But not all turkey basters are created alike. There are several things to consider when looking for a good one. Material is one factor. Some materials are dishwasher safe, while other basters need to be washed by hand. You also want to consider a baster with accessories like tip attachments, which will come in handy for other dishes in your repertoire. Cleaning brushes help a lot during that post-dinner tidying up haze. Whether this is for your family’s Thanksgiving meal or you want an easier way to finish your steaks, here are the best turkey basters. What We Don’t Love: Doesn’t come with a cleaning brush If you’re looking for a great baster for the holidays and beyond, you can’t go wrong with the Cuisipro 3-in-1 Baster. Made of Tritan plastic with a nylon bulb, it’s durable, heat resistant, and BPA-free. One great feature of this baster is that the liquid measurements are marked on the clear tube in both ounces and milliliters. But the best part of this kitchen tool is that the basting tip comes with two attachments that are super useful year-round. There’s a shower head attachment to baste food quickly, while the silicone brush coats food evenly. Silicone brushes come in handy when applying marinades to chicken breasts and meat. Keep in mind that while this tool is dishwasher safe, you might need to wash it thoroughly to get all the grease out. Price at time of publish: $28 Material: Tritan plastic | Length: 14 inches | Capacity: 1.7 ounces | Dishwasher Safe: Yes What We Don’t Love: Only heat resistant up to 450 degrees Need a great baster but don’t want to spend too much money? Opt for the Yaboo Heat-Resistant Turkey Baster. This baster doesn’t have lots of bells and whistles like extra attachments, but it will still meet most basic basting needs for a great price. It is the right choice for anyone who needs a baster to use on a special occasion such as for Thanksgiving dinner and loses their baster in the utensil drawer the rest of the year. Made of heat-resistant plastic (up to 450 degrees), both black and white nylon bulbs are available. The tube also has easy-to-read increments so you can precisely measure juice, butter, or marinade. The bulb makes it easy to dispense the exact amount of liquid you want. Better yet, this baster is dishwasher safe, which makes it fast and easy to clean. Price at time of publish: $9 Material: Plastic | Length: 11 inches | Capacity: 1.5 ounces | Dishwasher Safe: Yes What We Don’t Love: Not shatter-proof If you prefer a glass baster, the Williams Sonoma Glass Bulb Baster is an excellent choice. Made of heat-resistant borosilicate glass, there’s no need to worry about staining or retaining grease and food odors. And while it needs to be washed by hand, glass is always easy to clean. If you’re concerned about working with a glass kitchen tool, the design of this baster will put your mind at ease. The band on the bulb is angled, which prevents it from rolling off your counter and accidentally shattering or breaking. This gadget also has a narrow nozzle for precision basting. So, it’s the right tool for making chicken or turkey with deliciously crisp skin. Price at time of publish: $20 Material: Borosilicate glass | Length: 11 inches | Capacity: 2 ounces | Dishwasher Safe: No What We Don’t Love: Pricey The Frieling Stainless Steel Turkey Baster with Infusing Tip won’t disappoint anyone looking to buy a metal baster. Made of durable stainless steel, it has a large silicone bulb that’s extra easy to squeeze. It also comes with an additional needle attachment, allowing you to inject flavor into thinner cuts of meat. When it comes time to clean, the included cleaning brush makes that a cinch. There are just two caveats to keep in mind. There are no marked measurements, which can be inconvenient if your recipe has very specific basting requirements. This baster is also one of the more expensive options. Still, if you baste frequently, this is definitely worth the extra cost. Price at time of publish: $40 Material: Stainless steel | Length: 12 inches | Dishwasher Safe: Yes What We Don’t Love: Doesn’t come with alternative tips Basters with angeled tips such as OXO Good Grips Angeled Turkey Baster with Cleaning Brush are ideal for precision basting as well as marinading fish and other recipes. Made of heat-resistant Tritan plastic, this baster won’t crack or warp. Another great feature of this silicone-bulbed baster is that the measurements are listed in both ounces and milliliters. A bonus is that they’re in large print, so there’s no need to squint. This baster’s integrated stand prevents it from rolling off the counter, so you won’t have a slippery floor to deal with in the middle of cooking. Lastly, cleaning is easy with the included brush. Price at time of publish: $15 Material: Tritan plastic | Length: 12 inches | Capacity: 1.25 ounces | Dishwasher Safe: Yes
What to Look for When Buying a Turkey Baster
Accessories
Some examples of turkey baster accessories include cleaning devices, injector tips, and silicone brush attachments. While these accessories aren’t entirely necessary, they’re nice to have if you use your basters for barbecue, roasting chicken, and spreading extra marinade over meats. The average holiday dinner certainly doesn’t require them.
Materials
Turkey basters are mostly made from either plastic, glass, or stainless steel. Stainless steel is the most heat-resistant material and the most durable. But they generally don’t have the measurements marked. Even if they do, measuring the liquid level can be a challenge since you can’t see inside the tube. Borosilicate glass is another heat-resistant material that’s very durable, but not completely shatterproof. So if you’re concerned about your glass turkey baster rolling off the counter or breaking, it’s best to choose one with a stand. However, glass basters can be easier to clean and won’t stain or retain odors. Plastic turkey basters are also heat resistant, durable, and you can see how much liquid is inside from the markings. However, they can be challenging to clean without a proper brush, and plastic is known to stain. If you’re concerned about this, chef Brian Malarky says, “Use a baster that can be pulled apart for easy cleaning, or ditch the baster and use a large spoon.”
What cuts of meat benefit from basting?
While you can baste a variety of meats including chicken and fish, Malarky says, “Turkey is king when it comes to basting.” Anything you cook from scallops to salmon that benefits from a coating of fat can be basted to prevent some catastrophes.
How often do you baste while cooking?
According to Malarky, you should baste roasting turkey every 20 to 30 minutes after the bird is cooked approximately halfway through. This allows enough time for the fat to render out and is long enough to give you crispy skin. “For basting, use the great juices of the bird to make the bird more moist [sic] and golden delicious as your basting liquid," he says.
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Amanda Lauren is a freelance writer who has written hundreds of articles about home and lifestyle. While she appreciates a properly basted turkey, she always thinks Thanksgiving is about the sides. Read Next: The Best Measuring Cups
