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The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie
Oh sure, we think about buying turkey basters while planning for Thanksgiving dinner, but they can also come in handy during other parts of the year (and not just for turkey, but roasts and steaks as well). In addition to adding the cooking juices from the pan back onto your meat, they’re also useful for removing hot liquids from pots or pans or for removing a layer of fat from a simmering stock.
Basters are simple to use: Just squeeze the bulb, put the tip in the liquid, and release the bulb to suck up the juice. Then remove the drippings and squeeze the bulb again to release. Believe it or not, there are many variations. You'll want to factor in size, material, and whether or not the baster includes measurement marks when making your decision on which turkey baster to purchase.
In order to determine the best turkey basters in several categories, we tested some top-rated options side by side. After using each with a turkey or roast, the basters were then rated on design, quality, performance, ease of cleaning, and overall value. Our tests also revealed information about their versatility and what they might be best suited for in the kitchen.
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Dripless
Angled tip
Cleaning brush included
Dishwasher safe
No measurements on baster body
Can roll on the counter
The most annoying thing about basters is that they can drip and make a mess, but this baster has solved the problem with a small valve that keeps the liquid inside the baster instead of leaking onto your oven or counters. While other basters claim to be dripless, this one passed that test handily with both thin and thick liquids.
The baster’s tube is clear so you can see how much liquid you have, and it fits comfortably in your hand so you can baste often or use the baster to remove liquid from a pot or pan. A similar model is also available with a stainless steel tube that will never break.
This is heat resistant to 600 degrees Fahrenheit, so it can be used for boiling liquids with no worries about melting or cracking. The baster’s tip is removable for a thorough cleaning, and all parts are dishwasher safe. A spare tip and a cleaning brush are included as well.
Material: Clear plastic tube | Size: 12 inches long | What’s Included: Extra tip and cleaning brush
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The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie
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The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie
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The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie
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The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie
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Durable
Includes measurement markings
Dishwasher safe
Tube isn’t completely clear
Measurement markings difficult to read
If you only use a baster once a year, you don’t need an expensive one cluttering up your kitchen. For a budget-conscious pick that gets the job done, we love the Norpro Nylon Baster. This nostalgic small turkey baster will remind you of the one your parents or grandparents used, with the translucent nylon tube and squishy bulb. It’s heat resistant up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, so you don’t need to worry about it melting or deforming as you baste your turkey or roast it with hot drippings. After you're done using it, throw it in the dishwasher for easy cleaning.
This sturdy baster will last for years, but it’s inexpensive enough to keep a few on hand for nights when you’re cooking more than one roast. We found the baster works better than some expensive stainless alternatives, and it's a great value for the price. In our tests, it worked with a thick sauce, so it would be fine with gravy or smooth tomato sauce.
During testing, the baster rolled a little bit on the counter, but not enough to worry that it was going to roll off the edge. It didn’t drip when it was held upright, but it did drip when held at an angle. Still, you're getting a great product at an incredible price.
Material: Nylon tube | Size: 10.5 inches long | What’s Included: No extras
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The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie
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Nearly indestructible
Won’t roll on counter
Dishwasher safe
Loses a lot of liquid when tilted
Can’t see inside the tube
How many basters have you found broken or cracked in the bottom of a drawer from age or from being crushed or bent in storage? That won’t happen with this stainless steel baster—it’s nearly indestructible. The stainless steel is also stain-resistant and won’t rust or discolor, even when you’re using it with acidic juices containing citrus or tomatoes. The downside is that you can’t see the liquid as it’s being drawn into the tube, and it’s not possible to see the interior when cleaning. However, the cleaning brush that it comes with greatly helps in that area.
This metal baster also comes with an injector tip, so you can prep your turkey by injecting it with flavorful liquids, spice infusions, melted butter, or other flavorings prior to cooking. Just remove the injector tip to use it as a standard baster.
Not just for turkey and not just for oven use, this is great for any kind of roast or even on the grill since the bulb is heat-safe to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, and the stainless steel can withstand the same heat as your stainless steel cookware and bakeware.
