. Place the turkey onto a serving dish to sit for 30 minutes. The meat will continue to cook after removal from the roaster. Serve after the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Tips & Warnings

• For a crispy skin, remove the turkey from the roaster 30 minutes before it is done cooking. Rub butter on the skin and place in a conventional oven at 400 degrees until the internal temperature reaches 160 Fahrenheit.

• Use the roaster to keep other dishes warm while the turkey is sitting.

• Never serve an undercooked turkey, as this may cause an illness such as salmonella. Always make sure the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.

References

• OChef: How to Cook a Turkey in an Electric Roaster

Resources

• Roasting Recipes from Butterball