Do You Put Water in the Roaster When Cooking a Turkey?

Cooking the perfect turkey can seem daunting, especially for first-time Thanksgiving hosts. One common question is whether or not to put water in the bottom of the roasting pan. So should you use water when roasting your turkey? The short answer is no – skip the water for best results.

Why Adding Water is Not Recommended

There are several reasons why experts advise against cooking your turkey with water in the roasting pan:

Uneven Browning – The steam created from the water often leads to pale, blotchy, uneven browning on the turkey skin instead of a crisp, golden exterior.
Mushy Texture – The moist cooking environment can cause the turkey meat to become mushy or even separate from the bones.
Diluted Flavor – Cooking via steam dilutes the rich roasted turkey flavor that develops when the bird roasts in hot, dry oven air.
Weak Gravy – With less concentrated drippings in the pan, your gravy may turn out bland rather than rich and flavorful.
Splattering – Hot turkey fat splattering into water can cause messy oven spills.

The pros at Butterball’s Turkey Talk-Line, with over 35 years of turkey cooking experience, confirm that roasting without water leads to better results.

Better Alternatives for a Moist Turkey

While adding water to the roasting pan seems like it would help keep the turkey moist, it often backfires. Here are some better options

Use a rack – Elevate the turkey on a rack above the roasting pan so air circulates all around.
Try a flavored butter – Slather spiced, herbed, or citrus-infused butter under and on top of the skin.
Brine the bird – Soaking in a saltwater brine solution seasons and helps retain moisture.
Cook stuffing separately – This allows you to pull the fully-cooked turkey at the optimal time instead of overcooking to heat stuffing.
Baste frequently – Spoon pan drippings over the turkey to moisturize the meat during roasting.
Watch the temperature – Pull the turkey when it reaches 165°F in the thickest part of the thigh to prevent drying out.

How to Roast a Turkey without Water

Follow these simple tips for roasting turkey without water for the best results:

Choose a high-quality roasting pan with a rack to elevate the turkey. Avoid deep, covered pans which will steam the bird.
Pat the turkey dry and rub butter under and on top of the skin. Season generously with salt and pepper.
Position turkey breast-side up on the roasting rack. Tuck wings under and tie legs together with kitchen string.
Roast turkey at 350°F, basting every 30 minutes until it reaches 165°F internally. Tent with foil if skin browns too quickly.
Let turkey rest 20-30 minutes before carving to allow juices to reabsorb for moist, tender meat.
Pour pan drippings into a fat separator, then use to make rich homemade gravy.

By skipping the water and following these roasting pointers, your holiday turkey will turn out beautifully browned, juicy, and flavorful. Crisp skin, succulent meat, and delicious gravy can be yours without needing to add water to the roasting pan.

Frequency of Entities:

Browning: 4
Texture: 2
Flavor: 3
Gravy: 3
Splattering: 1
Rack: 3
Butter: 2
Brine: 1
Stuffing: 1
Baste: 1
Temperature: 2
Roasting pan: 3

do you put water in the roaster when cooking a turkey

Season the Turkey Inside, Outside, and Under the Skin

This is the best way to make turkey taste great, no matter what herbs and spices you choose. Season it all over. Twenty pounds of turkey is a lot of meat. A teaspoon of salt and pepper on top won’t be enough.

Generously rub salt and pepper inside the cavity, along with whatever other herbs and spices youre using.

Spiced butter or olive oil can also be pushed under the breast skin and around the thighs. If you want to separate the skin from the meat, you can use your fingers or a thin wooden spatula. This not only flavors the turkey but also helps keep it moist and juicy.

Lastly, rub the outside skin of the turkey with butter or oil, and season with salt and pepper. This triple application of flavor will mean an end to bland birds.

Watch Now: How to Roast a Perfect Turkey

Cooking your dressing stuffed inside the turkey is a bad idea for several reasons. The shape of the cavity means that the stuffing might not cook evenly. It also doesn’t get all browned and crusty except for the small piece that sticks out of the end. What good is stuffing thats not browned and crusty on top?.

What’s more, by the time the stuffing is cooked through to a safe temperature, some parts of the turkey will already be too crispy and dry. When you bring the turkey to the table, just spoon the dressing that you cooked separately into the cavity for a classic look. Wholl know?.

do you put water in the roaster when cooking a turkey

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

FAQ

Do you add water to turkey when roasting?

Drain juices and pat dry with clean paper towels. Place breast, skin side up, on a flat roasting rack in a 2-inch deep roasting pan. Do not add water to pan. If you don’t have a roasting rack, crunch aluminum foil into a coil or use vegetables like carrots to keep your turkey off the bottom of the pan.

Do you put liquid at the bottom of an electric roaster for turkey?

“You can imagine all the turkey cooking methods we’ve tested over our 39 years,” says Nicole Johnson, the director of the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line. “Often consumers will inquire about adding water to the bottom of their roasting pans. We do not recommend adding water to the bottom of the pan.

Do you put water under roasting pan in electric roaster?

No, you shouldn’t add water to an electric roaster. The roaster traps the moisture inside of it, then recirculates it during the cooking process.

What is the secret to a moist turkey?

HOW TO COOK A PERFECTLY MOIST AND JUICY TURKEY. Start by “brining” the turkey. This means soaking it in salt water overnight in the fridge (generally using a brining bag). You can also add a few flavors to the brine if you so desire.

How long does it take 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.

How do you keep a Turkey moist in an electric roaster?

To ensure that your turkey is moist when cooking it in an electric roaster, make sure to baste it every 30 minutes with the juices that accumulate in the bottom of the roaster. Additionally, you can rub the turkey with butter before cooking it to help keep it moist.

Should I add water to the bottom of my roasting pan?

“Often, consumers will inquire about adding water to the bottom of their roasting pans. We do not recommend adding water to the bottom of the pan. Cooking a turkey with steam is a moist heat-cook method and is acceptable, sure, but is not the preferred method for cooking your turkey.”

How do you cook a Turkey in an electric roaster?

There are many great recipes for cooking a turkey in an electric roaster. However, a simple and classic recipe involves rubbing the turkey with butter and seasoning it with salt, pepper, and herbs. Then, roast the turkey in the electric roaster at 325°F until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

Do you need to cover a Turkey in an electric roaster?

No, you do not need to cover your turkey with foil when cooking it in an electric roaster. The roaster will keep the turkey moist without the need for additional coverings. Is it better to cook a turkey in an oven or an electric roaster? Both ovens and electric roasters are great for cooking turkeys.

Can you cook a 22 pound turkey in a roaster?

I recommend the Oster 18-quart roaster oven which can hold a 22 pound turkey. It boasts a “self-basting” lid and has a “warm” setting to keep your turkey perfectly warm. How do you make herb butter for turkey? Yes, you can just throw a turkey in the roaster and have it come out fork tender, but for the best flavor, rub it down with herbed butter.