The 6 Best Turkey Roaster Ovens for a No-Fuss Thanksgiving

Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving dinner for the first or hundredth time this year, a turkey roaster oven can go a long way to make preparing your family’s feast a little easier. Full turkeys take hours to cook, so a roaster oven can do the job while freeing up space in the oven for potatoes, pies, and rolls. It may seem silly to invest in a roaster oven that you may only use during the holidays, but we selected options that will be versatile slow cookers all year round for making chicken, ham, soups, casseroles, and more.

How to Pick the Right Roaster Oven

If you’re investing in a roaster oven exclusively to cook those holiday turkeys, you’ll especially want to make sure to get one that’s big enough to accommodate the size turkey you usually get. Most turkey roaster ovens range from 16 to 22 quarts, but if you opt for a different kind of convection oven or pressure cooker, they may be much smaller but should be at least 8 quarts to fit a full small turkey. Most 18-quart roasters will fit an 18 to 22-pound turkey, and 22-quart roasters can fit up to 26-pound birds for larger gatherings.

Other features you’ll want to consider is the oven’s temperature range, which typically go up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, but a minimum temperature of 200 or more may not be low enough to keep some dishes warm. In addition, domed-style, self-basting lids can help keep moisture circulating, so you don’t have to baste your turkey as frequently. Most roaster ovens should also include a wire roasting rack, and may have dishwasher-friendly parts for easier cleanup.

How We Selected Them

We relied on previous Popular Mechanics reporting on roaster ovens and researched consumer reviews to select the top six roaster oven options this year. Our consumer Score represents the percentage of consumers who rated the product at least 4 out of 5 stars on retail sites like Amazon and Walmart.