A no-mess, no-stress way to cook a whole turkey—in the slow cooker! No basting or brining needed. This slow cooker whole turkey recipe will give you the most tender, juiciest turkey ever!
When I was younger, my mom always slow-cooked her Thanksgiving turkey. She would prepare the turkey the day before Thanksgiving and then slow-cook the whole turkey in the oven overnight. Yup, overnight. She’d actually wake up a couple of times to baste the turkey. I’m sorry, but I seriously ain’t got time to wake up to baste a turkey! Nope. Honey, I refuse. Heck, during the holidays, I already have to cook candied yams, stuffing, collard greens, sweet potato pie, and let’s not even get on the gumbo!
So, to make a long story short, I prefer to make my Thanksgiving (and Christmas… and Easter… and ANY holiday) turkey in the slow cooker. My turkey ALWAYS comes out super juicy. This slow cooker turkey recipe is foolproof!
As a passionate home cook and crock pot enthusiast, I’ve often wondered if using a turkey bag in my trusty slow cooker would make cooking and clean-up easier. After all, who doesn’t love a kitchen hack that saves time and effort? However, I’ve been hesitant to try this, worrying that it might affect the cooking process or flavor. So I decided to dig into this question and find a definitive answer once and for all: can you use a turkey bag in a crock pot?
What Exactly Are Turkey Bags?
Let’s start by understanding what turkey bags are Turkey bags, sometimes called oven roasting bags, are thick plastic bags designed specifically for roasting whole turkeys or other meats and poultry in the oven They allow heat and moisture to circulate while containing any grease splatter. Turkey bags make the roasting process easier and cleaner.
The thick plastic withstands the high heat of an oven, usually 350°F or above Many turkey bags are infused with aromatic herbs and butter to flavor the meat as it cooks This keeps the turkey nice and moist.
How Do Crock Pots Work Differently Than Ovens?
Crock pots, or slow cookers, work very differently from ovens. They cook food much more slowly, at lower temperatures, generally between 190-280°F. This long cooking time tenderizes tougher cuts of meat and allows flavors to develop beautifully.
Because of the lower heat crock pots don’t rely on the hot, dry air of an oven. Instead the moist heat gently simmers and braises food in its own juices or added liquid. This liquid environment is what makes crock pot dishes so succulent and flavorful.
Key Factors Why Turkey Bags and Crock Pots Don’t Mix
With such different cooking methods, it makes sense why turkey bags aren’t suitable for slow cookers. Here are the key factors:
-
Temperature: Turkey bags are designed for high oven temperatures. The lower heat of a crock pot may not properly activate the bag’s heat-resistant qualities.
-
Moisture: A crock pot’s moist heat environment depends on direct contact with the cooking liquid. A turkey bag may act as a barrier.
-
Food safety: The moist, low-heat crockpot environment can promote bacterial growth if food isn’t heated thoroughly. A turkey bag may prevent proper heat circulation.
-
Timing: Insufficient heat circulation can lead to improperly cooked food and longer cook times.
-
Texture: The bag may act as a steam barrier, resulting in mushy food textures.
-
Flavor: Turkey bags are designed to impart flavors. This could distort the intended dish flavors.
What Are Some Suitable Crock Pot Liner Alternatives?
While turkey bags aren’t the best option, there are some suitable liners made specifically for crock pots:
-
Crock pot liners: These disposable plastic bags are designed for slow cookers. They conform to the crock, allowing for direct food contact and proper heat circulation.
-
Parchment paper or foil: You can line the crock insert bowl with parchment rounds or sheets of foil shaped to fit. It’s easy and effective!
-
Slow cooker disposable liners: These handy liners fit neatly into the crock for no-mess cooking and cleaning.
Helpful Crock Pot Tips Without Using a Turkey Bag
You can still achieve delicious results in your crock pot without relying on a turkey bag as a liner. Here are some useful tips:
-
Browning meats before adding to the crock pot enhances flavor.
-
Cut vegetables and pieces small or thin for more even cooking.
-
Add liquid like broth, wine, or water to create a moist environment.
-
Use a fat separator when making gravy from drippings.
-
Soak the crock insert immediately after cooking to make cleanup easier.
The Verdict: Don’t Use a Turkey Bag in Your Crock Pot
After thoroughly researching this topic, I can definitively say you should not use a turkey bag as a liner or covering in a crock pot. The differing cooking methods mean a turkey bag won’t function as intended. In fact, it may negatively impact cooking performance.
For the optimal crock pot experience, use liner alternatives designed for slow cookers. Or embrace the delicious controlled mess – that’s the joy of crock pot cuisine! With some simple tips, you can get terrific results without a liner at all.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/23157-turkey-in-a-bag-step-vat-01-4X3-6104b6bf2acb4a8ba9795821c25462c0.jpg)
What You Need to Make a Slow Cooker Whole Turkey
To get started with my slow cooker whole turkey recipe, I gather up all my goodies. What do I use for my Crockpot turkey? Everything that I use for my roast turkey recipe! Here are the main ingredients I use for my Crockpot turkey recipe:
- Aromatics and vegetables: onions, celery, garlic, fresh herbs (sage, thyme, and rosemary), carrots, oranges, and apples.
