Whether it’s your first go at cooking Thanksgiving dinner or you’re a seasoned pro, the turkey takes center stage on the table, so it must come out perfect!
Do You Have to Cook a Turkey in a Bag? Everything You Need to Know
Cooking the star of your Thanksgiving meal – the turkey – can be a daunting task. Many home cooks opt to use an oven roasting bag to help keep the turkey moist and make gravy prep easier. But is cooking your turkey in a bag absolutely necessary? What are the pros and cons of oven bags, and what are some alternative roasting methods? Let’s take a closer look.
The Benefits of Cooking a Turkey in an Oven Bag
There are several potential advantages to cooking your Thanksgiving turkey in an oven roasting bag:
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Juicier Meat – The bag seals in moisture and juices as the turkey cooks, keeping the meat very moist and tender The bag essentially steams the turkey from the inside out
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Easy Gravy – The juices collect in the bottom of the bag, making gravy prep simple. Just pour the flavorful liquid out after roasting.
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Minimal Cleanup – Turkey juices and splatters are completely contained in the bag so there are no drips or spills to clean up in the oven.
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Faster Cooking Time – A bag can decrease total roasting time by up to 30 minutes since it holds in heat efficiently.
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Consistent Doneness – The steamy environment promotes even cooking so you are less likely to end up with overdone portions
For novice cooks or busy hosts looking to keep Thanksgiving prep easy, oven bags offer convenience and reliability.
Potential Drawbacks of Oven Bags
However, oven roasting bags do have some downsides to consider:
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Lack of Crispy Skin – Steaming the turkey prevents the skin from crisping up. If you want that crackling brown exterior, you’ll need to use another roasting method.
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Can’t Stuff the Turkey – Stuffing baked inside the turkey may not heat to a safe temperature in the shorter cook time. Cook stuffing in a casserole dish instead.
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Chemical Concerns – Some types of oven bags may contain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), contaminants that can migrate into food during roasting. Look for unlined, PFAS-free bags.
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Single-Use Waste – Most oven bags are not reusable, generating more waste. Reusable silicone turkey bags are available as an alternative.
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Removes Turkey Flavor – Some claim that oven bags dilute the turkey’s roasted flavor.
So if you want crispy skin, classic stuffed turkey, or are concerned about chemicals from the bag leaching into your food, oven roasting bags may not be the best choice.
How to Cook a Turkey Without a Bag
You don’t actually need an oven bag to roast a turkey – people have been roasting turkeys for generations before oven bags were invented! Here are some alternative roasting methods:
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Roast Turkey on a Rack – For traditional crispy skin and rich roasted flavor, cook your turkey right on a roasting rack in a heavy roasting pan. Use a v-rack to lift the turkey up so air can circulate all around for even browning and place a pan with vegetables underneath to catch drippings for gravy. Baste the turkey every 30 minutes with pan juices.
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Butterfly
COOKING A TURKEY IN AN OVEN BAG
Cooking your Thanksgiving turkey in a Reynolds Kitchens® Turkey Oven Bag is a fantastic way to ensure that your turkey stays moist and succulent while also turning out a golden light brown. Plus, with an oven bag, you wont even have to worry about scrubbing the roasting pan. Just follow these easy steps to roast a turkey in an oven bag for your next dinner.
- Reynolds Kitchens® Turkey Oven Bag
- One 8 to 24-pound turkey
- 1 tablespoon flour (wheat, rice, potato, nut or gluten-free flour, corn starch, corn meal, or matzo meal can be used as a substitute for flour)
- Ties that come in the oven bag package
- Large oven-safe roasting pan or disposable aluminum roasting pan
- Seasonings
- Meat thermometer
Preheat your oven to 350°F.
Place a turkey-size oven bag into a large roasting pan that is at least two inches deep. Sprinkle one tablespoon of flour into the bag and shake to distribute (you may use wheat, rice, potato, nut or gluten-free flour, corn starch, corn meal, or matzo meal instead of flour). Then, add sliced vegetables, depending on the recipe. Turn down the ends of the bag several times to help hold it open while you place the turkey inside.
