What Can I Use an Electric Roaster Oven For?

What can I use an electric roaster oven for you may be asking yourself?  The first reason to own a roaster oven is to cook a large turkey or ham at the holidays.  But did you know that you can cook so much more in a roaster oven?  You can cook casseroles, soups, lasagnas and even bake cakes or pies!
I work at an active adult community that uses several electric roasters at a time for large food events during the year.  They are a perfect addition to the two convection ovens we have where we can cook a large amount of food at the same time.  Just watching the electrical circuits and outlets is the biggest worry we have!

An example of items they cook in the roaster ovens includes pork roasts for pulled pork sandwiches, chili for our Best Chili Contest, cooking brats, sauerkraut and potatoes for Oktoberfest and egg casserole for pancake breakfast events.  This is just a few food ideas; they have many more!

The best thing I like about using an electric roaster oven is that they are safe and easy to use.  They do not take up as much space as a full range oven which is important too.  We use the 18 quart size ovens which are plenty large enough for a variety of cooking needs.

If you attempt to bake a cake or pie in an electric oven, please remember to prepare your baked good as recommended on the package or recipe.  Place your baking pan on a rack inside the roaster oven to avoid burning or sticking on the bottom.  Watch your baking time and test your cake before removing.  Baking in an electric roaster oven is possible but not as popular as roasting meats.

How to Cook a Ham in an Electric Oven

The holidays are just around the corner and now you are planning your holiday dinner menu.  I will share with you how to cook a ham in a portable electric roaster oven the easy way!  There are several types of hams to choose from: spiral cut, classic or butt roast and even a canned ham.  Whichever ham you choose, it will cook perfectly in an electric roaster oven.

The one thing I like about my electric oven is that it keeps the moisture in due to the design of the appliance and its domed cover.  This keeps all the moisture circulating around the meat or roast instead of evaporating in the large conventional oven.  I have not had a dry ham yet using my roaster oven.

Here are ten tips for making a perfect ham in a portable oven:

1. Prepare the ham with adding cloves or other favorite seasonings on the outside of the ham.
2. Sometimes I add melted butter and brown sugar for a sweeter version of ham.
3. I use a chicken or vegetable broth on the bottom of the liner pan for added flavor to the juices.
4. Put ham on liner rack in oven so moisture can circulate completely around meat.
5. Turn on the oven to a lower 325 temperature to cook the ham thoroughly without drying out.
6. Baste your ham several times during cooking to keep the flavors marinating the meat.
7. Cook the ham according to manufacturer's directions; usually 15-20 minutes per pound.
8. Do not let the roaster pan dry out; add liquid or broth if necessary during cooking time.
9. Test the ham with a meat thermometer towards end of cooking time to ensure inside is hot.
10. When done, remove ham, let sit a few minutes, carve and enjoy!

Nesco Roaster Oven

How to Cook a Large Turkey in a Roaster Oven

If you have a large family or plan a holiday party, you may be wondering how you will bake everything in one conventional oven.  I recommend investing in an electric roaster oven.  New on the market is the 24 pound Oster Roaster Oven that comes with a dome lid.  A 22-24 pound turkey will fit nicely in this portable electric oven leaving room for side dishes and pies in your conventional oven.  I own a portable roaster oven and use it several times per year to cook my turkey, large chickens, ham or roast when having family dinners.

How to cook a large turkey in a roaster oven is fairly easy!  Prepare the turkey according to directions on the wrapping, of course making sure it is thawed out ahead of time.  I also recommend preparing the stuffing separately to shorten the baking time.  I do slip inside the turkey cavity large pieces of onion, celery, apples and orange to assist in the seasoning from inside out.  I then rub a mix of olive oil and melted butter on the outer skin, then sprinkle poultry seasoning all over the whole turkey.

Place the turkey in the electric roaster adding at least a can or two of chicken broth.  The turkey will also make juice inside the roaster that I use to periodically baste the baking turkey with.  Turn on the roaster to 350 degrees and place the lid on the roaster.  Follow the baking time recommended on your brand of turkey, but usually this is approximately 20 minutes per pound.  Baste with the juices every hour or so.  If you like a crispier skin on your turkey, place the turkey in a pan and put in your conventional oven for the last half hour of baking.  Let your turkey rest a bit then carve and serve.

You will be amazed at how juicy and tender your large turkey will be when baking it in one of these portable electric roaster ovens.  This cooking method does not let your meat dry out.  Happy Holidays!

24 Pound Oster Roaster Oven

What is the Best Selling Electric Roaster?

The holidays are quickly approaching again and maybe you are in the market to purchase an electric roaster oven for your holiday cooking.  When purchasing a large appliance of any kind you want to be sure you are getting the best or most for your money.  I like to read the reviews on several of the top selling brands prior to making my decision.  I read past the top several reviews to get a good feel for the overall recommendations from buyers such as yourself.  I feel then I can add this to the product description to help me in my choice.

One of the current number one best sellers in electric roasters is the Oster 22 Quart Roaster Oven.  It has hundreds of reviews by very satisfied purchasers and users of this large roaster.  This happens to be my favorite roaster as well.  It may cost a little bit more than a few of the other brands but this appliance is worth the extra money.  For starters, this roaster oven is very large and will hold up to a 25 pound turkey with ease.

