When it comes to the famous Thanksgiving menu, factors swirl around the importance of Turkey and how it can be cooked. Nowadays, faster methods of cooking turkey have evolved, and people have adapted themselves to these procedures. 

An Electric Roaster is one of the best tools to cook a turkey and has many capabilities to perfect the roasting technique at its best. 

The time it takes will differ when it comes to the electric Roaster. The preparation it has to go through to be roasted in an electric roaster is no different from the normal roasting technique. 

The preparation time and the amount of effort would typically be the same. This method will free up the oven for a long time and also leverage it to cook other recipes.

The time it takes for a 13-pound turkey is a maximum of 2 hours in an electric roaster, and for a 24 or 28-pound turkey is a total of 4 hours maximum.

Any less time than this could make the turkey half cooked, and a constant evaluation of the temperature is also a must in this procedure.

How To Cook A Turkey In An Electric Roaster?

Let the turkey defrost well before you can start the procedure. All meat parts should be evenly warm before you start roasting them. This applies to even normal roasting.

Here are the steps for cooking turkey in an electric roaster.

1. Remove the rack and insert the pan into the roaster. Preheat the roaster to 325 degrees F.
2. Truss your turkey with the melted butter, paprika, and good seasonings of your choice. We have to know that an electric roaster does not roast the turkey as well as an oven.
3. Insert a thermometer into the turkey meat or the thigh muscles of the turkey meat to know what temperature it has reached. You have to make sure that the turkey is heated properly inside the dense layers.
4. Add the rack back to the roaster and heat the breast side up. Let the turkey rest after removing the foil for 15 minutes before carving.

How Long Does It Take To Cook A Turkey On An Electric Roaster?

The cooking time of the turkey depends on the size of the turkey. There is a manual describing the time and procedure of the electric roaster.

Here’s a little guide on how long it takes to cook a turkey on an electric stove, depending on its size;

• A 12 to 13-pound turkey takes about 1 ¾ hour.
• A 14 to 24 pounds turkey takes about 3 hours.
• A 28 pounds turkey takes about 4 hours and more.

Grilled or smoked turkey can also be prepared with the help of the electric roaster.

How Do You Get A Turkey Golden Brown In Color?

As mentioned before, an electric roaster will not get the turkey golden brown in color. There are some tips to be followed if we have to brown the turkey, similar to that oven-roasted turkey.

1. Preheat the roaster up to maximum temperature. Let it cook for 30 minutes at a high temperature to get the skin crispier on the surface.
2. Dab the herb oil and butter on top of the surface of the meat
3. Browning sauce will be a better addition when roasting a turkey. Browning sauce is gravy made from paprika or other spices that give that color.

Should We Baste The Turkey?

It is definitely necessary to baste the turkey if you roasting it in the oven. The steam rises from the turkey and hits the lid to fall back on the turkey again in the electric roaster.

So basting it would preserve its skin from all the steaks and juices when it comes to oven roasting. Oven roasting of the turkey requires basting, definitely. Other methods can go well with or without basting as well.

What Temperature Should My Turkey Be At?

The temperature on the thickest part of the turkey should be 165 degrees. Many times people cook more turkey than this. It is usually cooked at 170 degrees F for sure.

It is only a choice that you make. A higher temperature would also be good if you want it over-roasted and crispy.

Brining The Turkey Before Roasting It

Brining the turkey actually helps lessen the moisture on the layers. It is a very traditional step that has been followed for many years. Brining a turkey involves the below procedure.

1. Drop the turkey in a clean bowl and pour it with cold water.
2. Pour 1 cup of sugar and salt into the bowl as well.
3. Give it a nice stir to dissolve the turkey for a long time.
4. Place it in the fridge and let it brine for 24 hours.

Do You Have To Put Water In An Electric Roaster?

The best thing about an electric roaster is that it has self-basting properties. The moisture from the turkey moves onto the lid and falls back on the turkey. So basting a turkey in an electric roaster is not that much of a necessity.

So adding water is redundant in an electric roaster. The turkey can be heated to a maximum of 165 degrees F and then taken out to be rested and served.

The electric roaster would do all the actions of basting and roasting properly, which also keeps the juices on the meat intact. 

How Do You Make Herb Butter Before Roasting Turkey On An Electric Roaster?

To roast the turkey, it is better to dab it with herb butter and some poultry herbs. The poultry seasoning that we get in the shop should be right.

It is then mixed with melted butter and then whisked with all the spices and seasoning to form a brown color paste. It is then coated on the turkey before it can go into the electric roaster. 

Conclusion

An electric roaster is an advanced tool used to roast the turkey, which takes care of all possible methods it has to undergo. The timing in an electric roaster is faster than the normal oven roaster, but the preparation needs to be the same.

Hence cooking a turkey this way can also ensure a delicious turkey meal for your thanksgiving. All you need to do is follow the guidelines and be sure of all the indications to prove that it has been roasted fully.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)