When it was held upright during testing, the baster was dripless, but as soon as it was turned at an angle, the liquid drained rather quickly. We appreciated the fact that the bulb is designed so it can't roll. All in all, it performed solidly in our tests, and we think it's a good contender for anyone who would rather not use plastic. The cleaning brush is great for hand washing but it's also conveniently dishwasher safe, and we found it to be sufficiently clean after trying both methods.
Material: Stainless steel tube | Size: 11 inches long | What’s Included: Injection needle and cleaning brush
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Foot on tube keeps it stable on counter
Almost dripless
Draws up a lot of liquid
Dishwasher safe
No injector attachment
This OXO baster has an angled tip that makes it easy to get the juices from the bottom of a roasting pan and a silicone bulb that’s easy to hold and squeeze. The baster tube is clear and has measurements in both U.S. and metric, so you can see how much juice you’ve collected. This did a great job drawing up liquid, filling the entire tube well past the last measurement of 1 1/2 ounces, so we got a lot of basting done with each squeeze. It also worked well with thick liquids. In fact, we found it had the best suction of all the basters we tested.
During testing, the baster didn’t drip at all when held upright, but it did drip just a little when it was held at an angle. The integrated foot attached to the baster tube keeps the curved tip upright on the counter when it’s not in use, so it won’t drip and make a mess in between your basting sessions. The baster is dishwasher safe, but a cleaning brush is also included if you prefer washing by hand.
Material: Clear plastic tube | Size: 12 inches long | What’s Included: Turkey baster, cleaning brush
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The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie
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Versatile use
Inexpensive
Long handle
Holds a lot of liquid
Stains
Basters are great when you have larger quantities of thin liquids, but a basting mop comes in handy when you have a thicker liquid like barbecue sauce or melted butter that you want to mop all over your food. Perfect for those who plan on grilling the Thanksgiving turkey, the cotton mop head picks up a lot of liquid and easily spreads it over the surface.
In testing, it worked well basting our roasted turkey, but it did soak up a lot of the liquid. Wringing it out was a bit messy. This one features an extra-long, 16-inch handle, so you don't have to get too close to the flames and can stay farther from the hot roasting pan in the oven.
These basting mops are incredibly inexpensive, so you can truly think of them as disposable, but they can be cleaned with soap and water just like a kitchen sponge or dishcloth. Still, once it gets stained, it may never look pristine again.
Besides being great for mopping sauce onto food, the basting mop is also great for "mopping" dirty dishes. It’s particularly useful for mugs, glasses, and even vases or coffee pots.
Material: Cotton mop head | Size: 16-inch handle | What’s Included: No extras
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The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie
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Durable
Injector needle included
Separate basting brush included
Can’t see contents in tube
This stainless steel turkey baster and basting brush win points for functionality, durability, and style. The high-grade materials stand up to heat, so during testing, we felt confident cleaning it in the dishwasher even though that wasn’t specified on the package. In tests, the baster didn’t drip when it was held upright, but it did drip when held at an angle. It also worked well with a thick sauce, so it could be used for gravy or a smooth tomato sauce.
The package includes a flavor injector—all you have to do is screw it onto the end of the baster—and a cleaning brush designed to fit perfectly inside the baster for storage. Meanwhile, the basting brush features silicone bristles and a long 12-inch handle to keep you away from the heat, making it perfect for basting your turkey or barbecuing all summer long.
Material: Stainless steel tube | Size: 10 inches long | What’s Included: Injector needle, basting brush
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The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie
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Can see liquid in the tube
Doesn’t roll on counter
Just a little dripping
Potentially breakable
Bulb is rubber rather than silicone
If you don’t like the idea of hot liquid foods coming in contact with the plastic materials used in many basters, the Norpro Glass Baster might be just right for you. It’s clear, so you can see the liquid in the tube, and it’s heat resistant up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, so it can be used for hot liquids without worries of melting. Because it's made of glass, you won't have to worry about this baster absorbing any unwanted flavors.