One of the really nice features besides the extra oven space at the holidays is that is has a self-basting lid.  This means that the lid is designed to keep the moisture from evaporating and therefore it bastes the turkey for you!  I like this so much because when getting ready for the family dinner on Thanksgiving for example, I have plenty of other things to do besides running to baste the turkey in a hot oven every 20 minutes.  This electric roaster keeps the moisture circulating and the turkey is so juicy as a result.

The Oster Roaster Oven has a nice stainless steel finish with a black trim and lid that is just so attractive if you want to take a dish in it to a family get together or neighborhood potluck.  The inner liner is designed to bake evenly and with the enamel on steel finish, clean up is easy.  It just practically wipes clean without any scrubbing or scraping.  That is my favorite part; I hate the clean up after a big dinner party!

As highly recommended this roaster is, there are a few things to consider as well.  The outside does get hot when cooking but this appliance is not a crock pot.  I have used other brands at work and they all get hot on the outside since they are portable ovens.  If you know this about the electric roaster ovens then you can be careful.  The other thing is that the inner pan is large and does not fit completely in the kitchen sink to clean.  I have rinsed mine out in the laundry room tub which is deeper.  Plus some might have storage issues when not using their portable oven. I keep mine covered on a shelf in our garage!

How to Smoke Meat in an Electric Roaster

Smoking meat in an electric roaster is now easy with the Oster 16 Quart Smoker Roaster Oven. It is designed with removable wood chip pockets to use when smoking meat outdoors.  It is not recommended to smoke indoors but can be used as a regular roaster oven to bake all types of meats and meals as well.  The best thing with this roaster is having that added feature of smoking a brisket or turkey.

I picked up this electric roaster to use at tail gate parties and camping trips.  It is definitely portable, travels well and the enamel coated liner pan is easy to clean.  The red and black colors of the roaster sold me as well!  The only thing I am not happy with is the short electrical cord it comes with.  I would have preferred a longer cord to reach further when camping and cooking on the outdoor table.  With an extension cord, however, it is an easy fix.

It is easy on how to smoke meat in a electric roaster oven such as this one.  This one only takes 1 1/2 cups of mesquite wood chips compared to the larger smokers that need much more wood chips and charcoal briquets.  Rub your brisket meat with your favorite spices and add  1 cup of water in roaster pan liner.  Set oven temperature on 250 degrees and cook slowly for up to 6 hours or an inner meat temperature of 195 degrees.  To tenderize the meat even more, turn the roaster off, wrap it in foil and let it simmer in the roaster pan with juices for another 2 hours.  This is the most tender smoked meat you will have ever tasted.

Why Do You Need to Cure a Nesco Roaster?

If you are considering buying a Nesco electric roaster, you may be wondering why you need to cure or "burn off" the roaster before use.  It is due to its unique design and materials.  Nesco is one of the oldest companies that have been producing electric roaster ovens since the 1930's.  Most of the Nesco roaster ovens are made of porcelain and have a unique cooking method design.

But first before cooking anything in this electric roaster oven by Nesco, you must "burn off" or "cure" the heatwell which can be a "stinky" process.  It is recommended to have a large open area to conduct this procedure.  If you can do this on a patio or open air area without bothering the neighbors, that is the best scenerio for conducting this "curing" of your new Nesco roaster oven.

When buying a Nesco Roaster, factor in this procedure into your holiday season.  I would encourage you to buy this roaster in advance of needing it for cooking your holiday turkey or ham. It takes about 60 minutes or longer to "cure" or "burn off" the heatwell of the Nesco appliance.  While you are doing this, take the cook pan liner and lid to the sink and wash.  Set aside to dry.  Once the roaster stops putting off wisps of smoke, then it is done and ready to use.

Make sure you follow the manufacturer's directions on "curing" your new Nesco electric oven; it will be worth every bit of effort.  This Nesco electric roaster has been around for a long, long time and you will be passing it down to your children and then to their children for generations to come!

Tips on Roasting a Delicious Turkey in a Roaster Oven

There are several tips I would like to share with you regarding roasting a delicious turkey in a roaster oven.  First, let me say that roasting a turkey in an electric oven is easy and foolproof.  You will be surprised on how juicy your turkey, no matter the size, will be when served.  The first tip I can recommend is finding the right size roaster oven that is best for you.  If you regularly have a large gathering at the holidays, than I would purchase the largest size 22 qt roaster oven.  It will hold up to a 25 pound turkey easily.

The second tip I will share is to roast your turkey without stuffing.  There are several reasons I prefer to roast my turkey without stuffing such as a quicker cooking time, less opportunities for possible food borne illnesses from raw drippings and I like a baked stuffing casserole the best!  I do "stuff" my bird with large pieces of onion, celery, apple and oranges.  This does flavor the turkey from "inside-out".  I also rub the outside skin of the turkey with light olive oil, a blend of poultry seasonings and pepper.


Another tip is to follow the manufacturer's directions on roasting temperatures and cooking time for a large turkey.  Keep the roaster covered and with the domed lid this is the secret to cooking a juicy turkey.  The lid is designed to keep the moisture inside the roaster oven and circulate around the bird.  I do baste my turkey every hour for the first couple of hours of cooking time, then every half hour thereafter. 

The last and most important tip I can recommend to you to produce a delicious turkey for your guest is to bake it in the conventional oven for the last half hour to crisp the turkey's skin.  That is the one thing that an electric roaster oven is lacking in which is producing the dark crispy skin of an oven baked bird.  Baking the skin in a hot oven for a short time will not dry out the bird which is the ultimate goal of a delicious turkey. 

I hope my tips help you bake a delicious turkey this holiday season.