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See why.Ultimate Turkey Rack
Flipping a roasting turkey has never been so easy.
What You Need To Know
For perfectly roasted turkey, slower-cooking dark meat needs a head start, which is why we call for roasting poultry breast side down and flipping midway through. But flipping is a pain. The Ultimate Turkey Rack ($29.95), a metal stand that holds a handled spit, presents a viable alternative: Just slip the bird onto the spit, roast, and turn—no heavy lifting necessary. Its manufacturer claims it can handle any size bird, from 3-pound chickens to 30-pound turkeys. We used it to roast a 3½-pound chicken plus 14- and 24-pound turkeys. All of the birds fit and were easy to flip. However, once the turkeys were breast side up and ready to go back in the oven, we hit a snag: In this orientation, the birds protruded higher above the roasting pan and no longer fit in our smaller ovens. Luckily, we had larger ovens so the turkeys could finish roasting. In sum: The rack made flipping a snap. But before you buy, measure your oven: You need at least 15 inches between the ceiling (or top heating element) and the rack when set in the lowest position (where the roasting pan will sit).
Everything We Tested
Recommended
- Design: 2 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use: 3 stars out of 3.
Flipping a roasting turkey has never been so easy. This rack’s simple design works. It’s easy to use, the instructions are clear, and the steel frame fits securely in our favorite roasting pan. Even turning large, 24-pound turkeys is a breeze, and the results are picture-perfect. Its only flaw is its height: After roasting the bird breast side down and flipping it to finish roasting, we found that its curving breast was so tall that it didn’t fit back into one of our smaller ovens. So measure your oven before buying. For best results, this rack needs a 15-inch clearance from the oven rack in the lowest position to any heating elements at the top. Available at ultimateturkeyrack.com
Reviews you can trust
The mission of America’s Test Kitchen Reviews is to find the best equipment and ingredients for the home cook through rigorous, hands-on testing.