How to Roast With a Paper Bag
Roast in a paper bag? Such an idea elicits visions of a dry paper bag bursting into flames in the oven, charring the food inside. However, when properly coated, the paper oven bag retains moisture, prevents food from drying out during extended roasting times, and does not ignite. Use any paper bag that comfortably holds the food you want to cook: a lunch bag for a small game hen or a grocery sack for a large turkey. For safety's sake, always have a fire extinguisher on hand in your kitchen. Use a paper bag to roast as you would an oven cooking bag to cook any type of food, meat or vegetables. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Paper bag
- Pastry brush
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil or melted butter
- Roasting pan
- Meat for roasting
- Stapler
- Meat thermometer
- Internal meat temperature chart
Instructions
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1
Preheat the oven to 325 F and remove all but the lowest rack if cooking a large turkey or roast.
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2
Dip the pastry brush into oil or melted butter and liberally coat the entire surface of the paper bag until it is translucent.
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3
Set the greased bag into the roasting pan and insert the food for roasting into the bag.
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4
Fold the open end of the bag closed and staple it shut.
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5
Roast the meat in the oven until a meat thermometer registers as done for that particular type of meat. Estimate 12 minutes per pound for a turkey and less for other meats. Use your recipe as a guide for other meat cooking times. Determine if your roast has cooked enough by comparing its temperature with the ideal temperature readings on an internal meat temperature chart.
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6
Let the roasted meat rest for 15 to 30 minutes before opening the bag and serving.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Check the paper oven bag every 15 to 30 minutes and remove immediately from the oven if you notice char spots on the bag. Pull the meat from the bag, discard the sack and continue roasting the meat without the bag or in a newly prepared paper sack.
