How To Use A Turkey Baster

Moisten to perfection

For holidays and all year round, a turkey baster is a kitchen essential. A turkey baster not only helps keep meat moist, it adds a delicious flavor and helps brown the skin-making the presentation almost as mouth watering as the meat itself!

Basting basics

To make succulent, moist tasting meat, use a turkey baster to baste your favorite turkey, beef or pork dishes every 30 minutes after the first hour of baking. Opening the oven door too often to baste may dry out meat and lengthen roasting time. You can use your turkey baster to baste any type of meat, making sure to baste even hard to reach areas of a turkey or roast. Use the following basic turkey baster  recipe on any meat type.

Basic baster ingredients

1 /2 cup butter, softened

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon poultry seasoning

1 teaspoon basil

1 teaspoon thyme

1 /2 teaspoon sage

Preparation: Mix all ingredients together and baste on meat every 30 minutes after the first hour of baking.

A baster for every need

Turkey basters are available in many styles. Consider each of the baster's features in choosing the best style for your cooking needs:

Silicone bulb baster. This baster is the most widely sold. It is heat-resistant and creates great suction for any kind of sauce. The tube offers clarity with easy to read markings and it is not bothered by hot liquids.

Stainless steel baster. You don't have to worry about melting your baster with hot cooking juices when you purchase a stainless steel baster. If you baste frequently with hot liquids, this is the baster for you.

Non-slip grip baster. The unique bulb shape and collar make the non-slip baster comfortable and easy to grip. If you use a turkey baster frequently, you'll find the non-slip grip a great feature.

Dripless baster. If the majority of your basting is done while meat is in the oven, this baster is a great choice. A special valve inside the tip of a dripless baster holds the juice until you squeeze preventing oven drips. The angled design is also helpful in basting those hard to reach areas of a turkey or roast inside your oven. A removable angled tip makes it easier to siphon drippings, and it allows you to keep your hands low and away from the oven wall.

More information on basters