The 5 Best Electric Roaster Ovens for Sale

Hamilton Beach 22-Quart Roaster Oven  
Click to see the Walmart.com Special Price!

Here is Hamilton Beach's extra large electric roaster oven, in a beautiful stainless steel finish. It has a 22-quart capacity and multiple heat settings up to 450 degrees F for roasting baking, steaming, slow-cooking, and serving. For holiday cooking, this roaster accommodates a turkey up to 24 pounds.

The heating element is located in the inner wall and wraps around the interior. The lid is made of aluminum and the cookwell insert is steel with FDA-approved porcelain enamel.

Typical of electric roasters, this Hamilton Beach model has a removable insert pan and wire rack for easily lifting contents from the roaster.

What's missing?: The temperature control is marked with 50-degree intervals, but it would be nice if there were markings to indicate the roasting setting, the steaming setting, etc. You'll have to consult the manual for suggested temperature settings.

Hamilton Beach 18-Quart Roaster Oven  

This electric roaster is a handy alternative to a conventional oven. It heats up to 450 degrees F for roasting, baking, and other cooking. The removable enamel-on-steel insert pan is dishwasher safe. It includes a lift-out wire rack and three interlocking dishes for buffet service.

Nesco 18-Quart Roaster Oven with Nonstick Cookwell  

The Nesco electric roaster can take care of multiple cooking tasks. There are settings for roasting, baking (in a pan, or directly in the cookwell), steaming, slow cooking, and serving (warming), anywhere between 200 and 450 degrees F. For holiday cooking, the 18-quart size fits a 22-pound turkey.

All Nesco roasters have the "Circle of Heat" heating element that wraps all the way around the sides (instead of just being at the bottom) for even cooking. This allows hot air to circulate around the food.

This roaster comes with a removable steel rack both for roasting (to allow the fat to drip off) and to easily lift casserole dishes and pans out of the unit. This model comes with a removable nonstick cookwell. There's a version with a porcelain cookwell as well as a stainless steel version (below) if you have concerns about the nonstick material.



Nesco Stainless Steel 18 qt. Roaster  

Here's the model of the Nesco 18-quart roaster with the stainless steel cookwell. Prices jumped on these recently, and Walmart is sold out of them online, but I found the best price on them at Buy.com >>





Nesco Classic Roaster Oven  
(with Porcelain cookwell)

    Nesco Buffet Inserts for any 18 Qt. Roaster Oven
    Amazon.com  

These buffet inserts can be used in any 18-quart roaster to keep food warm and for serving. Put these inserts into your roaster and set it to the "warm/serving" temperature setting. Use the three sections for a taco bar, side dishes, or any 3 dishes that you want to keep warm throughout the festivities. These roaster oven inserts are nonstick and dishwasher safe.

Rival 22-Quart Large Roaster Oven  

Rival 18-Quart Roaster Oven  

This 18-quart roaster can cook large roasts and turkeys up to 18 pounds. If you think you'll want to do your casseroles in it, bump up to the 22-inch Rival roaster so that your casserole dish will fit.

Rival boasts that their electric roaster "cooks up to 30% faster and with up to 77% less energy than a traditional oven." The temperature is adjustable from 150 to 450 degrees F for roasting, baking, and serving.

It comes with a removable steel roasting rack for lifting contents from the roaster. The lid hooks onto metal tabs above the handle, which act as a handy lid rest.

The removable roasting pan is made of enamel-on-steel.

Everyday Uses of an Electric Roaster Oven

Photo by adactio* Roaster ovens are not just for turkeys.

Cook roasted chicken with vegetables, pot roast, pork tenderloin, lamb, ribs, soups, stews, chili and more.

* Use your own baking pans inside of the roaster to bake cakes, cookies, and casseroles.

* Use a low setting for thawing frozen food.

* Use an electric roaster oven to bake and roast in the summertime, when you want to keep your house cool.

Use an Electric Roaster Oven for Special Occasions

* Put your main dish in the roaster and save your full-size oven for sides and desserts. A roaster can be the second oven you've always wanted.

Oster Roaster Oven with warmer insert, available on Amazon* Roaster ovens are handy for entertaining at parties, potlucks, and large gatherings.

With a buffet insert, roasters can be used as a warmer, and to serve various dishes out of.

* With an electric roaster oven, your holiday cooking schedule will no longer be hostage to the turkey. Just set it and forget it. You don't have to hover and watch over your turkey while it cooks.

* Roast your Easter ham in an electric roaster.

* Get instructions and a recipe for perfect turkey in an electric roaster oven.

What size roaster should I get for a turkey?
It depends on the size of the turkey (in pounds). Manufacturers usually list maximum turkey size in their product descriptions. Be sure to look for it.

What size roaster should I get for a ham?
An 18 quart electric roaster oven can accommodate a ham, but be sure to think about all the different things you might want to cook in your roaster oven when choosing a size.

Photo by D. Sharon Pruitt

Can I use an electric roaster to keep foods warm on a buffet?
Yes, an electric roaster oven is great for warming, and more energy efficient, too. Just set the roaster oven to the "warm" temperature setting (or if the oven doesn't have presets, set it to 200-250 degrees F). You can even use a buffet insert if you have several different dishes that you need to keep warm.

Can you bake inside of electric roaster ovens? How do I use an electric roaster oven for baking?
Baking is a great use of an electric roaster oven, especially in the summer when you don't want to heat up your whole house. Just put your batter or dough in a baking pan, and put the pan inside the roaster. Set the roaster to the "baking" setting or the temperature setting you would use in a regular oven (usually 350 degrees F).