How to Roast a Turkey in an Electric Roaster Oven

How Long to Cook a Turkey in a Roaster

A whole turkey cooked in an electric roaster oven typically takes about 10 minutes per pound at 350°F, after the initial 30 minutes at 450°F. The exact cooking time depends on the size of the turkey.

Always use an instant-read thermometer to check for doneness. The breast should reach 165°F, and the thickest part of the thigh should reach 175°F before serving.

Ingredients

• Whole turkey – A fresh or fully thawed frozen turkey works well. We usually use Butterball, but any brand is fine.
• Butter – Salted or unsalted butter both work.
• Onion, carrots, and celery – These flavor the turkey from the inside while it cooks. The vegetables are discarded after roasting, so there’s no need to peel the carrots.
• Fresh parsley – Mixes with the butter for extra flavor. You can substitute fresh sage, rosemary, or thyme if you prefer.
• Salt and black pepper – Simple seasonings that let the turkey flavor shine.

How Long Does It Take to Thaw a Frozen Turkey?

The safest way to thaw a frozen turkey is in the refrigerator. Allow about 24 hours for every 4–5 pounds of turkey. Once thawed, it can stay in the refrigerator for up to 2 days before cooking.

For example, a 16-pound turkey will need about 4 days to thaw in the refrigerator before cooking.

Use the thawing chart below to estimate refrigerator thawing time based on the size of your turkey.

Should You Take Turkey Out of the Fridge Before Cooking?

Yes. Remove the turkey from the refrigerator while you preheat the roaster oven and prepare the butter and seasonings. Taking the chill off for 20–30 minutes is fine, but don’t leave it at room temperature for longer than 2 hours for food safety.

How to Cook Turkey in an Electric Roaster Oven

See recipe card for exact amounts of ingredients to use in the steps below. 

1. Take the inside pan out of the roaster and put the lid on it, preheat it to 450° for 15 minutes while you prepare the turkey. 
2. Mix the softened butter with fresh parsley, salt and pepper. 
3. Remove the giblets and neck from the cavity and reserve them for gravy, if desired. Pat the turkey dry with paper towels (do not wash it). Place the turkey breast-side up on the roasting rack.
4. Sprinkle salt and pepper in the cavity, then place the onion, carrot and celery in the cavity as well. Rub the herbed butter mixture all over the outside of the turkey. Tuck the wings under the body and tie up the legs if needed. 
5. When the roaster is preheated carefully place the inside pan into the roaster, cover and cook for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes reduce the heat to 350° and continue to cook for a total of 10 minutes per pound. Do not take the lid off. 
6. Transfer the turkey to a platter, tent loosely with foil, and let it rest for 30 minutes before carving.
7. Carve and serve. 

Safety Tip: The outside of a roaster oven becomes extremely hot during cooking and can cause burns. Place it where children and pets can’t reach it, and make sure everyone knows not to touch the outside of the roaster while it’s in use.

Tips

• Look carefully for the giblets. They’re sometimes tucked into the neck cavity instead of the main cavity. Before cooking, make sure you’ve removed both the giblets and the neck.
• Check the legs before tying them. Butterball turkeys often use a strip of skin to hold the legs together. If your turkey doesn’t, tie the legs with kitchen twine before roasting.
• No large serving platter? A rimmed sheet pan works well for transferring and resting a large turkey. Just remember it will be hot.

Flavor Variations

• Fresh parsley: Leave it out if you don’t have any.
• Fresh herbs: Try rosemary, sage, or thyme instead of (or in addition to) the parsley.
• Poultry seasoning: Sprinkle 1–2 teaspoons over the outside of the turkey, inside the cavity, or both.
• Olive oil: Replace some or all of the butter with olive oil.

How to Move a Hot Turkey

Moving a hot turkey can be tricky, especially if you plan to use the pan drippings for gravy.

We use several wadded-up paper towels to grip the turkey where the legs meet the body. Lift carefully, tilting it slightly so the juices drain back into the roasting pan, then transfer it to a large serving platter to rest.

This method may slightly tear the skin, but it’s an easy way to move a heavy turkey safely without specialized lifting tools.

Should You Stuff a Turkey?

It’s best not to stuff a turkey because the stuffing may not reach a safe temperature by the time the turkey is fully cooked. For the safest results, cook the stuffing separately and serve it alongside the turkey.

If you’re looking for a homemade option, try my Homemade Stove Top Stuffing recipe.

Can I Use a Turkey Bag in a Roaster Oven?

No. A turkey bag isn’t necessary when cooking a turkey in a roaster oven. The covered roaster traps moisture, helping keep the turkey juicy without a bag.

Turkey bags are also not recommended because they can melt if they touch the sides, bottom, or lid of the roaster.

Do I Put Water in the Bottom of a Roaster for Turkey?

No. You don’t need to add water or broth to the bottom of the roaster. As the turkey cooks, it releases plenty of juices that keep it moist and provide flavorful drippings for gravy.

I usually get about 4 cups of drippings, which is enough to make turkey gravy. If you need more, make turkey stock with the neck, giblets, onion, celery, and carrots, then combine it with the pan drippings.

Does Turkey Need to Sit on a Rack in a Roaster?

A roasting rack is recommended because it keeps the turkey out of the juices as it cooks, helping the skin brown more evenly.

If your roaster didn’t come with a rack, you can make one by placing rolled-up aluminum foil or large pieces of onion, carrots, and celery in the bottom of the roasting pan to support the turkey.

How Often Should You Baste a Turkey in a Roaster?

You don’t need to baste a turkey in an electric roaster. As long as the lid stays on, the roaster traps moisture and the turkey essentially self-bastes as it cooks.

Avoid removing the lid during cooking because each time it’s opened, heat escapes and can increase the cooking time.

Do You Cook a Turkey with the Lid On or Off in a Roaster?

Cook the turkey with the lid on. Keeping the lid in place traps heat and moisture, helping the turkey stay juicy while it cooks.

Avoid removing the lid unless you need to check the temperature near the end of the cooking time. Each time you lift the lid, heat escapes and can increase the overall cooking time.

Do You Cook a Turkey Breast Up or Down in a Roaster?

We recommend cooking the turkey breast side up. This allows the breast skin to brown nicely and eliminates the need to carefully flip a hot, heavy turkey during cooking.

Some cooks prefer to start with the breast side down to help keep the breast meat moist, but we’ve consistently had excellent results cooking it breast side up in a covered roaster oven.

Serve Your Turkey With These Holiday Favorites

• 3-Ingredient Crockpot Ham
• Honey Mustard Glazed Ham
• Stove-Top Stuffing
• Pan Fried Green Beans
• Cranberry Jello Salad