Remove the neck and giblets from the turkey. If you like to stuff your turkey, place the stuffing into the cavity. Be careful not to overstuff. Pat the skin dry, brush the turkey with oil or melted butter, and season as desired. Not sure what to use for seasoning? Try this herb-roasted turkey recipe. Place turkey in the oven bag atop your sliced vegetables.
Close the bag with the nylon tie found in the turkey oven bag carton. It’s usually folded inside the cooking chart.
Make 6 half-inch slits in the top of the bag to allow steam to escape as the turkey cooks. Tuck the corners of the bag in the pan and trim or fold down the extra bag beyond the tie to ensure it doesn’t touch the oven or heating elements when cooking.
Place the turkey on the lowest rack of your oven to roast. There’s no need to baste or attend to the turkey. Look at the cooking chart included in the carton for the estimated time for cooking a turkey in an oven bag. To check if the turkey is done cooking, measure the temperature through one of the cut slits on the top of the bag. Place a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the turkey thigh, not touching the bone.
Let the turkey stand in the bag for 15 minutes after removing it from the oven. Then, cut the top of the bag open with cooking shears or a paring knife.
To remove the turkey from the bag, insert serving forks in the neck and chest cavities of the turkey. Then, transfer your turkey to a serving dish for dinner. Use the juices to make flavorful gravy to pair with the moist turkey.
TURKEY OVEN BAG COOKING TIMES
Add 1 tablespoon of flour to coat the bag when preparing your turkey oven bag. Do not add any water (unless directed).
| OVEN BAG TURKEY COOKING TIMES Until internal temp reaches 165°F in the breast and thigh in several places, not touching the bone (If you prefer a well-done turkey with no pink juices, cook until 180°F in the thickest part of the thigh, not touching the bone) | |
| Turkey Weight | Cooking Time @ 350°F |
| Whole Turkey, unstuffed | |
| 10-12 pounds | 1 1/2 to 2 hours |
| 12-16 pounds | 2 to 2 1/4 hours |
| 16-20 pounds | 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 hours |
| 20-24 pounds | 2 1/2 to 3 hours |
| Whole Turkey, stuffed (stuffing temperature should be 165°F) | |
| 10-12 pounds | 2 to 2 1/2 hours |
| 12-16 pounds | 2 1/2 to 2 3/4 hours |
| 16-20 pounds | 2 3/4 to 3 hours |
| 20-24 pounds | 3 to 3 1/2 hours |
| Turkey Breast, bone-in | |
| 8-12 pounds | 1 3/4 to 2 1/4 hours |
| Turkey Breast, boneless | |
| 8-12 pounds | 2 1/2 to 3 hours |
| Wild Turkey | |
| Same as whole turkey, but if skinless, add 1/4 cup water and brush with extra oil or butter. | |
If you want all the juicy details about how to cook a turkey in an oven bag, and our oven bag cooking times, peek at our oven bag cooking charts for turkey, chicken, beef, pork, and more!
How To Cook A Turkey EASY | OVEN BAG Turkey Recipe | Simply Mamá Cooks
FAQ
Is it better to cook a turkey in a bag or not?
- Juicy meat: Trapped moisture baste the meat and creates flavorful juices
- Easy cleanup: Just throw the bag away when you’re done
- Faster cooking: Trapped heat speeds up the cooking time
- No mess: No splattering or juice drips
Can I cook a turkey without a turkey bag?
Yes, you can cook a turkey in the oven without a bag. Simply place the turkey on a roasting rack in a pan to allow air circulation and even cooking.Jan 23, 2018
Are oven bags worth it?
The bags helped the meat to remain moist and juicy and the dishes I baked them in had no baked-on residue that I had to spend a lot of time scrubbing off. Clean up was a breeze. For longer baked meats, the bags are a good idea and these Look bags are both sturdy and great to use.
How long to cook a 10 pound turkey in a bag?
- 8-12 lb turkey: 1 1/2 to 2 hours;
- 12 to 16 lb turkey: 2 to 2 1/2 hours;
- 16-20 lb turkey: 2 1/2 to 3 hours;
- 20-24 lb turkey: 3 to 3 1/2 hours.