Printable View
Bought my turkey for Thanksgiving, and picked up an aluminum pan for roasting it in. The butcher saw and told me it wouldn't hold my 22 pounder. He and a customer suggested I get a roaster with a rack in it. Non stick surface.
Been looking on line, succeeded in getting totally confused.
The Kitchenaid one, the teflon doesn't last; and it is costly! The Calphalon is even more pricey.
So, what do you use? Thanks!
I detest any baking/cooking stuff with those so called "non stick" surfaces. Get any roaster you can scrub with a Brillo pad. If something sticks BAD, put water in it, heat it, turn it off and let it set..
I find with all my aluminum pans, if I keep a nice shine on the with brillo pads, they are SO much easier to clean. I only like aluminum or stainless steel for baking because if properly taken care of, they will last forever.. (Teflon don't)... and they are easy to clean.
I would just put it in a turkey bag and put it in the oven. That's what I always do. Cooks quickly, is tender, and no mess to clean up - just throw the bag away!
I'd have to agree with Laura's Babies, Teflon does not last. I had a set of KitchenAide pans, spent almost $200 on them and they didnt last a year. I could scramble eggs in the small skillet and it looked like I'd peppered them heavily... nope just the non stick coating. YUCK! So I tossed the bad pans and donated the others to Goodwill. Both a set of Wolfgang Puck Stainless ones. I love love love them.
Anyways...
The last two years I've made the turkey, I've used a turkey bag from Reynold's inside of the disposable aluminum pan. My only complaint was how flimsy the pans were once they had a big turkey in them! Not much of a mess with the turkey bag... Had LOTS of compliments on the meat too.
My mom was the turkey cooker. She put it in an aluminum pan, which had a rack inside, added a bit of butter all over the bird, water on the bottom of the pan (added more when needed), and let it cook.
This year (I won a 25 pounder last year and cooked it in Sept) I cut the bird up..legs, split the breast, cooked all as above. All got cooked, evenly, juicy, yummy.
Oh, I brined the bird in a huge Glad bag (the ones they advertising for storage) for 24 hours in Kosher salt before cooking.
Those aluminum pans don't cost much - how about buying 2 and putting one inside the other. That ought to make it sturdy enough.
Teflon is evil. And harmful. It was not meant to go into a high temp oven. I'm in the industry. Believe me I know! I use a stainless steel roaster. You can scrub the Heck out of it. Just use plenty of PAM. I even use the disposable aluminum kind. Works like a charm!
My most favorite rack is from Cuisipro. It has a 'spine" that you can pull out and seperate the two sides. No lifting the bird! See here:
http://www.cookware.com/asp/superbro...fid=GANk232270
Good luck!
Yes, that works; I've done it. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Grace
Or putting the aluminum pan on a cookie sheet would probably work.Quote:
Originally Posted by Grace
We've had the same big aluminum roasting pan for over 25 years. I don't have any "non-stick" pans - all they do is peel and that's really not good for you. That roasting pan is a workhorse, and anything (anything!) can be soaked out of it. We have never cooked turkey in anything else.
Yep, that's what we do. Put the nested pans on a cookie sheet or pizza pan. Makes it easier (and sturdier) for taking it out and putting it back in the oven.Quote:
Originally Posted by Grace
Paul's mom uses an enamelware roasting pan - the kind that's black with white speckles, it's plenty sturdy, and she's used it for as long as I can remember.
Great info, thanks for all the replies.
Here's what I use..
http://cgi.ebay.com/WAGNER-WARE-MAGN...item5884610ae6 Wagner ware is some of the best cookware ever!
That's what my mom uses too! Same black with white speckles.Quote:
Originally Posted by Karen
I have two of those roasting pans, the blue with white speckles. Not sure, I don't think they are enamel ware. Used them for roasts and chickens. Anyhow, they are 2 different sizes, both too small for this turkey.
I'm going to try the Reynolds bag! I bought one aluminum disposable pan when I bought the turkey (to make sure I had SOMETHING!) I usually use a cookie sheet under it. Guess buying a roaster just isn't gonna happen and that is fine; I know 14 noses who would prefer food and treats!
Hmmmmmm :confused: ...
Wonder what Bob Evans uses ???
I'll ask on Turkey Day.
:D
Are they going to want some turkey in their dishes? My cat always gets some (grandmeowmie always makes sure I give her a little in her dish).Quote:
Originally Posted by Freedom
Oh yes, all 14 of them will get some!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Karen
That's what I've been using for years. I've given a few others a try but for me this is the best and I wouldn't use anything else now. I also use a smaller version to make home baked beans and I love it.
Personally, I use LoH, but I think she'd be a bit put off by interstate requests.
:p
On a serious note, we need to get a new roasting pan, I'm looking at a heavy stainless or aluminum pan, depending on what will fit in our oven.
I am done with this project! I bought a granite ware pan with lid (on sale at Benny's, Lady's Human) and they had an 8 position rack for under $5. It is small enough that I can use it in several of my pans.
Thanks all! I am now officially ready to cook this huge turkey!
i was at macys dept store this afternoon. the have a heavy duty roaster with a solid looking rack for $9.99. the pan would have held a 20# turkey for thanksgiving, then afterwards there would have been a great lasagna pan;). hope this helps someone, ten dollars is a good price for that quality