A roasting tin that copes with a Sunday chicken can flex and spill under a Christmas turkey sitting in hot fat. Measure your oven before anything else, because the biggest tin in the shop is no use if the door won't close on it. After that, the choice comes down to how deep the tin is and whether the bird sits on a rack.
What to look for
01What size roasting tin fits a Christmas turkey and your oven?
Measure the inside of your oven first, then choose the largest tin that leaves a gap of a few centimetres on every side so hot air can move around it. Take the width between the shelf supports, the depth from the door to the back wall and, with the shelf in place, the height above it, since a big bird on a rack stands tall. Then compare the tin with the bird: the turkey should sit inside without its legs or wings touching the sides, with a little room to spare for the juices. Listings give sizes in different ways, so go by what each one states. The BEWOS trays measure 43.5 x 30cm, close to the full width of many ovens, while the WishDeco ceramic set runs from 24.5 to 38cm. A tin that only just fits leaves no room to baste, so allow some slack.
02How deep should a roasting tin be for a turkey?
Choose a deep tin for a turkey or a large joint, because a big bird gives off plenty of fat and juice, and a shallow tray can overflow or slop when you lift it out. Deep sides also keep the juices together for gravy and cut down on spitting in the oven. Keep a shallow tray for the roast potatoes and parsnips, since low sides let steam escape and help them crisp. The Dawsons Living set is sold as three deep oven roasting trays that stack when you put them away. The Tebery pans are listed as deep stainless steel with handles, though they are square, so check that the size suits a long bird. At 2cm deep, the BEWOS trays belong to the potatoes rather than the turkey.
03Do you need a roasting rack for Christmas dinner?
A rack is worth having for a turkey or a fatty joint, because it lifts the meat out of the fat so the underside browns instead of stewing, and lets hot air reach all round it. The drippings still collect underneath. The elitezotec set comes as three roasting tins with racks, which settles the rack question in one buy, though you still need to check the tin sizes against your bird. If your tin has no rack, a wire rack that fits inside it does the same job: the Lifhety set has three 40 x 25cm non-stick racks, and its listing mentions roasting and use with an oven tray. Measure the inside of your tin before you count on one fitting. A bed of thickly sliced onions and carrots works as a rack too, and flavours the juices as it cooks. Leave the rack out for roast potatoes, which crisp best sitting in the hot fat.
04What handles and lid should a Christmas roasting tin have?
Look for handles you can grip firmly in thick oven gloves, because a turkey in a tin of hot fat is heavy and awkward to lift. Proper handles give you more to hold than a thin rolled rim. The Tebery pans and the BEWOS trays are both listed with handles, and the WishDeco dishes are described as deep with handles. A thin tin can bend when you lift it full, which is when fat spills over the edge, so a rigid tin matters more at Christmas than for a tray of sausages. None of the picks below lists a lid. A lid, or a loose tent of foil, stops the breast browning too fast and holds in moisture, and for most cooks foil does the job. Take it off for the last part of the cooking so the skin crisps. If you want a lidded roaster, check the listing names the lid.
05Which roasting tin material suits a Christmas roast?
Stainless steel is the choice if you like sticky, browned juices for gravy, while non-stick makes the washing up after Christmas dinner much easier. It is tough and lets the juices catch and brown on the base, which gives the gravy its colour. The Tebery pans are stainless steel, and their listing also calls them non-stick, so go by the listing on how to treat them. Non-stick tins, like the Dawsons Living, elitezotec and BEWOS sets, release food easily, but use wooden or silicone tools so the coating lasts. Enamel is usually steel coated in a glassy layer that does not react with acidic sauces and goes from oven to table. The Vintage Gourmet enamel dishes come in 24, 26 and 30cm, which suits a joint, a crown or the trimmings rather than a whole turkey. Ceramic, like the WishDeco set, is heavy and slow to heat, so allow a little longer, but it keeps food hot once it reaches the table.
Our top picks
Best deep tins for the turkey and the trimmingsSet of 3 Premium Non-Stick Deep
Dawsons Living sells these as a set of three deep, non-stick oven roasting trays that stack, free of lead, PFAS and PTFE. With three tins, one can take the bird if the largest is big enough for it (check the listing), while the others hold the stuffing and vegetables. They go in the dishwasher afterwards, which counts for a lot on Boxing Day.
Best set with racks includedSet of 3 Roasting Baking Tin
The elitezotec set comes as three non-stick roasting tins with racks, so a joint can sit above its fat without a separate rack to buy. Check the dimensions on the listing against your bird, then use the largest for the turkey if it fits and another for a gammon or a chicken. It covers most of what a Christmas roast needs in one order.
Best stainless steel tins with handlesTebery Set of 3 Square Cake
Tebery lists these as a set of three deep stainless steel pans with handles, sold for lasagne, brownies and roasting. Steel lets the juices brown on the base for the gravy, and the handles help when the tin is full. Check the square shape against the length of your bird.
Best enamel dishes for oven to tableVG® Premium White Enamelware with Blue
Vintage Gourmet's white enamelware with a blue rim comes as three oblong dishes of 24, 26 and 30cm, listed as oven safe and sold for roasting and pies. They are too small for a large turkey but right for a joint, a nut roast or the sprouts, and they look at home on the table.
Best large trays for crisp roast potatoesBEWOS 2-Piece Carbon Steel Baking Tray
At 43.5 x 30 x 2cm, the two BEWOS carbon steel trays give roast potatoes and parsnips plenty of room to spread out in a single layer. The low sides let steam escape so they crisp, and the handles make them easier to turn and lift. They are listed as non-stick and dishwasher safe.
Frequently asked
Can I roast a turkey in a disposable foil tray?
You can, but foil trays bend easily under a heavy bird and hot fat. Set the foil tray on a sturdy baking sheet before it goes in the oven, and lift the two together. That also catches any leak if the foil splits at a corner.
How do I get burnt-on fat off a roasting tin?
Fill the tin with hot water and washing-up liquid and leave it to soak, overnight if needed. For stubborn patches, spread on a paste of bicarbonate of soda and water, leave it for a while, then scrub. Keep wire wool and abrasive scourers away from non-stick and enamel, which scratch.
Can a ceramic dish go from the fridge straight into a hot oven?
It is safer not to. A sudden jump in temperature can crack ceramic, so let the dish come up to room temperature first. For the same reason, don't set a hot ceramic dish down on a cold, wet surface when it comes out of the oven.
Can I make the gravy in the roasting tin?
Yes, while the turkey rests on a board under foil. Spoon off most of the fat, set a metal tin over the hob, stir in a little flour and add stock, scraping up the browned bits. Check the maker's instructions before putting any tin on the hob, and never use a ceramic or glass dish there.
Is a big roasting tin useful the rest of the year?
Yes. A large tin handles Sunday roasts, traybakes, lasagne and a big batch of roast vegetables. If you are buying a set, the smaller tins earn their space for chicken thighs, sausages and crumbles long after Christmas.