First impression? This roaster is a BEAST. The sturdy porcelain-coated steel construction feels like it could survive a nuclear apocalypse—and still roast a perfect turkey afterward. When I unboxed it, the weight (substantial but not back-breaking) and glossy finish made me instantly trust it more than my flimsy old disposable pans.

I tested it with a 18lb Thanksgiving turkey, and here’s the magic: the self-basting lid actually works. No more dry breast meat! The condensation drips back evenly, and the oval shape fit my bird snugly with room for potatoes underneath. Bonus: no frantic basting interruptions during football halftime.

Post-feast cleanup was shockingly easy—even the caramelized drippings wiped off with minimal scrubbing (dishwasher safe, but I hand-washed to preserve the enamel). One quirk: the handles stay cool enough for oven mitts but get warm during stovetop use (great for deglazing pan sauces!).

After six months of Sunday roasts, it’s developed a few utensil scratches (my fault for using metal tongs), but zero chips or stains. For $40? This might outlive my stand mixer.