Customer Reviews

Granite Ware 13 Inch Covered Oval Roaster

5 star:		(52)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This is nowhere near as sturdy as the old one I use every year for my turkey, but it will do for a small chicken. I don't think it will last for years, like the ones my mother and grandmother used. I wouldn't mind paying several dollars more if I thought it would be a "forever" purchase.

This roaster is smaller than I envisioned. The "13 inches" refers to the outside dimensions: from the outside edge of one handle to the outside edge of the other. Its inside length is 11 inches. WARNING: the "Frequently bought with" Harold Import 12-by-8 and 1/4-inch Oval Roasting Rack does not fit this roaster! They should not be advertised together.

Wonderful product. I'm always puzzled when the annual Thanksgiving Turkey Roast Angst comes around. So much fuss & stress when all you have to do is put your bird in one of these, put the lid on, stick it in the oven at 325, take the lid off in the end for about 15 minutes to crisp the skin, and voila! Best turkey you ever ate. Cleans up easily with soap & water, too. Can you believe people pay big bucks for All-Clad & Calphalon roasters when all you need is this old-fashioned pan?

I have hunted all over locally, for a roaster small enough for our needs & was so happy I found this one, I bought 2 more of them for gifts! My original, normal sized pan is almost 40 years old, so I bought the set with the regular size & this smaller unit. The small unit cooks just as well as the normal size & more easily fits into the dishwasher.

What we like is to place in small potatoes, onion chunks, diced celery, sprinkled with salt, peppper & favorite seasonings & herbs. Then put the turkey breast on top of the veggies, spray it well with PAM, then sprinkle with poultry seasonings. Add just enough canned broth to reach to the bottom of the turkey. Cook it & remove lid for the last 10-15 minutes or so until golden brown. There is always enough liquid to add to pre-bought stuffing mixes. THAT is truly all you have to do to make a nice meal without a ton of hassle. For an older couple who don't want much work... this is fantastic!

We have used this type of roaster for over 20 years. Our original which belonged to my mother in law was lightly chipped inside so after a little over 40 years of contiued use in two families we decided to get a new one.
This pan guarantees the best turkey, roast, etc. No basting no worry.
Don't waste your money on fancy designer roasters, they cannot compare.

These roasters are overall good products and a great buy. I recall these roasters in my mother's kitchen for as long as I can remember--and I can remember back to the early 70s. With 6 children, these roasters always seemed to have a ham, a couple of chickens, a turkey, or something in them. Some reviewers are saying the newer ones aren't as sturdy as they remember. That may be true, but unless you're doing a side-by-side comparison between the old and the new, memory is often not as solid and people think, so don't let such comments stop you from going with these roasters.

I purchased my first ones when I got on my own, but several years ago when I updgraded my kitchenware, I bought expensive big name non-stick roasters and gave away the Granite Ware. Big mistake. If it weren't tacky to ask for them back, I would have. There was no apparent difference in food results. Very soon, even though I never used metal utensils, the non-stick started to flake. Rather than buy more "premium" roasters, I'm back to Granite Ware. I purchased the 13", 15", 18", and 19". Couldn't be more happy.

* All the sizes I purchased are made in the USA. Some reviewers have complained about the quality of the ones made in Mexico. Thank you, reviewers. I wanted the 22" rectangular, even though I'd use it only a couple times a year. But with your comments, I decided to pass. (Still, if you want to bake a very large turkey, the 22" may be your only option.)

* Please realize the dimensions are taken from handle to handle. Several other reviews have listed the actual dimensions, so I won't repeat them here. Do NOT order roasting racks based on the listed dimensions.

* If you buy multiple roasters of different sizes, turn the lid upside down to rest in the base and you will find they nest very well, taking up a lot less space.

* Some reviewers are complaining about the handles not being riveted. I don't recall rivets ever, and I can't remember the handles ever breaking off. (The design of the 13" has the handle portion as a part of the base, not a separate piece.)

* Price-wise, no other roasters beat Granite Ware. I got all 4 of these for cheaper than the 2 non-stick ones.

