How Long Does a Turkey Breast Take to Cook?

Turkey is a dish most people ignore until around the time of thanksgiving, but it is actually a tasty, and healthy meat that can be enjoyed at any time of the year. Turkey is ideal for sandwiches, stir frys, salads, and lots of other dishes, and is a good alternative to chicken when you fancy a change, but want to stick with white meats.

The cooking time of a turkey breast depends mostly on its size - bigger portions of meat take longer to cook. Other factors that affect the cooking time include the ratio of meat to bone, and whether or not you are trying to cook from frozen. Another thing to consider is the kind of marinade used, and the cooking method that you plan to use.

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What Internal Temperature?

There is no shortage of experienced cooks and top-notch cookbooks that give you their best guesstimate for the ideal turkey breast cooking time. Usually, they will explain that is depends on the size of the piece. However, the best way of getting the roasting done just right is to buy a cooking thermometer and use it to check the turkey regularly to see if the internal temperature has reached 170 degrees Fahrenheit. As soon as the cooking thermometer register 170 degrees, not only is your turkey safe to eat, it is also deliciously moist and tender. There are different methods that you can use to cook turkey, and you have a choice in the pan to use too, but shallow roasting pans are the best bet for cooking turkey breast every time.

Usually turkey breast is served without stuffing, however some people prefer to stuff bigger portions. An 8 pound portion is ideal for stuffing with some of your favorite herbs and spices. Usually for a 2 or 3 pound turkey people cook them for 1 and a half to two hours at 325 degrees Fahrenheit, with 4 to 6 pound breasts taking 2 and a half to three hours, and an 8 pound portion taking 3 and a half hours.

An Easy Recipe

Turkey breasts can easily become a staple of your diet, and you need not get bored of them if you add a little zing to the recipe - a citrus turkey breast sandwich is a great snack for example. Just add some jalapeno paste, lime juice, orange juice, garlic, and onion paste to a marinade - roast the breast, and shred or slice before adding to sandwiches for a healthy and tasty lunch option.

How Long Does a Turkey Breast Take to Cook?