Nov 20, 2012, 09:44 PM
Spanish RevivalOven Bags for Turkey
I used them once a loooong time ago for chicken, I know it browned the chicken but I don't remember if it crisped up the skin. I'm going to make a 22 lb. turkey for Thanksgiving and I'm contemplating whether to use an oven bag or not. Has anyone used one for a turkey so big and how did it turn out? Crispy skin? Thanks, and Happy Thanksgiving to all.
Nov 20, 2012, 09:51 PM
Handie AnnI will not do a turkey without one. It makes moveing the bird easy and cleanup quicker. And making gravey less messey. You will love it.
Nov 20, 2012, 09:57 PM
Froo FrooA good friend always uses one for her turkeys, but I don't recall a crispy bird as a result...tender, fall off the bone and juicy YES. I like to use olive oil on my turkey breast which works, but a recent tv segment showed the author of a new southern cookbook laying strips of bacon atop the breast part (the driest meat on the bird) to provide moisture and crispness to the turkey which makes sense. I use to lay cheese cloth atop the breast and then pour olive oil on it w/ good results. Tho the bags do contain the juices, I am personally reluctant to cook plastic on my food. That's just me.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Nov 20, 2012, 10:01 PM
conradI love them too. No basting and easy cleanup, as Handie Ann said.
My turkey always has a nice brown/crispy skin, but I made sure that I baked it long enough, that so the meat was falling off the legs. If you really want it a lot crispier on the br east, you can always split open the bag top for the last 30-45 minutes? But I never found this necessary.
Nov 20, 2012, 10:11 PM
Idaho ResidentWe did a 22 pound turkey last year using the oven bag and it turned out great ~ moist, tender and crispy!

One word of caution, either be VERY careful putting the turkey in the bag or make sure you have an extra box of bags ~ we tore the first bag since the turkey was so big. Luckily, we had a spare one!
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Nov 20, 2012, 11:04 PM
GrapefruitI use one every time and love it!!!
Nov 20, 2012, 11:55 PM
Spanish RevivalWould you use a rack inside the roasting pan to rest the turkey on?
Nov 21, 2012, 08:22 PM
conradI use what they suggest, a couple of large spears of celery to rest it on, inside the lightly floured bag.
Since I stuff the turkey with dressing, it is a two person job to get a 23-24 pound, greased turkey into the bag, with the bag and celery already in the large roaster.

Nov 23, 2012, 10:48 AM
Spanish RevivalWell, I used the Oven Bag for my 22 pound Turkey on Thanksgiving. I always stuff the bird and I did this time too. It turned out very moist, in fact the meat just fell off the legs when I moved it from the roasting pan to the cutting board. Made a lot of very tasty gravy, and was browned very nicely. Only complaint is it didn't crisp up the skin but that was easily overlooked and I don't think anyone really missed it. I will definitly use an oven bag from now on when cooking the turkey. Thank-you all so much for recommending it, it was a success!!