Whether it’s your first go at cooking Thanksgiving dinner or you’re a seasoned pro, the turkey takes center stage on the table, so it must come out perfect!
Cooking a whole turkey can seem intimidating, but Southern cooks have long held a secret weapon for roasting flawless holiday birds – the humble brown paper bag. This simple technique keeps turkeys incredibly moist and tender while also producing beautifully browned and crispy skin.
I’ve been roasting my Thanksgiving and Christmas turkeys in a brown grocery bag for years, and it always results in the best turkey I’ve ever tasted! The turkey emerges from the steamy paper bag environment infused with rich, meaty juices. The breast meat is succulent and tender, never dry. The crunchy, golden brown skin provides the perfect finishing touch.
Here is a step-by-step guide to cooking your holiday turkey to perfection using this wonderfully easy Southern technique
Ingredients
- 1 whole turkey (10-16 lbs)
- Butter or oil for greasing bag
- Seasonings of choice (salt, pepper, herbs, etc)
- Aromatics for cavity (onion, lemon, garlic, herbs – optional)
- Large brown paper grocery bag
Instructions
Prepare the Turkey
- Thaw turkey if frozen and remove neck and giblets. Pat the turkey very dry, inside and out.
- Liberally grease the skin with softened butter or oil. Season all over with desired seasonings.
- Place lemon wedges, garlic cloves, onion chunks, herbs etc. inside the cavity if desired. Truss legs together with string.
Prepare the Bag
- Ensure bag has no holes. Thoroughly grease the entire outer surface with butter or oil to prevent burning.
Roast the Turkey
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Place seasoned turkey in the buttered bag breast-side up, Fold the open end over several times,
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Secure the bag shut by tying with string or stapling. Place in roasting pan, seam-side up.
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Roast at 325°F for 15-20 minutes per pound, until thigh temp reaches 165°F. Do not open the bag while cooking!
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Remove bag, let turkey rest 15 minutes before carving. Serve drippings as gravy.
Why the Brown Paper Bag Method Works
There are several reasons why the humble brown paper grocery bag produces such incredibly moist, tender and flavorful roast turkeys:
Moisture Retention
- The closed environment of the bag creates a mini steam chamber. This keeps the turkey very moist as it cooks.
Self-Basting
- Turkey juices cannot evaporate out of the sealed bag. As they render, they drip over the turkey, effectively self-basting it.
Crispy Skin
- While the interior steams, the exterior still crisps up nicely in the dry oven heat. The paper allows just enough air circulation.
Rich Flavor
- Turkey braises in its own juices, becoming infused with rich, concentrated meaty flavor.
Easy and Foolproof
- Once sealed, no basting or tenting with foil is needed. The bag does the work for you!
Tips for Perfect Brown Bag Turkey
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Thoroughly grease the entire outer surface of the bag to prevent burning.
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For extra browning and flavor, rub turkey skin with oil, butter or mayonnaise before seasoning.
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Use thin string or poultry tape to securely close bag. Staples also work well.
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Place aromatics like onion, carrots, garlic and citrus inside the cavity. Herbs too!
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Use a meat thermometer to verify doneness, poking through the bag carefully.
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Let turkey rest 15+ minutes before carving to lock in juices.
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Make gravy from the delicious concentrated pan drippings.
The Takeaway
Roasting turkey in a simple brown paper grocery bag is a cherished Southern technique that delivers incredibly moist, flavorful holiday birds with ease. The steamy environment bastes the turkey while it cooks, as juices cannot escape the sealed bag. Meanwhile, the exterior still crisps up nicely. This foolproof method takes the stress out of holiday cooking.
This year, try this wonderfully easy hack for your Thanksgiving or Christmas turkey. Your guests will rave about the succulent, tender meat and crispy browned skin. You may never cook holiday turkey any other way again after experiencing the brown bag magic!
COOKING A TURKEY IN AN OVEN BAG
Cooking your Thanksgiving turkey in a Reynolds Kitchens® Turkey Oven Bag is a fantastic way to ensure that your turkey stays moist and succulent while also turning out a golden light brown. Plus, with an oven bag, you wont even have to worry about scrubbing the roasting pan. Just follow these easy steps to roast a turkey in an oven bag for your next dinner.
- Reynolds Kitchens® Turkey Oven Bag
- One 8 to 24-pound turkey
- 1 tablespoon flour (wheat, rice, potato, nut or gluten-free flour, corn starch, corn meal, or matzo meal can be used as a substitute for flour)
- Ties that come in the oven bag package
- Large oven-safe roasting pan or disposable aluminum roasting pan
- Seasonings
- Meat thermometer
Preheat your oven to 350°F.
