Thanksgiving Turkey Tips & FAQs

Oven Bags can be used in conventional and microwave ovens only. They should NOT be used under the broiler, on top of the stove, on barbecue grills, in toaster ovens, in slow cookers, in electric roaster ovens, in Instant Pots, with racks or as boiling bags. The possibility of exposing the bag to the heating elements or to extreme heat makes these cooking methods unacceptable for oven bags. Always use oven bags with a sturdy permanent pan/dish that is oven/microwave safe.

Reynolds Kitchens Oven Bags may be used in a full-size free standing convection oven. We recommend that you use our suggested cooking times as a guide but lower the temperature by 25° and rely on a meat thermometer to determine doneness.

Yes, add an additional 15 minutes to the total cooking time of the largest breast and rely on a meat thermometer to determine doneness.

We do not recommend placing multiple turkey oven bags in the oven at the same time. You can use two regular size bags at the same time but make sure there is enough room between the bags for the heat to circulate and be sure the bags don’t touch the oven walls or heating elements.

You can substitute cornstarch or other flours such as rice flour, potato flour (also called potato starch), etc., for regular flour.

An alternative means of closing oven bags is to cut a half-inch wide strip from the open end of the bag. It can then be used like a piece of string to close the open end. You can also use Butcher’s twine (also called cooking string or kitchen twine) as an alternative method. Under no circumstances should plastic ties be substituted, as they will melt. Also, plastic/paper covered wire ties should not be used as they can catch fire and cause the bag to melt. 

Yes, the oven bag may be prepared the night before and stored in the refrigerator. Do not forget to add the flour and cut the slits in the oven bag.  

If you brush your turkey with butter or margarine, it will brown in the oven bag. The larger the turkey, the more it will brown (as it cooks longer).  The skin will not get crispy, but you will find that your turkey is moister and juicier  when baked in the oven bag.

Yes, the oven bag will produce plenty of liquid for gravy.