Save oven space by making your Roast Turkey in an electric roaster this year instead of your oven! Juicy, tender turkey, perfectly cooked and oh so tasty!
Roast Turkey is a beloved holiday tradition, and nothing quite says “togetherness” like gathering around the table with your loved ones and feasting the holidays away.
This tasty, traditional roast turkey recipe is not only buttery, delicious, and tender, but by utilizing an electric roaster it is incredibly SIMPLE to make and will free up some valuable oven space and time!
Oftentimes, the role of “turkey roaster” can seem daunting, especially if you haven’t prepared a turkey before.
There are so many varying schools of thought and opinion regarding cooking methods, brining methods, seasoning methods … you get it … that it’s sometimes hard to know where to begin. Well, allow Num’s the Word to help you out!
In part one of this special four-part series of posts we talked about how to brine a turkey. Now, we’ll talk about how to roast a turkey!
And we’ll do our best to make sure we address any possible questions you might have about the best way to roast a turkey. So grab a cup of cider or a mug of cocoa and let’s get to it!
Save oven space by making your Roast Turkey in an electric roaster this year instead of your oven! Juicy, tender turkey, perfectly cooked and oh so tasty!
The holidays are coming up, which means it’s almost time to roast that big beautiful turkey! But oven space is precious when you’ve got a full spread of side dishes to make That’s where using a countertop roaster oven like the Nesco can save the day. These handy little appliances allow you to free up your regular oven and still get a perfectly cooked turkey
As a busy home cook who loves hosting Friendsgiving and holiday meals, I was thrilled when I discovered how convenient roaster ovens can be. The Nesco brand is one of the most popular and for good reason – their roasters cook turkey moist and delicious!
In this article, I’ll walk through step-by-step how to cook a turkey in a Nesco roaster oven. I’ll also share some handy tips and tricks I’ve learned from years of Nesco turkey roasting. Let’s get started!
Why Cook Your Turkey in a Nesco Roaster?
Here are some of the biggest benefits of using a countertop roaster instead of the oven to cook your holiday turkey
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Frees Up Oven Space: This is the #1 reason most people use roasters. You can bake side dishes and pies in the oven while the turkey roasts separately.
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Moist and Juicy Turkey: The Nesco’s enclosed cooking environment really locks in moisture. The turkey roasts in its own juices for incredible tenderness.
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Delicious Self-Basting: As the turkey cooks, juices collect in the bottom of the roaster and continuously baste the turkey. No need to manually baste every 30 minutes!
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Even Cooking: The turkey heats from all sides for thorough, even cooking. No cold spots or dried out edges.
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Efficient Browning: The Nesco’s high-watt heating element and super hot temperatures get the skin gorgeously browned and crispy.
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Counter Space Saver: The compact size takes up minimal space compared to a huge baking pan in the oven.
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Safe Unattended Cooking: With no open flame, the roaster oven is safe to use unattended. You can focus on other meal tasks.
Clearly roaster ovens offer major advantages when it comes to roasting holiday turkey! Now let’s get into the specifics of how to use a Nesco.
Step-by-Step Guide to Roasting Turkey in a Nesco Oven
Follow these simple steps for foolproof turkey cooked to perfection in your Nesco roaster oven:
1. Thaw the Turkey Completely
- Make sure your turkey is fully thawed before cooking. The Nesco will cook a frozen turkey but it will take significantly longer. Thawing in the fridge for 24 hours per 4-5 pounds is best.
2. Remove Giblets and Neck
- Check the inner cavities of the turkey and remove the bag of giblets and neck. Set aside for making gravy or discard.
3. Pat Turkey Dry
- Gently pat the turkey dry inside and out with paper towels. Dry skin encourages browning.
4. Brush with Oil or Butter
- Coat the skin all over with vegetable oil, olive oil or melted butter. This helps get the skin ultra crispy.
5. Generously Season the Turkey
- Sprinkle salt, pepper and any additional seasonings like poultry seasoning, thyme or rosemary all over the turkey, inside and out.
