Whether it’s your first go at cooking Thanksgiving dinner or you’re a seasoned pro, the turkey takes center stage on the table, so it must come out perfect!
COOKING A TURKEY IN AN OVEN BAG
Cooking your Thanksgiving turkey in a Reynolds Kitchens® Turkey Oven Bag is a fantastic way to ensure that your turkey stays moist and succulent while also turning out a golden light brown. Plus, with an oven bag, you won't even have to worry about scrubbing the roasting pan. Just follow these easy steps to roast a turkey in an oven bag for your next dinner.
YOU’LL NEED…
- Reynolds Kitchens® Turkey Oven Bag
- One 8 to 24-pound turkey
- 1 tablespoon flour (wheat, rice, potato, nut or gluten-free flour, corn starch, corn meal, or matzo meal can be used as a substitute for flour)
- Ties that come in the oven bag package
- Large oven-safe roasting pan or disposable aluminum roasting pan
- Seasonings
- Meat thermometer
YOU’LL NEED…
Oven Bags
Learn More Where to Buy
Directions
STEP 1
Preheat your oven to 350°F.
STEP 2
Place a turkey-size oven bag into a large roasting pan that is at least two inches deep. Sprinkle one tablespoon of flour into the bag and shake to distribute (you may use wheat, rice, potato, nut or gluten-free flour, corn starch, corn meal, or matzo meal instead of flour). Then, add sliced vegetables, depending on the recipe. Turn down the ends of the bag several times to help hold it open while you place the turkey inside.
STEP 3
Remove the neck and giblets from the turkey. If you like to stuff your turkey, place the stuffing into the cavity. Be careful not to overstuff. Pat the skin dry, brush the turkey with oil or melted butter, and season as desired. Not sure what to use for seasoning? Try this herb-roasted turkey recipe. Place turkey in the oven bag atop your sliced vegetables.
STEP 4
Close the bag with the nylon tie found in the turkey oven bag carton. It’s usually folded inside the cooking chart.
STEP 5
Make 6 half-inch slits in the top of the bag to allow steam to escape as the turkey cooks. Tuck the corners of the bag in the pan and trim or fold down the extra bag beyond the tie to ensure it doesn’t touch the oven or heating elements when cooking.
STEP 6
Place the turkey on the lowest rack of your oven to roast. There’s no need to baste or attend to the turkey. Look at the cooking chart included in the carton for the estimated time for cooking a turkey in an oven bag. To check if the turkey is done cooking, measure the temperature through one of the cut slits on the top of the bag. Place a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the turkey thigh, not touching the bone.
STEP 7
Let the turkey stand in the bag for 15 minutes after removing it from the oven. Then, cut the top of the bag open with cooking shears or a paring knife.
STEP 8
To remove the turkey from the bag, insert serving forks in the neck and chest cavities of the turkey. Then, transfer your turkey to a serving dish for dinner. Use the juices to make flavorful gravy to pair with the moist turkey.
STEP 9
Enjoy!
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TURKEY OVEN BAG COOKING TIMES
Add 1 tablespoon of flour to coat the bag when preparing your turkey oven bag. Do not add any water (unless directed).
| OVEN BAG TURKEY COOKING TIMES Until internal temp reaches 165°F in the breast and thigh in several places, not touching the bone (If you prefer a well-done turkey with no pink juices, cook until 180°F in the thickest part of the thigh, not touching the bone) | |
| Turkey Weight | Cooking Time @ 350°F |
| Whole Turkey, unstuffed | |
| 10-12 pounds | 1 1/2 to 2 hours |
| 12-16 pounds | 2 to 2 1/4 hours |
| 16-20 pounds | 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 hours |
| 20-24 pounds | 2 1/2 to 3 hours |
| Whole Turkey, stuffed (stuffing temperature should be 165°F) | |
| 10-12 pounds | 2 to 2 1/2 hours |
| 12-16 pounds | 2 1/2 to 2 3/4 hours |
| 16-20 pounds | 2 3/4 to 3 hours |
| 20-24 pounds | 3 to 3 1/2 hours |
| Turkey Breast, bone-in | |
| 8-12 pounds | 1 3/4 to 2 1/4 hours |
| Turkey Breast, boneless | |
| 8-12 pounds | 2 1/2 to 3 hours |
| Wild Turkey | |
| Same as whole turkey, but if skinless, add 1/4 cup water and brush with extra oil or butter. | |
If you want all the juicy details about how to cook a turkey in an oven bag, and our oven bag cooking times, peek at our oven bag cooking charts for turkey, chicken, beef, pork, and more!
OUR FAVORITE OVEN BAG TURKEY RECIPES AND RESOURCES
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Recipe
Thanksgiving Oven Bag Turkey
Recipe
Herb Roasted Holiday Turkey
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OVEN BAG TURKEY FAQS
What Are the Pros and Cons of Cooking a Turkey in a Bag?
