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Thanksgiving Is Almost Here. It’s Time to Buy a Roasting Pan

Hands down, a roasting pan will take your Thanksgiving turkey to sweet, tender victory.

a roasted turkey sitting in a pan on a counter Courtesy

By Tyler Chin and Johnny Brayson

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Once the calendar changes over to November, the countdown begins for the fourth Thursday of the month: Thanksgiving. The biggest cooking day of the year requires a lot of preparation and the right tools for your meal, and if you’re going the traditional route, that means you’re going to have to cook a turkey. And although recent years have seen an increase in alternative forms of turkey cooking, like the notorious deep-frying method or the moist-making sous vide, it’s still tough to beat a classic roast turkey. And if you’re going to roast a turkey, you’re going to need the right cookware to do it. Namely, you’ll need a turkey roasting pan with a rack.

Why Do You Need a Roasting Pan?

As mentioned in the intro, there’s more than one way to cook a turkey. But by far, the most popular method is to roast the bird in your oven. However, just tossing your turkey on a sheet pan isn’t going to work very well at all. Turkeys are massive birds, and they take a long time to cook — typically 13-15 minutes per pound. In order for a turkey to cook evenly, the hot air of your oven needs to circulate all around the bird, including beneath it. A roasting pan is large enough and deep enough to accommodate your turkey, collecting all of the juices that it sheds during cooking. Using a rack with your roasting pan is essential, as it’s needed to elevate the bird, allowing hot air to reach below it and keeping the turkey from sitting in its own juices. You can use other large oven-safe dishes to cook your turkey, even making a makeshift rack out of aluminum foil when needed to give it some height, but a roasting pan with a custom-fit rack is tailor-made for the task of roasting poultry and will make your life a whole lot easier — and your Thanksgiving dinner a whole lot tastier.

The Best Turkey Roasting Pans for Thanksgiving 2022

Pros

  • Absurdly affordable

Cons

  • Basic stainless steel construction won't distribute heat as evenly as aluminum-core options

You don’t really need to spend a ton of money to get a roasting pan for your turkey — even a disposable aluminum one from the supermarket will work just fine. But if you’d like to spend just a hair more for something a little more durable, then this mainstay from Ikea is perfect.

Pros

  • Easily doubles as a casserole dish thanks to its smaller size and non-stick coating

Cons

  • Comparatively low maximum temperature threshold

Since you’ll be cooking your turkey on top of a wire rack, a non-stick roasting pan is not 100% necessary for Thanksgiving dinner (though it will make cleanup easier). But if you’re looking to use your roasting pan more than once a year (which you should, it’s great for veggies and other dishes too), then you’ll be glad you opted for a non-stick option.

Pros

  • V-shaped rack distributes heat more evenly

Cons

  • Traditional non-stick coating is not for everyone

Turkey roasting pans are designed to make cooking your bird more convenient, and Cuisinart’s option accomplishes this feat better than most thanks to its sturdy fixed handles on both the pan and included rack that make for super-easy lifting — an important consideration when dealing with a 15-lb bird.

Pros

  • Non-toxic coating for peace of mind

Cons

  • Walls are on the shallow side

If you’re concerned with potential health risks from cooking with PTFE found in traditional non-stick coatings like Teflon, then you may want to have a look at non-toxic non-stick ceramic coatings, like the one found on this GreenPan roaster. Again, the non-stick factor isn’t really a dealbreaker when it comes to your turkey, but you’ll be thankful for it in other instances.

Pros

  • Boasts All-Clad's signature three-ply construction for even heat distribution

Cons

  • Not compatible with induction cooktops

All-Clad is one of the top names when it comes to cookware, and its stainless steel skillets are the choice of many of the world’s top chefs. Unsurprisingly, All-Clad’s signature even heat distribution also translates wonderfully to a roasting pan. What’s more, this beast of a pan can accommodate turkeys up to 25 lbs.

Pros

  • The exterior contains titanium to prevent scorching

Cons

  • Like all Le Creuset cookware, it's expensive

Like All-Clad, Le Creuset is one of the biggest names in high-end cookware. Also, like All-Clad, they’re mainly known for something other than roasting pans — in Le Creuset’s case, its enameled cast-iron Dutch ovens. Regardless, the luxe French cookware brand makes one of the best roasting pans on the market, combining a stainless steel pan for even heat distribution with a non-stick rack for no-fuss cleanup.

Pros

  • Tall handles offer ample room for grabbing

Cons

  • Interior rivets can be difficult to clean

An exclusive from Williams Sonoma — not to mention a bestseller — is this roasting pan that the home goods retailer labels the “Ultimate.” Its three-ply construction sandwiches a core of heat-responsive aluminum between two layers of non-reactive stainless steel, meaning this pan heats up quickly and evenly. It’s also built like a tank, practically ensuring a lifetime of Thanksgiving use.

Pros

  • Carbon steel composition offers the best of cast iron and stainless steel

Cons

  • 12-lb turkey limit will be too small for many

Made In frequently works with top chefs to create their dream kitchen products, and this roasting pan is the result of Chef Tom Colicchio desire for the “perfect” roasting pan. And, well, they just might have cracked the code. Seeking to solve Colicchio’s main roasting pan complaints of moisture loss, ingredients stuck in corners, and uneven browning, Made In turned to carbon steel, a material that combines cast iron’s heat retention with stainless steel’s maneuverability. The pan also has rounded corners and high sides for better containment and easier food removal.

Pros

  • Unique flared design makes for crispier skins

Cons

  • Low walls could potentially lead to more messes

Food52 knows food, and they used their extensive knowledge — along with feedback from thousands of home cooks — to craft their own version of the perfect roasting pan. Big enough for a 20-lb turkey, this roaster has plenty of handy features like a 360-degree pouring rim, rivet-free handles to keep away nasty buildup and flared walls that help give your turkey’s skin just the right amount of crisp.

Viking 3-Ply Oval Roaster with Induction Lid and RackAmazon

Viking 3-Ply Oval Roaster with Induction Lid and Rack

Pros

  • Can cook more meals than other roasting pans

Cons

  • Despite its larger size, it can only cook a 14-lb turkey

Given enough time, this unique 3-in-1 roasting pan from Viking could cook your entire Turkey Day dinner on its own. It has everything you expect from a quality roasting pan, like 3-ply stainless steel construction, high walls and an included rack, but it also features an ovular shape and lid, allowing it to function as a de facto Dutch oven. What’s more, the lid doubles as a baking dish or serving vessel, giving you loads of options on the big day.

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