Do I need a roasting pan?

Generally we use one of the foil ones from publix. You can buy it at the same time you get your turkey to make sure it fits. For us, it makes sense because after you carve the turkey, one of us always uses it as their take home leftovers container. 😂

I no longer use a roasting pan for my turkey. There is a cooking school near me that I have taken classes at and every year they put on a free Thanksgiving 101.

The cook/owner recommends that you use a shallow baking pan with a wire rack to keep your turkey from being soggy on the bottom. You can place your stuffing under the wire rack and under the turkey to soak up all the yummyness that drips down. Just remember to get the bread under the turkey if its not under the turkey it will turn black.

Her roasting directions:

Preheat oven to 500. Dry turkey and rub with canola oil, veggie oil or unsalted butter. Place on cooling rack atop rimmed baking sheet or inside shallow roasting pan with rack. Roast at 500 for 20 minutes. Without opening oven, turn down to 350 and roast until an internal temperature in the dark and breast meat reaches 158. Remove, cover with foil and rest for 30-45 minutes. Carve and serve.

It usually takes about an hour to hour and 20 minutes to roast even the biggest bird.

Use an instant read thermometer to check temperature. Don't use the pop up one that comes in your turkey. Pull that thing out and throw it away.

I mostly only use my big roasting pan for turkey, although if I did a brisket in the oven, I'd use it for that, too. I've used it occasionally for other things, like warming a large ham.

I saw nice big Calphalon-style (can't remember if it was actually Calphalon or not) roasting pans at Costco the other day.

You also need a roasting rack. Spray it with Pam before you put the turkey on it, to keep the skin from sticking.

If you decide to use a foil pan, use two together for strength. But I'd invest in a real roasting pan, if you can manage it.

I usually buy the big foil pans, and then use a roasting bag. I would love to have a nice big roasting pan with a rack, but don't know if I would use it much. I use my smaller roaster with the lid, A LOT.