6. Place Turkey Breast-Side Down in Roaster
- Put the turkey directly on the roaster’s rack, breast-side down. This protects the breast meat from overcooking.
7. Insert Meat Thermometer
- Push the probe end of a meat thermometer deep into the thickest part of the thigh without touching bone.
8. Set Temperature to 400°F
- Preheat roaster oven to 400°F which speeds up initial browning.
9. Roast for 30 Minutes Per Pound
- Estimate 30 minutes per pound cooking time. A 12 lb turkey will roast for about 6 hours.
10. Flip and Reduce Temperature after 1 Hour
- After 1 hour of roasting, use oven mitts to carefully flip turkey breast-side up. Reduce temp to 350°F.
11. Check Temperature and Brown
- At estimated finish time, check doneness by thermometer (165°F thigh). If skin needs more browning, increase temp to 400°F.
12. Allow Turkey to Rest
- When thermometer reads 165°F, remove turkey from roaster and let rest 20-30 minutes before carving.
That’s all there is to it! Just follow these simple steps and your Nesco oven will reward you with a perfectly roasted turkey.
Handy Tips for Roasting Turkey in a Nesco
Here are some extra pointers to ensure roasting success:
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For ideal browning, rub the skin with a browning agent like honey or Kitchen Bouquet®.
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Use a V-rack to elevate the turkey off the bottom if you have one. More airflow = better browning.
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Add 1⁄2 cup of water or broth to the bottom before roasting for extra self-basting moisture.
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Tent foil loosely over turkey when skin reaches desired browning to prevent over-browning.
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Check turkey early and increase cook time if needed. Thawed turkey takes longer than frozen.
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Let cooked turkey rest at least 20 minutes before carving for juicier meat.
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Use pan juices in bottom of roaster to make delicious gravy!
What Size Nesco Do You Need to Roast a Turkey?
Nesco offers roaster ovens in a range of quart sizes. Here are my recommendations for turkey capacity:
- 12 Quart: Good for up to a 14 lb turkey
- 18 Quart: Fits a turkey up to 18 lbs
- 22 Quart: For extra-large turkeys up to 22 lbs
Keep in mind that you need some extra room around the turkey for proper airflow circulation. Don’t max out the capacity.
If buying a Nesco for turkey, I suggest going for the 18 quart size. It can handle most holiday birds with room to spare.
How Does Roaster Turkey Compare to Oven-Roasted?
So how does a turkey roasted in a Nesco compare to a traditional oven-roasted bird? Here are the main differences:
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Cook Time: Slightly faster in the Nesco due to higher heat and self-basting. Oven may need 15-20 mins longer.
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Skin Browning: Nesco gets skin crisper and more browned due to higher heat focused on turkey.
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Moistness: Nesco turkey ends up very moist and tender thanks to self-basting. Oven can dry out more.
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Flavor: Very similar flavor, although Nesco imparts a bit more richness from the basting.
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Convenience: Nesco frees up the oven which is a major bonus. But ovens accommodate much larger turkeys.
Overall, the Nesco really does produce amazing turkey on par with oven results. You trade a bit of maximum size capacity for moistness, browning and convenience. An excellent swap in my book!
Satisfied Home Cooks Swear By the Nesco for Turkey
Don’t just take my word for how well the Nesco roasts turkey! Here’s what fellow home cooks like you are saying:
“I’ve made Thanksgiving turkey in my Nesco for 5 years now and everyone raves about how juicy it is. Perfect turkey and free oven space for sides!”
“The Nesco frees up room in my tiny apartment oven for casseroles and pies. The turkey always turns out super moist and delicious!”
“My family was skeptical of roaster oven turkey but after tasting it juicy and full of flavor, they all agreed it was the best turkey ever!”
“I love how the Nesco turkey browns up all on its own with no work from me. The skin gets so crispy without constantly basting it myself.”
“We are hosting a large crowd this year so I’m cooking two turkeys – one in the oven and one in the Nesco. I know both will turn out perfect.”