- Seasonings: Kosher salt, fresh ground black pepper, and garlic powder.
I know someone will ask, “why the oranges and apples?!” So let me explain—oranges and apples flavor the turkey perfectly! No, they do not make the turkey taste sweet or come out tasting like someone spilled orange juice all over the turkey. Instead, it simply adds flavor along with the other ingredients used!
I like to keep my slow-cooked turkey simple and use the basics when it comes to seasonings and spices. However, y’all know I am the Queen of Seasoning–I have my own line of gourmet seasonings and spices called Rosamae Seasonings! We have everything from poultry seasoning to lemon pepper, garlic pepper, smoked sea salt, and even salt-free seasonings. If you want to up your seasoning game, Rosamae Seasonings will help you do just that. I’d recommend the poultry seasoning and garlic pepper for this slow cooker turkey!
Wondering what kitchen tools you need to make a slow cooker turkey? What kind of slow cooker do you need? I got you covered, Cousins! Here are the essential equipment and tools you need for a perfect Crockpot turkey:
- Slow cooker: I usually make a 9 lb. turkey in my 6-qt. digital Crockpot. If you’re cooking a turkey larger than 9 lbs., I recommend a larger slow cooker.
- Meat thermometer: Making sure your turkey is cooked to the proper internal temperature is important, so make sure you have an accurate instant-read or digital meat thermometer on hand.
- Slow cooker liners: Using a liner is a lifesaver for easy clean-up, so I cannot recommend using these enough when you make slow cooker recipes.
Can I make gravy for my turkey in the slow cooker?
Absolutely! You’ll have all of those delicious juices and drippings at the bottom of your slow cooker—I encourage you NOT to let that goldmine of flavor go to waste. I make a delicious homemade gravy in my slow cooker smothered turkey wings recipe, or I have another turkey gravy recipe here that’s just as easy.
Slow Cooker Turkey EASY | Tender & Juicy Turkey! #cooking
FAQ
Can I use a roasting bag in a crock pot?
A representative said they don’t recommend using the bag in a slow cooker, because the bag might come in contact with the heating element, melt and damage the cooker. Also, the bag should not be used on an oven rack (only in a pan), in a roaster oven, in a convection oven or on the stovetop.
Can you put plastic bag in crockpot?
If they are made for the slow cooker, then they are most likely fine. Brand bags at least. Off name brand, you would want to check the bags to ensure they have the right codes, which mean they pass a certain regulation and are deemed safe to use.
How to keep turkey from drying out in a crock pot?
- Slather turkey with a simple magical rub;
- Place in a slow cooker on a bed of onion and garlic (these flavour the juices that comes out of the turkey and forms the basis for the gravy + keeps turkey elevated out of liquid while slow cooking);
- Slow cook for 5 to 6 hours;
What can you use instead of an oven bag for a turkey?
Any old paper bag — even the grocery bag you bring the turkey home from the store in — will work.
How do you use a Turkey bag in a crock pot?
Then insert one Turkey bag (the ones you use for roasting oven bag), fold edges over the outside of crock pot – so that is has been lined with the turkey bag. Add ingredients and cook your favorite recipe as normal. After you are through just throw away the bag -or- if there are left overs just tie it up and put the in the fridge for later use.
How to cook a Turkey in a crock pot?
Add one cup water to the bottom of your crock pot. Then insert one Turkey bag (the ones you use for roasting oven bag), fold edges over the outside of crock pot – so that is has been lined with the turkey bag. Add ingredients and cook your favorite recipe as normal.
Can you use oven bags in a crockpot?
Yes, you can technically use oven bags in a crockpot the same way you would use them in an oven. You can use them for steaming, slow cooking, or lining the insides of the crockpot. However, there is a chance that the bag could break down due to the long exposure to high temperatures and it will not fit as well as a slow cooker liner.
Can you cook a Turkey in a bag?
Since a bag cooks turkey faster, there’s a chance the stuffing won’t have enough time to heat up to a safe temperature. You can opt for making dressing (stuffing baked in a casserole dish) instead, or be sure to take the temperature of the stuffing before serving. How long does a turkey take to cook in a bag? How Long to Cook Turkey In a Bag.
Is there a cooking bag for Crackpots?
There are cooking liners for Crockpots and also cooking bags that come with frozen foods or even food you can add to the bag to cook in a pot of boiling water or even the oven. Normally, there are instructions on the item that will tell you how long to cook this.
What are crockpot bags used for?
Oven bags are most commonly used for preparing one-pot meals in the crockpot, for slow-cooking meat and vegetables, and for making more than one meal together side by side. Oven bags and crockpot liners, also called slow cooker liners, are made of the same material that is able to withstand high cooking temperatures.