How long to roast a turkey in an electric roaster

Have you ever wished you could alleviate some Thanksgiving stress by freeing up space in your oven? Us too. Rather than finding alternative cooking methods for your sides and pies this year, try cooking the turkey on the counter with an electric roaster. Otherwise known as tabletop cookers, electric roasters allow you to free up critical real estate in the oven by roasting a turkey, chicken or pot roast right on your, you guessed it, countertop. Much like a second oven, electric roasters are a great addition to any holiday meal plan and make cooking what can be the most time- and energy-consuming meal more seamless. If you’re cooking Thanksgiving dinner for the first time this year, having a reliable way to cook the turkey is a great place to start. But, even if you’re a seasoned pro in the kitchen, you’ll benefit from a shorter oven waitlist. These versatile cookers are the portable and efficient secret to an easier Thanksgiving dinner. Below, we’ve broken down everything you need to know if you want to make Thanksgiving dinner a snap this year.

Electric Roasters Reduce Cook Time

Because electric roasters are smaller than a traditional oven, they’re able to heat up faster and retain heat longer, which helps cut down on cook time — a huge win if you’re juggling preparing multiple menu items the day of Thanksgiving. In fact, according to the folks at Oster, their roaster ovens cut cooking time by approximately 30%, meaning you’re closer to enjoying dinner the moment you start cooking. Oster also claims that their roasters will also use 36% less energy when compared to a traditional oven. No matter what method you’re using, remember that cook time will vary based on if your turkey is stuffed or unstuffed, and you should always make sure to use a thermometer to ensure that the cooked turkey has reached an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees.

Self-Basting Lids Cut Back on Work

Another bonus of the electric roaster is the self-basting lid, which helps to continuously circulate moisture and therefore eliminates the need to open your oven, take the turkey out and baste it every half hour. We all know that keeping the oven door closed helps to keep heat in, and the same goes for an electric roaster. By leaving the lid on and letting the machine baste the turkey, you prevent heat from escaping and help to keep the turkey cooking at consistent temperature. Pro tip: opt for an electric roaster with a windowed lid, that way you can peak at your turkey’s progress without taking the top off.

With all this talk about heat, it’s important to note another bonus of a tabletop roaster: it won’t overheat your kitchen! Everyone knows that no matter how much you decorate the rest of the house, family tends to congregate in the kitchen, particularly during the holidays. Not only will an electric roaster cook your turkey faster, it won’t create any more heat in an already warm and stuffy room.

How to Pick the Correct Roaster Size

When it comes to electric roaster size, it depends on the size of your turkey. Most electric roasters range in size from 16-quart-capacity to 22-quart-capacity. In general, a roaster can hold the weight of its capacity plus four pounds. Therefore, an 18-quart roaster can hold a 22-pound turkey, and a 20-quart roaster can hold a 24-pound turkey. However, all electric roasters aren’t created equally, so make sure to check your specific brand of roaster for their recommended size guide. If you’re worried about the size of your turkey, opt for an electric roaster with a domed lid. The domed lid helps to add extra height for those particularly robust turkeys and creates more space for air to circulate.

What Else Can You Use it For?

The short answer: anything. Whatever food you would cook in your traditional oven, you can cook in an electric roaster. These gadgets are great for baking, steaming, roasting and even braising. Heck, you can even make a cheesecake in one. Our favorite use? Serving! With their gentle warming settings, electric roasters can act as the star of your buffet station by keeping foods warm and ready to eat. Timing is crucial to serving a big holiday dinner, and these handy cookers can help you pace your day from start to finish.

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My juicy Roaster Oven Turkey will be your new holiday favorite. It’s so simple and delicious, but the best part is that cooks faster and frees up oven space for the yummy side dishes.

How long to roast a turkey in an electric roaster

Roaster Oven Turkey

I’m all about a delicious, moist turkey for Thanksgiving. I also like trying different techniques each year too…from my Southwest Smoked Turkey to my deep fried turkey. And now my roaster oven turkey is my new favorite. It turns out so moist and juicy in the roaster oven.

The turkey cooks faster in the roaster oven and frees up oven space for all the yummy Thanksgiving side dishes. I’m all about freeing up oven space for the thousand side dishes I always want to make. I can’t be the only one that wants to make all the side dishes I see on Pinterest.

How long to roast a turkey in an electric roaster

Ingredients needed for this recipe:

  • whole turkey (up to 20lbs)
  • oil
  • seasoning salt
  • poultry seasoning
  • pepper

How long to roast a turkey in an electric roaster

How long to roast a turkey in an electric roaster

How long to cook a turkey in a roaster?

