How to Cook a Turkey Perfectly in a Range Cooker
Cooking a turkey in a range cooker brings out the best in both the bird and the appliance. Whether you’re using an Everhot, Aga, Lacanche, Bertazzoni or another range, these cookers are built for long, steady roasts that make festive cooking smooth and satisfying.
If it’s your first year in charge of Christmas dinner on a range, or you just want to try something different, here are our top tips on how to cook a turkey perfectly in a range cooker.
Why range cookers are brilliant for roasting turkey
Range cookers use radiant heat rather than blast-fan heat. This means the heat is gentle, steady, and wraps around the meat instead of drying it out. You get a succulent roast because the moisture stays locked inside the bird - it’s like cooking inside a warm cocoon.
Even after you open the door, the oven holds its temperature and keeps cooking evenly, making it hard to overcook or dry out a turkey. The result? Juicy meat, crispy skin, and happy guests!
Let’s look at the steps to cook the perfect turkey in a range cooker:
Start with a good turkey
Choose a turkey that suits your gathering. We would recommend a fresh, pasture-range bird for the best flavour. A general rule is to allow 1.5 to 2 pounds per person. If you can get your hands on a free-range or organic option, the richer flavour often shines through with simple seasoning.
Preparing the range cooker
Range cookers are known for their large ovens and excellent heat retention. For roasting, you'll want the roasting oven preheated to around 180°C to 190°C. The enclosed, cast-iron design maintains consistent heat - ideal for big cuts like turkey.
Preparing Your Turkey
To get your turkey ready for the range cooker, just follow these straightforward steps:
Take out the giblets and any packaging inside the bird.
Remove the wishbone from the neck end, then add your stuffing. A classic stuffing could be sausage meat mixed with breadcrumbs, sautéed onion, thyme, and an egg to bind, but you can use any recipe you prefer. Pop an onion and a few fresh herbs into the cavity too.
Generously butter the turkey breast and lay bacon rashers over the top. Place the turkey in a large roasting tin.
Loosely cover the whole bird with foil to stop it browning too quickly. Take off the foil for the final 30 minutes if you want the skin to crisp up nicely.
How Long to Cook a Turkey for in a Range Cooker?
Here’s a helpful guide on how long to cooker a turkey for in a range cooker at 190°C, which is on the hotter side for faster cooking.
8 – 10 lb (3 – 4.5kg): approximately 2 hours
10 – 16 lb (4.5 – 7kg): approximately 2.5 to 3 hours
16 – 22 lb (7 – 10kg): approximately 3 to 3.5 hours
These timings work well for fast roasting while keeping the meat juicy.
Finishing and browning
Once the turkey is cooked (you’re looking for 75°C internally), drain off the juices — simply move the bird into a second roasting tray. Put the turkey back in the roasting oven, uncovered, for around 30 minutes. This gives the skin a lovely golden finish while you turn the juices into gravy.
If you need more time to finish the rest of your meal, you can transfer the bird to a cooler oven so it doesn’t get overdone.
Rest and serve
After browning, place the turkey on a serving plate and let it rest for 15 minutes. This helps the juices redistribute evenly, making carving easier and the meat more flavourful. Perfect time to finish your sides or check the roasties.
Enjoy your Turkey in the Range Cooker
A range cooker takes the guesswork out of roasting, especially for large joints like turkey. The even, radiant heat and generous oven space make it ideal for creating a feast that’s full of flavour and moisture.
Want to get more from your range cooker? Join one of our cooker demos or workshops at F&R Fornello and see your range in action. We feature range cookers such as Everhot, Lacanche and Bertazzoni in our range cooker showroom in Forest Row, East Sussex.