This was the first year I used the electric roaster, and I have to say that I will never go back to using the regular oven!
I originally bought a Nesco Roaster, but decided to test the temperature calibration the weekend before Thanksgiving. I found that it was 100 degrees off!
I had ordered over the Internet, but took it back to a local branch of the department store. I ended up buying a Hamilton Beach at Costco for $39. Testing the calibration temperature of this one was also off a bit, but I knew how to adjust it..
The dining room which is next to the kitchen was emptied, because the dining table was moved to the front room. I had the roaster on a folding table in there. The turkey itself was browned for about 40 minutes in a hot oven to sear it and then plopped in the roaster.
There was a fair bit of experimenting, considering that this was the first year for brining and the first year for the electric roaster. It was also the first year I've every roasted a turkey unstuffed.
I think I can safely say that everyone LOVED the turkey. There have been friends who have been coming for years and thought that this was the tenderest, moistest and most flavorful.
I have to admit myself that this was the best one I've ever done. The brining added tenderness and flavor, but I think the roaster also contributed a lot, because the cooking space is small there is more vapor and steam in the cooking process.
As I said, browning is a challenge, but between searing it for the first 40 minutes and a browning concoction I painted it with, it came out looking very greeting card-esque.
To top it all off, I didn't have to baste the turkey.
Because the oven was freed up, it made everything else much easier as I had the oven free for other uses.
I am very pleased with the electric roaster. As I said, I won't be going back to doing on in the regular oven.[/
I agree with you! My roaster turkey turned out moist and delicious as well. I was really happy with it. I decided not to brine this year. I basted it with evoo and some seasonings. I stuffed the inside with some celery stocks, green onions, halved apple and halved yellow onion, just for flavor. I "browned" it in the regular oven at 450 for about 45 minutes (in the cookwell that came with the roaster..) then into the roaster (also the Hamilton Beach from Costco!). When it was done cooking I turned the roaster way down to keep it warm till I was ready to deal with it. It turned out so good.
It was great to have all the extra room in the oven. Inspired by the roaster, I made my stuffing on the stove top early in the morning and kept it warm in my crock pot and out of my way till dinner time. I can't wait to figure out other things to cook in my roaster now, I love it. You sure can't beat the price at Costco and I thought the clean up was really easy. So glad I made this purchase.