Thanksgiving Made Easy with the Ultimate Turkey Rack

When it comes to roasting turkey, slower-cooking dark meat needs a head start. That’s why we call for roasting poultry breast side down and flipping midway through. (See more turkey science in our segment on NOVA scienceNOW—the Test Kitchen is featured in the first 15 minutes of the episode!) But let’s be honest: It may work, but flipping is a pain. That’s where the Ultimate Turkey Rack comes in. This metal stand holds a handled spit, so you can just slip the bird onto the spit, roast, and turn. We found that it does, in fact, make flipping a snap—but there’s one caveat.

Gadget name: Ultimate Turkey Rack

Price: $29.95

It looks like: A metal stand that holds a handled spit.

How it’s supposed to work: 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.

How we tested it: We used it to roast a 3½-pound chicken plus 14- and 24-pound turkeys.

How it actually 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.

Drawbacks: 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.

Good to know: 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.

Overall: Flipping a roasting turkey has never been so easy. This rack’s simple design works—as long as you measure your oven before buying.