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!
Cooking turkey in a bag has become a popular method for many home cooks especially around Thanksgiving. The concept seems simple – place the turkey in a heat-resistant bag pop it in the oven, and let it cook. But does sealing the turkey in a bag actually speed up the cooking process? Let’s explore this question and look at the science behind it.
How Cooking in a Bag Works
Special oven bags designed for roasting turkey are made from heat-resistant nylon that can withstand temperatures up to 400°F. Once the seasoned and prepped turkey is placed in the bag and sealed, the bag helps retain and circulate moisture as the turkey cooks. As the turkey heats up, its natural juices are released, hit the hot bag interior, and convert to steam. This steam then envelopes the turkey, keeping it moist and tender.
The bag also prevents the turkey’s moisture from evaporating into the oven air. Normally moisture evaporates from the turkey’s skin into the dry air of the oven which can lead to a dried-out bird if not carefully monitored. The bag provides a protective barrier that locks in moisture.
Factors that Impact Cooking Time
Several factors impact how long it takes to roast a turkey, whether it’s cooked in a bag or not. The main factors are
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Turkey weight – A larger turkey requires more time to cook through to the safe minimum internal temperature. The general rule is 15-18 minutes per pound for an unstuffed turkey.
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Oven temperature – Higher oven temps cook the turkey faster. Most recipes call for 325°F to 350°F.
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Cooking method – The technique used also affects time. Roasting, grilling, smoking, frying all require different lengths.
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Stuffing – A stuffed turkey takes longer to cook than an unstuffed one. The stuffing must reach 165°F.
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Thawed vs. frozen – A fully thawed turkey cooks much faster than a still partially frozen one.
So does the bag itself impact cooking time?
How Bags Impact Cooking Time
Cooking turkey in a bag can reduce cooking time, but the difference is generally minimal. Here’s why:
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The bag helps retain heat, creating an enclosed cooking environment. This may cook the turkey 10-15 minutes faster.
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The steam created from the turkey’s juices heats up the meat a bit faster than dry oven air.
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The bag eliminates the need to open the oven for basting. Openings release heat and moisture.
However, the turkey still needs to reach the safe minimum internal temperature of 165°F in the breast and 180°F in the thighs. So while the bag may provide some additional heat and moisture, the laws of physics still apply – a large cold turkey will still require significant time to heat through.
The major factors like turkey size and oven temp play a much greater role. In most cases, expect the turkey to cook only about 10-15 minutes faster at the most. This is a relatively minor difference for a total cook time of 2-3 hours or more.
Tips for Faster Cooking
If your goal is to speed up roasting time, using an oven bag can help slightly. But other techniques have a bigger impact:
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Partially thaw the turkey – Letting it thaw halfway knocks off about 30 minutes.
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Cook stuffing separately – An unstuffed turkey cooks faster. Make stuffing in a baking dish instead.
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Increase oven temp – Up to 425°F is considered safe. Watch closely to prevent burning.
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Truss turkey – Binding the legs and wings helps the turkey cook evenly.
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Cut up turkey – Separate thighs and breasts for quicker cooking.
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Spatchcock turkey – Flattening it out exposes more surface area to heat.
Other Considerations with Oven Bags
Aside from a potential minor reduction in cooking time, oven bags provide other pluses and minuses:
Pros
- Moist, tender meat
- Easy cleanup
- Self-basting through steam
- Can add aromatics inside bag
Cons
- No crispy skin
- Can’t use a meat thermometer easily
- Potential bursting if overfilled
- Special handling for stuffed turkeys
turkey: 25
bag: 16
cook/cooking: 15
oven: 10
moisture: 5
heat: 4
time: 4
temperature: 3
roast: 3
stuffing: 3
thanksgiving: 2
juice: 2
steam: 2
breast: 1
thigh: 1
crispy: 1
skin: 1
aromatics: 1
season: 1
nylon: 1
barrier: 1
evaporate: 1
dry: 1
monitor: 1
baste: 1
open: 1
physics: 1
technique: 1
grill: 1
smoke: 1
fry: 1
thaw: 1
partially: 1
flatten: 1
spatchcock: 1
truss: 1
bind: 1
wing: 1
leg: 1
evenly: 1
separate: 1
cons: 1
pro: 1
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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 Turkey in an Oven Bag
FAQ
Do roasting bags speed up cooking?
Oven cooking bags are made from nylon and can speed the cooking of a turkey. Refer to the directions on the oven bag package for the manufacturer’s recommended cooking times.
Does a turkey cook faster in a Reynolds bag?
Using a bag has quite a few advantages, but the biggest are how much it can reduce the cook time and how it keeps the meat moist and juicy. In my testing, the bag shaved off almost half the expected per-pound cook time, though manufacturer Reynolds said its testing showed closer to a 30 percent reduction.
How can I speed up my turkey cooking?
Depends on the size of the turkey and how you cook it. If you spatchcock it (remove the spine and flatten the bird), it cooks faster. If you cook it at high heat (30 minutes at 450° F, then turn the oven down to 400°F, it takes about half the time it takes to cook it at 325° F, which is what a lot of people advise.
Is it better to cook a turkey in a bag or foil?
… way to ensure you wind up with a perfectly roasted turkey—juicy and flavorful no matter what part you dig into—is to both cover it and not cover it with foilDec 25, 2024
Do turkeys cook faster when roasted in a bag?
The shortened cook times reported by all these major cooking resources confirm that turkeys do cook faster when roasted in a bag. While cook times can vary based on factors like a turkey’s size and whether or not it is stuffed, you can reliably count on oven bags to reduce roast times by approximately 1 hour.
Why should you cook a Turkey in a bag?
It traps in moisture to help the turkey stay juicy and tender as it cooks. Cooking in a bag also saves time, as your turkey will cook about an hour faster in the bag than what your recipe specifies. A bag is also self-basting, which means condensation collects in the bag and drips onto the turkey as it cooks.
Should you cook a Turkey in an oven bag?
If you’re cooking the annual Thanksgiving turkey, you might wonder if you should use an oven bag. It’s a method that many advocate makes a juicy turkey—and it’s foolproof for beginners. Find out all the pros and cons of cooking turkey in a bag before you decide if it’s the right choice for you.
What are the disadvantages of cooking a Turkey in a bag?
There are also some drawbacks to cooking a turkey in a bag. These include: * May not brown as evenly as a traditionally roasted turkey: A turkey cooked in a bag may not brown as evenly as a traditionally roasted turkey. This is because the bag prevents the turkey from coming into direct contact with the heat.
Can you cook a Turkey in a paper grocery bag?
During the 1950s, the idea of cooking a turkey in a paper grocery bag became trendy, and the notion still makes a comeback every few years. But according to the USDA, cooking your turkey in a paper bag is dangerous. There can be toxic fumes from the ink, glue and recycled materials in the bag. Plus, you can start a fire!
How does a Turkey bag work?
A bag is also self-basting, which means condensation collects in the bag and drips onto the turkey as it cooks. You can basically forget about the bird once it’s in the oven, moving on to making Thanksgiving side dishes and all the other tasks that come with a busy day of cooking.