Do you need a roasting pan to cook a turkey?

Depending on the size of your protein, you may be able to roast it in a Dutch oven, skillet, or baking dish, but for a larger turkey or a big brisket, for instance, you’ll be better off with a baking sheet. Make sure it’s a rimmed sheet pan with raised edges to keep all the juices and drippings contained.

Can you cook a turkey without a roasting pan?

But if you don’t own a roasting pan—or you just want to try something new—you can do it. … Regardless of whether you use a roasting pan or baking sheet, for best air-circulation, a roasting rack is key. Many sheet pans are sold as a set with cooling racks that fit snugly in the pan.

What kind of pan can I use to roast a turkey?

The two best materials for a roasting pan are stainless steel or copper. While enameled cast-iron roasting pans are beautiful to look at, they can also be incredibly heavy. Add a 20-pound turkey to the mix, and you’re going to need some extra muscle to maneuver it.

What can I use if I don’t have a wire rack?

You can create a rack out of rolled up pieces of tin foil, open-style cookie cutters, or even place a small over rack from something like a toaster oven inside of a roasting pan to improvise. You can transfer the cake to a cool, flat surface like a plate, cutting board, or cool baking sheet to let it cool down.

Can I use a glass dish instead of a roasting pan?

Glass pans aren’t recommended when you want to broil foods because they may shatter. … So if you are roasting a meat and want to make a pan gravy on the stove after, stick to a metal roasting pan, not a glass pan, or else you will have to transfer everything to a pot first before making your sauce.

Do you cook the turkey covered or uncovered?

To achieve that balance, the ideal is to let the bird spend time both covered and uncovered: We recommend covering your bird for most of the cooking time to prevent it from drying out, then removing the cover for the last 30 minutes or so to allow the skin to crisp.

Can the turkey touch the sides of the pan?

The pan needs to be just large enough to hold the biggest thing you will roast without touching the sides of the pan. A larger pan will only be cumbersome and difficult to handle. Choose a pan that is heavy and won’t buckle under the weight of a large turkey or large cut of meat.

How do you cook a turkey with a roasting pan lid?

Place the turkey, breast side up, on top of the roasting rack, inside the roasting pan. Pour water into the roasting pan so that it comes up to the top of the rack. Cover the roasting pan with a lid. Place in the oven.