As you can see, the Nesco has earned rave reviews from busy cooks like you who want a convenient way to get holiday-worthy turkey. It delivers on flavor, moisture and browned crispy skin.
Get Your Turkey in the Nesco This Holiday Season
If you’re looking to free up oven space and get juicy delicious turkey this holiday season, using a Nesco roaster oven is clearly the way to go. Follow the roasting steps and tips in this article and you’ll get a showstopper bird.
The Nesco really takes the stress out of roasting turkey for a crowd. It cooks the turkey evenly and perfectly while leaving you the oven for all the sides and dessert
How many minutes per pound to roast a turkey in the oven?
Oven roasted turkey will take approximately 20 minutes per pound. Again, we highly recommend you use a digital grilling thermometer to ensure that your meat is cooked to a proper temperature while maintaining the tender juiciness we all want from our turkey!
Pro tip: after you remove your turkey, you should let it rest for 10 minutes. During this time, the turkey will continue to “cook,” and the temperature in larger birds may raise as much as 10 degrees. In smaller birds (around 10 pounds) there will not be much temperature change during the rest time.
How to roast a turkey:
There are a couple different ways to cook your Thanksgiving turkey, whether you choose to smoke it, oven roast, deep fry, or another of the myriad options is up to you!
For this recipe, we’re going to focus on how to cook a turkey in an electric roaster — one of the most simple and efficient methods for preparing the PERFECT roast turkey.
How to Roast a Turkey in a Nesco Electric Roaster – a Holiday to Remember
FAQ
How long does it take to cook a turkey in a Nesco?
Cook 18 lb. turkey on “HIGH” at 165 degrees. Estimated time cook is 6/min per pound.
Is it better to put turkey in the oven or electric roaster?
Roasting it in the oven first might give you the color, but the slow moist cooking of a roaster oven will soften the skin to a less than pleasant texture. Your best bet is to cook the turkey in the roaster oven first, THEN roast it in a high heat in the oven to brown it up and crisp up the skin.
How long to cook a 15 lb turkey in an electric roaster?
- 12- to 13-pound turkey, 1¾ hours.
- 14- to 24-pound turkey, 2 to 3 hours.
- 25- to 28-pound turkey 3½ to 4 hours.
Can you cook a Turkey in a NESCo roaster?
Yes, a Nesco roaster oven is perfect for cooking turkey breasts. Adjust the cooking time accordingly based on the weight of the turkey breast. 4. Do I need to baste the turkey while it cooks in a Nesco roaster? No, basting is not necessary when using a Nesco roaster. The lid or foil cover helps seal in the moisture, resulting in a juicy turkey. 5.
How many pounds can a NESCo roaster hold?
The Nesco roaster can accommodate turkeys up to 16 pounds. However, it is important to note that the cooking time will increase for larger turkeys. Can I cook a frozen turkey in a Nesco roaster? It is not recommended to cook a frozen turkey in a Nesco roaster.
How long do you cook a turkey breast in a NESCo roaster?
1. How long does it take to cook a turkey breast in a Nesco roaster? Cooking time will vary depending on the weight of the turkey breast. As a general rule of thumb, cook the turkey breast at 325°F for 20 minutes per pound.
How do you reheat a Turkey in a NESCo roaster?
To reheat the turkey on the stovetop, heat some oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the turkey and cook for 5-7 minutes, or until heated through. Cooking a turkey in a Nesco roaster is a great way to roast a moist and flavorful bird. With just a few simple steps, you can have a delicious turkey dinner for your family and friends.
Should you use a NESCo roaster instead of a traditional oven?
Here are some of the advantages of using a Nesco roaster instead of a traditional oven when cooking your holiday turkey: Even cooking The Nesco’s enclosed fan circulates heated air uniformly around the turkey preventing hot and cold spots. This ensures evenly cooked juicy meat from all sides.
Do you need a roasting rack in a NESCo roaster?
Using a roasting rack in the Nesco roaster can help promote even cooking and prevent the meat from sitting in its juices. However, it is not necessary for cooking a turkey breast. Watch this awesome video to spice up your cooking!