Cook a Turkey Breast

If you enjoy the taste of turkey, but you do not want to cook an entire bird, you might want to consider cooking a turkey breast. This is the part of the turkey with the most meat, so you will get more servings per pound. Cook a turkey breast by roasting, grilling, frying, or smoking the meat.

Steps

Preparing the Turkey Breast

  1. Choose a turkey breast large enough to feed the number of people you plan to serve. Turkey breasts are usually between 2 and 8 pounds (0.9 to 3.6 kg).
  2. Decide if you will stuff your turkey breast. This is generally not possibly on smaller cuts of turkey. If you are using a breast that is 7 or 8 pounds (3.1 to 3.6 kg), stuffing is an option.
  3. Rinse the turkey breast with cold water. Pat it dry with paper towels when you are done rinsing.
  4. Season the turkey. You can use injectable marinades like some people do with their Thanksgiving turkey, or you can keep it simple with some salt and pepper sprinkled over the turkey breast.
    • Try putting softened butter or thin slices of citrus under the skin. This will keep the breast moist during cooking and provide flavor.
    • Rub the breast with olive oil or butter. You can also marinate the breast in a liquid or a brine (water and salt) the night before you plan to cook it.

Choosing a Cooking Method for Turkey Breast

  1. Roast your turkey breast in a 350 degree Fahrenheit (176.6 degrees Celsius) oven. This is perhaps the most common way to cook a turkey breast.
    • Place the breast in a roasting pan and add liquid such as chicken broth, wine or water to the bottom of the pan.
    • Cover the roasting pan loosely with aluminum foil while it cooks. This will allow the skin on the turkey breast to brown and keep the meat moist.
    • Roast for 20 minutes per pound. For example, a 5 pound (2.26 kg) turkey breast will take one hour and 40 minutes to cook.
  2. Grill your turkey breast on a gas or charcoal grill.
    • Place the turkey breast on the grill and lower the grill cover. This will evenly cook your turkey and prevent heat flare-ups.
    • Flip the turkey breast with tongs or a spatula. Do not use a knife or a fork, otherwise you will pierce the meat and allow liquid to come out. This could result in dry turkey.
    • Check internal temperature with a meat thermometer. Grilling turkey breast will always result in a darkened skin, so it can be hard to accurately determine when the turkey is done cooking. Make sure the thermometer reads 165 degrees Fahrenheit (73.8 Celsius).
  3. Smoke your turkey breast. This will provide a unique flavor for your turkey.
    • Follow the directions on your smoker. Most smokers are charcoal, electric or gas, and your cooking instructions will depend on which kind you have.
    • Make sure you do not use a stuffed turkey breast in your smoker. It may not cook well, and smoked stuffing does not often have a pleasant taste.
  4. Fry turkey breast in a deep fryer if you want to cut down on cooking time. Deep fried turkey is often good at keeping the meat moist.
    • Use an outdoor propane fryer or an indoor electric fryer.
    • Heat the oil in the fryer and put the turkey breast into the oil for frying.
    • Cook for 4 to 5 minutes per pound. For example, a 5 pound (2.26 kg) turkey breast will cook for 20 to 25 minutes.



Tips

  • Experiment with different turkey breast recipes, or other ways to cook turkey. Some people like to follow recipes using a rotisserie or a crock pot.

Warnings

  • Make safety a priority, particularly when you use a grill or a deep fryer. Fires can start if the heat is not monitored or contained.

Things You'll Need

  • Turkey breast
  • Paper towels
  • Marinade
  • Seasoning
  • Roasting pan
  • Grill
  • Tongs or spatula
  • Meat thermometer
  • Smoker
  • Oil
  • Deep fryer

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Sources and Citations

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