* If you can find them in a store near you, the 13" and 15" prices on Amazon are comparable to in-store prices. Check out big box grocery stores with larger kitchen sections. I ordered mine from Amazon. They were on my doorstep in two days, even with Super Saver Shipping. After ordering, I found the 15" for $3 cheaper. But considering taxes and delivery at my doorstep, it's fine.

* The 18" is easier to find. Many stores carry them, including the supercenters/big box. You can get a much better price in the store, at least $5 cheaper. I purchased mine in the store. Almost $7 cheaper, even with tax. The 18" will be your workhorse--roasting chicken(s), roasts, medium turkeys, etc...

* I didn't find the 19" in any store. Amazon offered the best on-line price. The first one arrived was factory defective. On-line, I was able to return and print out a UPS shipping label. Two days later, the replacement was on my front porch. Well done, Amazon! The 19" is good for a 20lb or slightly larger turkey. Any portion of the bird that touches the lid or sides of the pan should be covered with foil, as the skin will stick.

* Clean-up is a breeze. The lid keeps moisture and juices in the pan, so you won't find food sticking. Other than as specified in the previous paragraph, you cook w/o the lid and have no juices in the base, or unless you burn something in them--which is not easy to do--no need for heavy duty scouring. If anything ever sticks, let the roaster soak and anything sticking will release.

The one product I found that will yield better results is cast iron. The few cast iron roasters on the market all have some sort of issue noted by reviewers. The bigger a cast iron pot is, the heavier it is, which just isn't practical for most people, so don't expect many large roasters to hit the market anytime soon. Lodge makes a 7-quart covered pot that is EXCELLENT for oven duty, and it's big enough for chicken and many beef or pork roasts. A long slow cook in it makes even the toughest cut easily pull apart with a fork. Price-wise, you will pay quite a bit more for it, but you will get results that no other roaster can match.

So overall, a great buy. Save your money and stick with Granite Ware for your roasting needs. Just because some other roasters cost significantly more doesn't mean you're going to get better results.

I bought this roasting rack as a present for my Dad and ordered the recommended Harold Imports 12 x 8 1/4 inch Oval Roasting Rack. Unfortunately, the rack was too wide and didn't fit inside the Oval Roaster but I was finally able to find one that did. Harold Imports makes a 10 x 6 inch Roasting rack that fits perfectly inside.

I had purchased a small 13 inch roaster in the 70's and it just got a hole in the bottom of it this year! I was so glad I was able to replace it as I use this little roaster at least once a week. It's big enough for a whole chicken up to about 5lbs. and keeps the chicken moist and evenly roasted.

I had an old oval roaster for 45 years,it had gotten worn out from years of use. I searched around my area stores for a long time to replace this oval roaster. I found this wonderful little oval roaster here and couldn't believe what a fantastic buy it was. Roasts terrific and cleans up fast and easy. I highly recommend this roaster.

It's Christmas, and here I am finally relaxing after the Christmas Dinner I hosted. I used this 19-inch Granite Ware to cook a 23-lb turkey because it would not fit in my 18-inch one, and I did not want to get the 21-inch because of some reviews about it having sharp edges (and being made in Mexico instead of USA). So I received this Made in USA Granite Ware, checked how my 23-lb turkey would fit inside. The horizontal measurements were ok, but vertically, the turkey made a gap between the pan and the lid. And even if I got a 21-inch roaster, it would not have enough height anyway. The solution? I used the pan (not lid) of the 18-inch to use as cover of the 19-inch. The turkey just touched the pan a bit at the side so that a little chunk of meat stuck, but other than that, my turkey cooked to perfection after 5hr20min! I only took the cover off in the last hour to brown the skin. The meat was so tender, moist, and really really done! I received lots of compliments.
I agree...no need for fancy and expensive roasting pans. I will never cook a turkey any other way.

My daughters always liked my little "meatloaf pan." So, I purchased four of these little roasters for my daughters and nieces at Christmas. They are the perfect size for a meatloaf or small beef roast. AND THEY ARE MADE IN THE USA!!