If you’re aiming for an easy method to cook an extra juicy, tasty turkey with plenty of flavorful juices for gravy, oven bags are the best method. However, if you prefer crispy, roasted brown skin, you’ll want to skip the oven bag and try using one of our other methods on how to cook a Thanksgiving turkey. Explore the pros and cons of using oven bags vs. foil turkey cooking methods and more.
Can You Brine a Turkey in an Oven Bag?
No. Reynolds Kitchens® Oven Bags are not intended for use as a container for brining because the pressure from a large amount of liquid may cause the oven bag seam to burst.
Will I Have Enough Juice for Gravy When Using an Oven Bag?
Yes, the oven bag will produce plenty of liquid for gravy.
What Substitute Can Be Used for Flour in Oven Bags?
Flour is always needed to help prevent the bag from bursting and help blend the fats and juices during cooking. You can use any type of flour such as wheat, rice, potato, or gluten-free flour. Cornstarch, corn meal, matzo meal, or finely crushed crackers also work well as flour substitutes.
Can I Cook Two Small Turkeys at One Time?
Yes, you can cook two small turkeys or two turkey breasts at the same time if your oven is large enough for the heat to circulate between the pieces of meat and for the bag(s) to expand without touching the oven racks or walls. You can use one turkey-size oven bag or two large-size oven bags. Cook for 15 minutes longer than the cooking time of the largest piece of meat. Then, check both pieces of meat for doneness with a meat thermometer.
Can Two Turkey Breasts Be Placed in One Oven Bag?
Yes, add 15 minutes to the total cooking time of the largest breast then check the temperature of both breasts using a meat thermometer to determine doneness.
Can Two Oven Bags Be Used in the Oven at Once?
We do not recommend placing multiple Turkey Oven Bags in the oven at the same time. You can use two regular-size bags simultaneously but ensure there is enough room between the bags for the heat to circulate. The bags should never touch the oven walls or heating elements.
Can I Cook a Turkey With the Breast Facing Down?
Yes, you can, but it is not necessary with Reynolds Kitchens® Oven Bags because the bag holds in all the juices and moisture, so the turkey bastes itself and cooks tender and juicy.
How Do I Cook a Turducken in an Oven Bag?
Reynolds Kitchens® Oven Bags are not intended for cooking a turducken.
OVEN BAG TURKEY TIME AND TEMPERATURE FAQS
Does a Turkey Cook Faster in a Bag?
Yes. Larger turkeys sixteen pounds and up that are fully thawed and cooked in an oven bag can cook up to one hour faster than the turkey package directions. See the oven bag cooking chart for estimated times.
What Temperature Do You Cook a Turkey in a Reynolds Oven Bag?
A temperature of 350°F is necessary for the turkey to cook quickly and brown evenly in the oven bag. See the oven bag cooking chart for estimated times.
Will the Turkey Brown in the Oven Bag?
Brushing your turkey with butter or margarine with a bit of paprika to the seasonings will help to turn it into a delicious golden brown inside the oven bag. And here's a fun fact: the bigger the turkey, the deeper the golden hue it'll acquire as it spends more time cooking. Don't expect that cooking a turkey in a bag will result in crispy skin, but you'll have a turkey bursting with moisture and juiciness when you roast it in an oven bag.
What is the Ideal Internal Temperature of Turkey?
The USDA states that poultry is safe to eat when cooked to 165°F and checked with a meat thermometer in several places, not touching the bone. If you prefer well-done poultry with no pink juices, cook it until the thigh (not touching the bone) reaches an internal temperature of 180°F.
What is the Max Temperature for Oven Bags?
Reynolds Kitchen® Oven Bags are safe up to 400°F. They are heat-resistant but should not be used for broiling or exposed to direct flames or coils. Do not use oven bags in countertop electric roaster ovens, countertop convection ovens, halogen light ovens, toaster ovens, or grills.
What is the Minimum Temperature to Cook Turkey in an Oven Bag?
For food safety reasons, turkey should not be cooked at an oven temperature lower than 325°F. Cooking overnight or all day is not recommended. According to the USDA, for food safety reasons, never partially cook a turkey and finish cooking it later.
How Long Does It Take to Cook a Turkey in an Oven Bag?
Cooking time varies based on the size of your turkey. Please refer to our oven bag cooking times chart.
Can the Turkey Be Prepared the Night Before, Placed in the Oven Bag, and Stored in the Refrigerator?
Yes. The oven bag may be prepared and stored in the refrigerator the night before. Do not forget to cut the slits in the oven bag the day of cooking.
Can I Open the Oven Bag Toward the End of the Cooking Time to Brown the Turkey? What Would Happen if I Did?
No, never open the oven bag and return it to the oven. Drippings from the edges of the bag may fall outside the roasting pan onto the bottom of the oven, which could cause smoking or burning.
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