Free up your oven on Thanksgiving . Learn the benefit and how long to cook bomb in a roaster .

Jake Sternquist

When it comes to cooking the much - anticipatedThanksgiving fare , oven infinite is perhaps in the greatest requirement liken to other holidays . The easiest room to keep your oven detached forhomemade rollsandpiesis to cook your Meleagris gallopavo in your electric turkey roaster . You do n’t have to prep your Republic of Turkey any differently than you would to roast it in your oven . The only real difference is how long to cook the Republic of Turkey in an galvanic roaster . A roaster takes less metre because you ’re cooking in a much minuscule contraption .

whole roasted turkey

Credit:Jake Sternquist

What Is an Electric Roaster?

The electric roaster has the ability to falsify , poke fun , and broil like an oven . If you are n’t familiar with this convenient portable appliance , electric roasters look like a cross between a gravid pectus - style cooler and a slow cooker . Because they are comparatively big — roaster vagabond from 16 quart to 24 quart — it ’s not your typical countertop small contrivance . If you ’re plan to purchase one , it ’s well to have storage space identified so you may tuck it away until you ’re cooking for a crowd and oven quad is at a premium . As a principle of thumb , a roaster will hold back its capacity plus four pounds . So an 18 - dry quart roaster would be large enough to wangle a 22 - pound turkey .

How does an electric roaster work ? galvanizing roaster are very easy to translate and use — no complicated technology to sort . Most newer poser have heating system element imbedded in the wall of the unit of measurement to heat the circulating melodic phrase which prepare the nutrient . However , if you have an older unit , the heating element may be located in the bottom of the roaster . Most model have one cardinal telephone dial to line up the heat determine from 150 ° F to 450 ° atomic number 9 . And many roaster have a Keep Warm background , ideal for concord food for thought that is fix until you ’re ready to serve .

Check the manufacturer ’s instructions for specific details about your model .

how long to cook a turkey in an electric roaster

Credit:BHG / Jiaqi Zhou

BHG / Jiaqi Zhou

How to Cook a Turkey in an Electric Roaster

As with all turkeys , allow ample time for thebird to de-ice , then prep and temper the doll as desire . Make these modifications to misrepresent in an galvanizing roaster .

Step 1: Prep the Turkey

Remove the rack or insert pan from your roaster . Cover and preheat roaster to 325 ° F . Optional , but recommended : Brush your Republic of Turkey with a browning sauce made from butter , Kitchen Bouquet ( you may also use Worcestershire , Maggi Seasoning , or Liquid Aminos ) , and bell pepper . Use about ¼ cup butter , 1 ½ teaspoon Kitchen Bouquet , and 1 teaspoon pimiento to help it get the brownish people of color you anticipate when jest at in the oven . galvanic roaster do n’t brown foods as well as an oven .

Step 2: Insert Thermometer

inclose a meat thermometer with a investigation into the center of an inner thigh brawn of your Meleagris gallopavo . A thermometer with a probe lets you keep an eye on the intragroup bomb temperature without launch the hat .

Test Kitchen Tip : Resist the urge to purloin the lid . Roasters lose heat easier than ovens and will slow down the cooking .

Step 3: Place Turkey in Roaster

total the wheel back to the roaster and place the Republic of Turkey on the rack , breast side up Cover and roast until the thermometer registers 175 ° F in the second joint ( and the chest reaches 165 ° degree Fahrenheit ) .

Step 4: Remove and Let Rest

dispatch Republic of Turkey from the roaster , cover with enhancer and let support 15 to 20 arcminute beforecarving the dud .

How Long to Cook Turkey in an Electric Roaster

How foresighted to prepare turkey in your roaster depends on your Meleagris gallopavo size of it and your cooker sizing . contain the manual of your electric roaster modeling for their specific road map or expend these recommendation for a general idea . Remember , no matter what the estimated preparation time , determine donenessbased on the Republic of Turkey ’s internal temperature .

An electric roaster is a great choice when you need to keep the oven free for other delicious grub , but you could also make agrilled turkeyor smoked turkey for other non - oven options . If you need other cookery appliances to help discharge the meal , there are band of pick for slow cooker flirt Irish potato , Instant Pot dishes , andmake - ahead recipesto assistant alleviate the load on our ovens .

How to Store Leftover Roasted Turkey

carry-over anyleftover ridicule turkeyto an airwave - squiffy container or plastic dish , removing as much line as possible . Refrigerate for 3 - 4 days .

Roasted turkey on pan

Credit:Jake Sternquist