Place a turkey-size oven bag into a large roasting pan that is at least two inches deep. Sprinkle one tablespoon of flour into the bag and shake to distribute (you may use wheat, rice, potato, nut or gluten-free flour, corn starch, corn meal, or matzo meal instead of flour). Then, add sliced vegetables, depending on the recipe. Turn down the ends of the bag several times to help hold it open while you place the turkey inside.
Remove the neck and giblets from the turkey. If you like to stuff your turkey, place the stuffing into the cavity. Be careful not to overstuff. Pat the skin dry, brush the turkey with oil or melted butter, and season as desired. Not sure what to use for seasoning? Try this herb-roasted turkey recipe. Place turkey in the oven bag atop your sliced vegetables.
Close the bag with the nylon tie found in the turkey oven bag carton. It’s usually folded inside the cooking chart.
Make 6 half-inch slits in the top of the bag to allow steam to escape as the turkey cooks. Tuck the corners of the bag in the pan and trim or fold down the extra bag beyond the tie to ensure it doesn’t touch the oven or heating elements when cooking.
Place the turkey on the lowest rack of your oven to roast. There’s no need to baste or attend to the turkey. Look at the cooking chart included in the carton for the estimated time for cooking a turkey in an oven bag. To check if the turkey is done cooking, measure the temperature through one of the cut slits on the top of the bag. Place a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the turkey thigh, not touching the bone.
Let the turkey stand in the bag for 15 minutes after removing it from the oven. Then, cut the top of the bag open with cooking shears or a paring knife.
To remove the turkey from the bag, insert serving forks in the neck and chest cavities of the turkey. Then, transfer your turkey to a serving dish for dinner. Use the juices to make flavorful gravy to pair with the moist turkey.
TURKEY OVEN BAG COOKING TIMES
Add 1 tablespoon of flour to coat the bag when preparing your turkey oven bag. Do not add any water (unless directed).
| OVEN BAG TURKEY COOKING TIMES Until internal temp reaches 165°F in the breast and thigh in several places, not touching the bone (If you prefer a well-done turkey with no pink juices, cook until 180°F in the thickest part of the thigh, not touching the bone) | |
| Turkey Weight | Cooking Time @ 350°F |
| Whole Turkey, unstuffed | |
| 10-12 pounds | 1 1/2 to 2 hours |
| 12-16 pounds | 2 to 2 1/4 hours |
| 16-20 pounds | 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 hours |
| 20-24 pounds | 2 1/2 to 3 hours |
| Whole Turkey, stuffed (stuffing temperature should be 165°F) | |
| 10-12 pounds | 2 to 2 1/2 hours |
| 12-16 pounds | 2 1/2 to 2 3/4 hours |
| 16-20 pounds | 2 3/4 to 3 hours |
| 20-24 pounds | 3 to 3 1/2 hours |
| Turkey Breast, bone-in | |
| 8-12 pounds | 1 3/4 to 2 1/4 hours |
| Turkey Breast, boneless | |
| 8-12 pounds | 2 1/2 to 3 hours |
| Wild Turkey | |
| Same as whole turkey, but if skinless, add 1/4 cup water and brush with extra oil or butter. | |
If you want all the juicy details about how to cook a turkey in an oven bag, and our oven bag cooking times, peek at our oven bag cooking charts for turkey, chicken, beef, pork, and more!
How to make a perfect Turkey using a brown bag
FAQ
How long to cook a turkey in a browning bag?
ROAST the turkey at 325 degrees, about 12 to 15 minutes per pound. (Less time if you have a smaller turkey).
Do you put water in the bag when cooking a turkey?
Unless you have a roaster with a lid that goes in your oven. The purpose of the bag would be to keep it ‘covered’ while it’s cooking You can dump the 1/2 the amount of water in the bag to keep it moist but the bag on it’s own will help.
Is cooking a turkey in a brown paper bag safe?
What you’ll really get, according to the USDA, are toxic fumes from the ink, glue, and recycled materials in the bag. Plus, (no kidding!) the bag could catch on fire. Instead, use food-safe plastic bags that are intended for oven use, like the ones from Reynolds.
Can you put a brown paper bag in the oven?
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For turkeyYou can stuff a turkey, season it, and place it in a brown paper bag. Place the bag on a baking sheet in the lower third of the oven.
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For apple pieYou can put an assembled apple pie in a brown paper bag, secure it, and place it on a baking sheet.
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For chickenYou can place a chicken in a brown paper bag, tie it closed, and place it on a baking sheet in the lower third of the oven.