The Best Turkey Basters, According to a Chef

Achieve that beautiful bird with these chef-approved top picks.

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Whether or not to baste a turkey is a polarizing topic. While a camp of people say it's unnecessary, most home cooks rely on basting for a perfectly browned and juicy Thanksgiving bird. There are numerous factors that go into preparing the perfect turkey, from how long you cook it to the roasting pan or deep fryer you use, and proper basting is one of the steps to ensure you don't ruin your main dish.

Why is basting the right choice for a turkey? From an aesthetic perspective, most people eat with their eyes first. As a chef, I know that a golden-brown turkey simply looks more appealing than one that is too light, too dark, or unevenly colored, so it's the one I want to serve and that guests want to eat. And from a flavor standpoint, basting adds pan drippings, which are full of delicious fat and schmaltz, onto the skin. From there, they sink into the flesh and help keep it moist and juicy. That means a basted turkey makes leftovers even more enjoyable.

Of course, you could use a spoon to baste your turkey, but that can get messy and dangerous with such a hot pan. Having the right baster on hand is key to an excellent turkey, so whether you prefer stainless steel, glass, or plastic, we're here to guide you to the best one out there for you. Read on to learn about our favorite models.

Pros: It prevents leaks and works well with thin, thick, and hot liquids.

Cons: Be mindful of where you place it because it can easily roll off the counter.

Once you've basted your turkey, the next thing on the agenda is where to set it down without making a mess. Now you can skip that step because the Tovolo baster features an angle that prevents it from dripping, meaning it's tidier when using it in the pan and can easily sit on the counter. Plus, the tube is made from heat-resistant plastic that is safe for up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit.

The ergonomic bulb on this baster might not seem like a terribly big deal, but it allows you to use the product during long days of cooking without giving hand cramps. Because of the unique shape of the bulb, it's easy to use and won't take up a ton of space like others with equally large capacities.

All parts of this baster are dishwasher safe, and we love that it comes apart for easy cleaning. Too often, plastic parts don't dry completely in the dishwasher, so mold creeps up on them. With this baster, that's one less potential headache to worry about, meaning you're free to focus on cooking the perfect turkey.

Price at time of publish: $13

Pros: This stainless steel baster is built to last and goes beyond basic uses.

Cons: Its design prevents you from seeing the inside contents.

This Norpro stainless steel baster has one big benefit over plastic models: Because it doesn't have a plastic tube, you can use it on a grill, where plastic could melt if it came into contact with barbeque grates. In other words, you'll likely get more use out of this model than plastic ones. Additionally, it comes with an injector, a small metal tip with a hole in it. Its point is sharp enough to effortlessly insert liquid into your turkey or other meats and inject marinades.

For anyone hesitant about how plastic basters age, our favorite stainless steel pick is an affordable upgrade. It comes with a cleaning brush, and you'll notice that this baster is a breeze to clean, as it's typically quicker to get congealed fats off metal.

Price at time of publish: $16

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Pros: It's compact and high-heat safe and features an angled bulb.

Cons: It's needs to be stored in an extra safe location to prevent cracking.

Made of glass, this baster from Williams Sonoma has the ability to hold up well for longer than a plastic baster. We love that it has measurement markings, so you know exactly how much liquid you're working with, and that it's on the smaller side, as standard ones can be unwieldy. The bulb on the band of this baster is angled, which means you can set it on the counter without it rolling around. Though not quite as mess-free as our overall pick, you can prevent leaks by laying it on or next to a spoon holder or small plate.

Since glass can shatter easily, store this in a well-organized location rather than in a kitchen junk drawer to ensure its longevity. Beyond that step, you should be fine: The glass is borosilicate, so it's less likely to break from use than something made of soda-lime glass. Borosilicate glass also expands less than soda-lime when it's exposed to heat, so even if you're basting with boiling juices, you won't have to worry about this baster cracking.

Price at time of publish: $20

Also available at Bed Bath & Beyond and OXO.

Pros: The baster's tube and tip are angled, and it has an integrated stand.

Cons: It will last longer if washed by hand.

OXO is known for creating kitchen tools that elevate the user's experience, and this angled turkey baster is no exception. Rather than just an angled tip to prevent spills, the entire length of the baster is angled. That means you can easily reach around a turkey or other bulky pieces of meat without burning yourself. For those who enjoy entertaining large crowds, this angled baster makes dealing with an enormous turkey less stressful and complicated.

We also appreciate that it has a built-in stand, so it can be set on the counter directly without dripping. It has measurement markings for ounces and milliliters, making it user-friendly for a wide range of people and recipes. And unlike many other basters that come with a cleaning brush, the brush for this one is a cone shape, enabling you to clean more thoroughly in the crevices. Note: This plastic baster will hold up better for longer if hand-washed rather than put through the dishwasher.

Price at time of publish: $15

Also available at Williams Sonoma and Sur La Table.

Pros: It comes with two useful attachments and is made with quality plastic.

Cons: It might require practice to get the hang of it.

This baster is made from Tritan, but what does that mean? BPA-free plastic is a step above standard plastic because it's less toxic, but Tritan takes things one step further by eliminating all bisphenols. So, even when using it with hot liquids, the plastic won't be leeching any chemicals into your food, which is a bigger claim than most other plastics can make.

