Cooking a Turkey in a Non-Stick Roasting Pan

[babywings76]

The recipes/ways that I've been told to cook a turkey say to cook it at 500 degrees for 20-30 minutes at first. Then you turn down the heat to 325. But if it's a non-stick roasting pan, what do you do?

This year was my first time ever (I know, it's embarrassing to confess) to cook a turkey. My mother had given me a non-stick roasting pan several years ago. It didn't say anywhere on the box or whatever that there was a limit to the temp. the oven should go to while using it. So I just went about my merry way making the turkey. The turkey turned out perfect. My gravy was terrific. But...when my mom went to wash the pan, there were tons of little specs, dots, missing of the nonstick coating. Yum, guess we got some added roughage to our gravy. :yuck: I'm guessing that the high heat with the fat in the drippings caused it to come off like that.

So now I need to replace the pan and thought about ours, but ours is non-stick. Do I buy a stainless steel one, or get ours but adjust the way I cook a turkey.

Seems like an awful lot of money to spend on a pan that hardly ever gets used, ya know?

 

[BethCooks4U]

I have been making turkey for many years. I always set the oven to 325 degrees and bake the turkey about 20 minutes per pound, basting frequently.

The time would be shorter if you don't stuff the bird.

There is no need to have a special pan just for the turkey. Our roasting pan is perfect.


If you are determined to follow the instruction of starting at such a high temperature then use a disposible pan.

 

[pcsharon1]

I agree that 325 for the entire time is perfect - our turkey turned out beautifully. And I did it in our roasting pan with an aluminum foil tent and didn't baste it at all - we let it cook while we were out finishing our shopping. And it was great to remove the turkey and then put the pan straight on the burner to make the gravy!

 

[NooraK]

And as for the price of the pan, there are lots of other uses for the roasting pan besides turkey!

 

[BethCooks4U]

I agree that 325 for the entire time is perfect - our turkey turned out beautifully. And I did it in our roasting pan with an aluminum foil tent and didn't baste it at all - we let it cook while we were out finishing our shopping. And it was great to remove the turkey and then put the pan straight on the burner to make the gravy!

I do put foil over mine for part of the time but we love the crispy skin. Leaving it open and basting it every half hour or so makes it nice and crispy while keeping the meat moist. If you don't indulge in the skin then the foil tent is the way to go for you!

 

[zmom58]

I too bake @ 325 in our roaster on the rack, but I cook it breast side down until the last 1 1/2 hours. Then I turn it breast side up using our meat forks and it turns out perfectly!! It is the most moist white meat you will ever have! Heavenly!!

 

[Becca_in_MD]

I do high heat with breast side down for the first half hour and then flip it and lower the heat. Just don't go over 400 in our our roasting pan and you should be OK.

My sister made a big lasagna in the roasting pan for Xmas Eve. I sent home a nylon knife with my mom to give her because she didn't have anything to slice the lasagna with. Another use for the nylon knives...

 

[lockhartkitchen]

I rarely use my roasting pan for turkey. I use it daily on the stove top as a griddle. I make toasted cheese sandwiches, French Toast, double batches of noodle dishes, etc. It gets lots of use.

 

[cookingwithdot]

I rarely use my roasting pan for turkey. I use it daily on the stove top as a griddle. I make toasted cheese sandwiches, French Toast, double batches of noodle dishes, etc. It gets lots of use.

I just saw Tyler Florence on the Food Network using it on the stove top too - great idea! I haven't used it for turkey (I too have NEVER made a turkey!!!) , but my husband has made several roasted chicken in our roasting pan ...

 

[babywings76]

I rarely use my roasting pan for turkey. I use it daily on the stove top as a griddle. I make toasted cheese sandwiches, French Toast, double batches of noodle dishes, etc. It gets lots of use.

It's not awkward or cumbersome using it as a griddle?

 

[lockhartkitchen]

Definitely not awkward to use as a griddle. I actually bought it for that, because the griddle didn't have high enough sides for me. I can even cook a pound of bacon in it, all at one time.