Cooking a turkey in a roaster oven is so simple. It’s practically set it and forget it. The cooking time is based on the size of the bird. A 12lb bird should take around 3 – 3 1/2 hours, a 16lb bird should take about 3 – 3 1/2 hours, and a 20lb bird should take around 3 1/2 – 4 hours. These are just estimates, it’s good to use a wired thermometer to monitor the turkey to make sure it’s cooked to perfections.

How long to roast a turkey in an electric roaster

Do you put water in a roaster oven when cooking a turkey?

No, you do not need to add any water to the roaster oven when cooking a turkey. As long as the lid is on properly, it will self baste and create all of its own juices.

What is the best temperature to cook a turkey?

The best temperature to cook a turkey in a roaster oven is 325F. I start my turkey at the highest possible temperature for about 30 minutes to brown and start to crisp the skin, then turn it down to 325F for the remainder of the cooking time.

Should I cover the turkey while roasting?

Absolutely, keep the turkey covered while it’s cooking in the roaster oven. This helps it baste itself. Use a wired thermometer so the lid can stay on as much as possible.

How long to roast a turkey in an electric roaster

One tip to get that crispy skin, no matter how you decide to make your turkey is to pat it dry and then use a high quality oil or butter. Using butter will help brown the skin as well. If the skin doesn’t get as crispy as you’d like in the roaster oven, stick the turkey under the broiler for a couple minutes to finish it off.

How long to roast a turkey in an electric roaster

How long to roast a turkey in an electric roaster

How long to roast a turkey in an electric roaster

Roaster Oven Turkey

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 4 hours

Resting Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 4 hours 30 minutes

My juicy Roaster Oven Turkey will be your new holiday favorite. It's so simple and delicious, but the best part is that cooks faster and frees up oven space for the yummy side dishes.

Ingredients

  • 1 whole turkey (up to 20lbs)
  • 1⁄4 cup olive oil or 1/4 cup butter
  • 2 1/2 tsps seasoning salt
  • 2 1/2 tsps poultry seasoning
  • 3/4 tsp pepper

Instructions

  1. Spray roaster oven with non-stick cooking spray or line pan with foil.
  2. Remove the bag of organs and anything that is in the cavity of the turkey. DO NOT rinse, but pat turkey completely dry with paper towels.
  3. In a small bowl, combine poultry seasoning, seasoning salt, and pepper.
  4. Rub turkey with oil or butter and liberally sprinkle seasoning over the outside of the bird and pour some inside the cavity and rub around.
  5. Place turkey in the roaster (I prefer breast side up). Insert digital thermometer and place lid on top. Set thermometer based on where you inserted the probe. 180F for thigh or 165F for breast. Juices should run clear and not be pink.
  6. The Butterball website has a great calculator to get an estimate on how long your turkey will take to cook. Check your turkey early since it's easy to over cook and dry out a turkey.
  7. When done, remove the turkey from the roaster, tent with foil, and let rest for 20 minutes. If you want to crisp the skin more, then put under the boiler for a couple minutes just before serving. Watch it closely so it doesn't burn.

Notes

Crispy skin tips:

To get that crispy skin, no matter how you decide to make your turkey is to pat it dry and then use a high quality oil or butter. Using butter will help brown the skin as well. If the skin doesn't get as crispy as you'd like in the roaster oven, stick the turkey under the broiler for a couple minutes to finish it off.

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How long to roast a turkey in an electric roaster

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How Long Does turkey take to cook in a roaster?

Place turkey in the roaster, breast side up. Rub the turkey with the butter and season with salt and pepper. Cover the roaster and cook at 400 degrees for 30 minutes. Lower the heat to 325 degrees and cook for 3 ½ – 4 hours until a thermometer reads 165 degrees in the thickest part of the turkey thigh.

How long does it take to cook a 20 lb turkey in an electric roaster?

Cook at 450*F for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, DO NOT OPEN LID. Simply turn roaster heat down to 325*F and cook for an additional 4 1/2hours (approximate for 20 pound turkey). Rule of thumb is 15 minutes per pound of unstuffed turkey.

How long does a 24 lb turkey take to cook in a roaster?

You'll want to plan about 8-10 minutes per pound for an unstuffed bird at 325º Fahrenheit. You should always read your instruction manual because each roaster may be different. Also, the roaster has a “warm” setting that you can use in case the turkey is done a little more quickly.

How long does it take to cook a 16 pound turkey in a roaster?

Cooking a turkey in a roaster oven is so simple. It's practically set it and forget it. The cooking time is based on the size of the bird. A 12lb bird should take around 3 – 3 1/2 hours, a 16lb bird should take about 3 – 3 1/2 hours, and a 20lb bird should take around 3 1/2 – 4 hours.