Food - Drink
How You Should Position Your Oven Rack When Roasting Turkey
By ERIN SHAW
Fall is upon us and for many that brings to mind images of Thanksgiving dinner with mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and, of course, turkey. Once you’ve picked out the perfect turkey and gotten it home, there are many ways to cook it, but if you prefer to cook yours in an oven, this is the best practice when it comes to positioning your oven rack.
When it comes to roasting or baking food, you want that item to be in the center part of the oven so that it receives the appropriate amount of heat without getting too hot or cold. This seems simple enough but gets complicated by the fact that turkeys are often large, and Thanksgiving dinner requires more than one dish in the oven at a time.
When it comes to a turkey, in order for the bird to be centered, your rack will probably have to be moved to the bottom slot, which will also help prevent burning the top of your turkey. If you’re worried about undercooking your turkey legs and thighs, put your bird in legs first as the back of the oven tends to retain the most heat.