This baster can be used as a standard baster with the plastic tip alone, and it has two attachments for entirely different purposes. One attachment is a brush that's basically a mini silicone pastry brush. It's great for thicker pan drippings that would get stuck in a standard basting tube and can also be used to apply thicker sauces onto the outside of meats. The other attachment resembles a showerhead and has the unique function of allowing you to get more distance out of each squeeze of the basting bulb. In the same way that a nozzle attachment on a hose allows water to cover more ground than a hose alone, the showerhead feature can make quick work of basting a large bird.

Lastly, the bulb of this baster is smaller than many others. Though that might seem like a negative feature, it's actually a plus. That's because a smaller bulb means less plastic to clean and less space for liquids to get trapped inside.

Price at time of publish: $28

Pros: This baster can tackle big cooking tasks and features a non-drip valve to keep liquids secure.

Cons: The liquid can spray outward.

The bigger the turkey, the larger your tools need to be to handle it properly. For family-sized holiday birds, Tovolo's large dripless bulb baster makes the job as easy as possible. The angled tip is designed to help with even basting, so your turkey gets equally coated with juices in all areas. It's also drip-free, so you can set it down on the counter worry-free.

Both the bulb and the tip are removable and dishwasher safe, so you don't have to wash them by hand. Because it has a larger capacity than other basters, it can be used for other holiday purposes. For example, you can extract the fat from stock before it has solidified in the fridge, and you can remove the skin or the fat from atop gravy while it's still hot or warm.

Price at time of publish: $17

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Pros: This set offers a silicone brush, two injectors, and a cleaning brush for ease of use and cleaning.

Cons: There are small parts that can get lost.

This set gives you everything you need for a succulent turkey, including a stainless steel baster, a cleaning brush, a full-sized silicone pastry brush, and two injectors. The larger injector is the standard size for injecting a turkey with butter, pan drippings, or a thin herb sauce, while the smaller injector is better suited for smaller proteins, such as steak or chicken. That said, if you don't want to poke large holes in your turkey, you could use the small injector for a large turkey. Patience is required, but the end result is worth it!

Not limited to just turkey: The silicone brush can be used for pastry purposes, like brushing egg wash over a pie crust. There is a cleaning brush is included that has a conical shape to help you reach every area of the baster. Because this set has numerous small parts, you'll want to employ a good drawer organizer, so they don't get lost.

Price at time of publish: $14

We chose the Tovolo Angle Tipped Dripless Baster as our best overall pick because it keeps your countertops clean and is made with heat-resistant plastic, allowing you to use it on foods up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit. It's also dishwasher safe, so it's easy to clean when the job is done.

Turkey basters can be made from plastic, nylon, glass, and stainless steel. Tritan and BPA-free plastics are less toxic than standard plastic, and stainless steel holds up well over time and can be used in other locations than the oven, such as a grill. Glass is a great alternative to plastic if you don't feel comfortable with your hot foods coming into contact with plastic. Both glass and clear plastic models let you see how much liquid is in the tube. All in all, you want a baster that is safe and heat-resistant.

Most turkey basters have a capacity between one-and-a-half and two ounces, but basters are also available in smaller and larger forms. If you want to be able to use your baster for smaller proteins like chicken, and you rarely cook a 20-pound plus holiday turkey, you can go for a smaller baster. That will also save you drawer space, which is ideal for anyone with a small kitchen. If you have a big family or do a lot of entertaining, and you typically cook large turkeys, it's worth getting a large-capacity baster because it will take fewer squeezes and refills of the bulb each time you need to baste.

Many turkey basters are dishwasher safe, but it can be worth pre-washing it to get off any stuck bits of fat or schmaltz. Some basters come with thin brushes for cleaning, but if the one you choose doesn't, you can buy one separately for a mere price. To make sure water isn't left inside after drying, a baster with a removable tip and bulb is your best bet, as they can be cleaned separately from the basting tube.

Yes, it's helpful to have a turkey baster. It's an inexpensive gadget for cooking turkey and other meats because it keeps them moist throughout the cooking process. Some might think a spoon could work just as well, but that method can be very dangerous and messy. A turkey baster doesn't take up a lot of space and has other uses in the kitchen, too.

At most, you can baste a turkey every half hour. However, you might want to err on the side of basting it only every 45 minutes or so. That's because you don't want to open the oven door too often, as it lets out heat. Your oven will be on for many hours when cooking a turkey, so choosing to open it slightly less often will cause less delay regarding when your turkey is ready, and it's still plenty often enough for basting.

Some turkey basters can go in the dishwasher, while others need to be cleaned by hand. Some turkey basters come apart; if yours does, always take it apart because for the most thorough wash. If possible, dry it well so that moisture doesn't get trapped inside — trapped water can lead to the growth of bacteria, mildew, and mold.

Contributor Ariane Resnick is a special diet chef, certified nutritionist, and bestselling author who knows that no holiday meal is complete without a picture-perfect turkey. When cooking for private clients in their homes, she experimented endlessly with varying tricks to make a moist bird and found that basting is a surefire way to keep every turkey eater at the table happy and satisfied. For this article, she used her expertise and research to determine the best basters on the market.