Meat Thermometer
A
digital probe thermometer monitors the turkey’s temperature without requiring
you to open the oven door. (A heat-safe cord attached
to the probe trails out of the oven to the thermometer, which sits on the counter and beeps when the target temperature is reached.) An old-fashioned
instant-read meat thermometer, which is not oven-safe, requires occasional poking to check for doneness but is inexpensive and easy to read.
RS Picks: Polder Preprogrammed Cooking Thermometer, $35,
www.cooking.com. Taylor Meat Thermometer, $20,
www.williams-sonoma.com.
Roasting Pan
“If you’ve got a good roasting pan, you’re 90 percent of the way to a great turkey,” says Leanne Ely, author
of
Saving Dinner for the Holidays (Ballantine, $15,
www.amazon.com). Look for a pan that is sturdy (read: heavy) and has an aluminum core and bolted handles that stick straight up, not out to the side. If fast cleanup is a priority, go with a nonstick coating; if you need browned pan drippings for gravy, opt for an uncoated finish. (Mauviel pans,
Real Simple’s pick, come in both.) And don’t worry that you’re splurging on a once-a-year pan.
“You’ll use a good pan with chicken, roasts, ham — again and again,” Ely says.
RS Pick: Mauviel Roasting Pan, traditional finish, $125,
www.williams-sonoma.com.
Baster
If tradition calls and you decide to baste your bird, you need the right tool. A substandard baster can lose up to half the liquid between pan and turkey, wasting time and effort, says Sara Moulton, a Food Network chef and the author of
Sara’s Secrets for Weeknight Meals (Broadway, $30,
www.amazon.com). Look for a heavy-duty model with a large bulb that fits snugly
so it can suck up (and hold on to) hot juices.
RS Pick: Stainless Steel Baster by Zim, $12,
www.surlatable.com.
Roasting Rack
By raising the turkey off the bottom of the pan, a roasting rack prevents it from steaming in its own juices, ensuring a crisp skin and even cooking. Although most pans come with a rack, Cuisipro’s Roast & Serve rendition is a worthwhile purchase, since it doubles as a lifter that easily transfers a hot turkey from roasting pan to carving board.
Just remove the pin; the rack comes apart, gently releasing the turkey.
RS Pick: Roast & Serve Roasting Rack by Cuisipro, $30,
www.cutlery.com.