The glass is tempered for strength and the bulb is made from rubber. Hand washing is recommended, but we washed it in the dishwasher during testing and didn’t notice any ill effects. In time, the heat of the dishwasher may affect the rubber bulb, though. However, most likely this isn't a kitchen gadget you'll use all that often. In our testing, the baster dripped a little—when held vertically and at an angle—but not a lot either way.
Material: Glass tube | Size: 11 inches long | What’s Included: No extras
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The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie
The transparent Tovolo Dripless Baster is the top option here because it's super heat resistant, easy to clean, and in our tests, it didn't make a mess all over the oven or countertop. If you only use a baster once a year, go with the Norpro Plastic Nylon Baster. It performed better than some more expensive models in our tests and you can't beat the price.
How We Tested
We sent these turkey basters to the home of our expert food writer and product tester who spent weeks in the kitchen evaluating their abilities to baste a turkey or other roast and determining how versatile they can be. She evaluated each one on its design, quality, performance, ease of cleaning, and overall value. Our tester was able to offer additional insights as well, like how they handled thick versus thin sauces, what kind of tasks they might be best suited for, and whether or not they would roll off the counter when set down. Everything our tester liked and didn't like about each baster was compiled to help inform your purchasing decision.
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The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie
Other Options We Tested
- Cuisipro 3-in-1 Baster: Made from see-through Tritan material, this former best multipurpose recommendation comes with two tips for added versatility. The "shower head" attachment provides a shower of liquid for fast, wide basting coverage, while the silicone brush attachment is handy for coating. During testing, we appreciated the way the shower covered a wider area. However, it didn’t do a good job keeping liquid in the tube—it started flowing immediately, so we needed to be quick when moving from the liquid at the bottom of the pan to the top of the turkey. It didn’t do well when we tested it with a thick liquid, either. Additionally, the measurements are hard to see in the oven.
What to Look for in a Turkey Baster
Material
Nylon tubes are classic and translucent enough to show how much liquid is in the tube, but clear plastic has also become popular and makes it very easy to see the liquid. Glass is another clear option for those who prefer avoiding plastics, though care should be taken not to hit it against the side of a roasting pan. Stainless steel is durable and another alternative to plastic, but it’s impossible to see the contents. Most basters these days have a silicone bulb that’s heat resistant and flexible, but some still have rubber bulbs that don’t age as well but should still last years before needing replacement.
Measurement Marks
Clear tubes may include measurement marks, which may be handy if there’s a need to draw up a precise amount. Since basting doesn’t usually need any measuring, this may be a difference that won’t matter to most cooks.
Size
Basting usually requires working in a hot oven, so a longer baster may be desirable to keep hands further from the heat. If the baster is too long, however, it may be difficult to work around a large turkey.
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The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie
FAQs
What are basters used for?
Basters are used to draw up the tasty liquid from the bottom of a roasting pan and then distribute it over the top of the meat being roasted. They can also be used on the stove for the same purpose. Basters are handy when you want to transfer liquids from a roasting pan to a pot or put sauce on a plate. Some basters include a needle that can be used to inject melted butter, broth, or a flavorful sauce into the food before it is roasted, eliminating the need for a dedicated marinade injector.
Do you need a turkey baster or can you use something else?
While basters are traditional, there are many turkey recipes that don’t require basting. However, if basting is desired, it’s possible to use a spoon to collect the liquid and pour it over the food in a roasting pan.
How often should you baste a turkey?
Generally, it's a good idea to baste your turkey every 30-40 minutes while it is roasting in the oven—but don't begin basting until the bird has been cooking for at least an hour. That way, you're not opening the oven too many times, which can let the heat out and lower the temperature.
Why Trust The Spruce Eats?
Donna Currie is a cookbook author, food writer, and product tester and has reviewed more than 100 products for The Spruce Eats. She's basted more than her fair share of turkeys over the years and personally tested all of the basters on this roundup.
Amanda Lauren is is a lifestyle writer, host, interior design expert, and co-creator of the online public relations course, Pitch Please. She's also the host of the Bougie Adjacent Podcast. She prefers the sides to turkey on Thanksgiving yet still considers herself a “master baster.”
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