11 Best Turkey Basters (Review) In 2021

If you're still on the fence or feel overwhelmed by the vast range of exceptional turkey basters we've picked out for you, make sure you check out these essential key features to consider to guarantee whichever you decide will deliver the best experience so you can enjoy your meals.

Before anything else (not just because of alphabetical order), you need to think about whether your turkey baster has attachments or not. While it might seem minor at first, you want to ensure you have flexibility to go above and beyond in your food prep adventure, ensuring that you can always enjoy your food the right way.

There is a range of accessories to look for. But the most effective is the flavor injector. This is ideal for adding the juice, grease, and fat into the meat, keeping it moist while also guaranteeing that first bite will feel there's a party in your mouth with everybody invited. You can also use a good old basting brush.

Some models also include replaceable bulbs, which are useful should your original one break or get misplaced, as well as protective tips that prevent the juice from leaking out on the counter. This isn't a massive issue, sure, but it will save on cleaning up and also means you won't waste any of that precious flavor.

There is no such thing as a one-size basting bulb. Instead, you'll come across a wide range of sizes. This can overwhelm at first, especially if you've never used a turkey baster before. However, we're here to lend a hand like some sort of culinary Gandalf guiding our Hobbits to Mordor, even if that didn't exactly work out the way they planned it. Whatever, they got there anyway.

Getting back on track, your best bet is to choose the largest bulb size you can. This enables you to suck up the most juice possible and then distribute these juices over the bird quickly, without needing to start all over again. Speed is essential when cooking a turkey (as well as anything else, most of the time), so being able to spread juices over the turkey as quickly as you can will prevent it from cooling down too quickly.

You should also consider the shape of the bulb. Most styles look exactly the same, just like you'd expect a bulb to look. However, there are a few ergonomic examples that are better for your hand and prevent strain. To avoid any mess and keep everything organized, you might also want a bulb with a flat size to keep grease and juices dripping all over the place.

The design of your turkey baster can impact a variety of aspects, and selecting the right design for your needs should eliminate a lot of the hassle that you associate with food prep. One popular design to look out for is the clear tube with measurement units up the side. You might already have a measuring spoon, and these are still an essential addition to your food prep and kitchen adventures. However, being able to see exactly how much juice is in the turkey baster will give you more control over basting the turkey and other meats.

You should also think about the mess. Even if you've only ever made grilled cheese in the kitchen, you know that grease is something that can be hard to shift, and even if you think it's gone, there's still that slight film present. To combat this, curbed chambers will prevent grease from dripping out the end, while stopper tips can also contribute to this while also saving the good stuff for the even better stuff.

It also goes without saying (although we're going to do it anyway), that any basters you select should be easy to use, but we are well aware that it shouldn't take a genius to work out how to use them.

As with anything you use in the kitchen, keeping things clean is one of the most important things you'll need to consider. The easier it is to clean, the better condition you can keep it in, and this will prevent grease and oil solidifying inside the baster which could cause a blockage and make it difficult to use.

Many of the best turkey basters will come with handy cleaning brushes that you can easily stick inside and wiggle around. This makes cleaning and maintenance as easy as it could be. Even basters that don't include a cleaning brush are easy enough to clean as long as you have something, like a pipe cleaner, nearby.

But let's say you don't, have any of this. For such a problem, any turkey baster that you can take apart (without breaking it) will ensure you can clean it easily. This is arguably better, as it means you can get to all the tricky areas that your cleaning brush might not manage. If all else fails, a dishwasher-safe model can do the trick, but while many products are dishwasher safe, they also recommend hand washing when possible.

You should be careful not to splatter your clothes, while using and also while cleaning turkey basters, so grab on that kitchen apron, just in case.

There are three types of material you will find with turkey basters. These are plastic, glass, and stainless steel with a silicone bulb. Each offers plenty of benefits, with clear plastic or glass allowing you to see exactly how much juice is inside, whereas a stainless steel baster is arguably more durable, and it also looks a little more professional if that's what you're looking for.

Primarily, you should choose whichever feels right for you. But another factor to consider is the heat resistant. Hopefully, you'll not go temporarily insane and throw your baster onto the flames, but even the most experienced chefs can make mistakes. The majority of the best turkey basters will be resistant to high temperatures, and many of them are comfortable around the 445-degree Fahrenheit (230-degrees Celsius) mark.

Just like the bulb size, it's best to invest in the highest heat resistance that is available if it suits your style. This will give you exceptional peace of mind that, even if you are a little clumsy, your baster won't melt into a puddle on the counter, and can you imagine the cleanup for that?

Yes, size matters, especially when it comes to choosing between the best turkey basters. If you didn't know already, turkeys are huge, and this means that you need to make sure your baster is large enough to cover as much of it as possible before it cools.

Again, you're best off choosing the largest option, which is 1.5 ounces as it's better to have too much than not enough. You will probably need the juices later on anyway, so you may as well collect as much as you can first and then use whatever's left over to baste again once the time comes. This will also allow you to baste multiple foods in one sitting, so if you have a roast joint or a chicken besides your turkey, you can make sure everything stays moist and delicious.

There is a slight issue with storage if the baster is too large, though, but it's unlikely to impact your decision too much, and it's not as if these basters are heavy, anyway, so you will still be able to find a home for it in your kitchen drawers.

If you're looking for high suction power to make sure there are no wasted or leftover juices, you're best off looking for the biggest bulb, as this will provide enough oomph to suck up as much juice as possible at once. But you've also got to make sure you're using it properly.

Misusing a turkey baster is something many amateurs struggle with and this can be frustrating, while also not providing the juicy, delicious results you hoped for. However, once you get the hang of it, you can maximize your turkey baster use and suction power to guarantee quality food every single time.

Along with a large bulb and decently sized chamber, you should make sure you squeeze all the air from the baster before trying to suck up the juices, as this ensures you can get as much as possible before drizzling it all over your turkey (or any other food you're preparing), the right way.