A turkey breast is the best alternative to a whole turkey for a small household. It’s easy to cook turkey breast in the oven with perfection. You can’t cook it until your know the perfect cooking time or temperature. If you do it yourself, your resulting turkey might be overcooked or burned. So, it’s better to know the cooking time as well as the best cooking temperature to cook a turkey breast perfectly moist and crispy. Here, we are going to talk about cooking tips to cook turkey and how long to cook turkey breast in oven/crock pot? Keep reading this article till the end:
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How Long to Cook Turkey Breast in Oven?
A turkey breast is a good alternative to a full-size turkey. Turkey breast can be cooked in the oven very easily. The cooking time depends on the weight of the turkey breast. Mostly people use to cook 3 lb and 5 lb turkey breast for a family dinner. But for a large gathering, people often cook 7 lb or 8 lb turkey breast in the oven. Here, we are going to talk about the cooking time of 3lb, 5lb, 7lb turkey breast right here:
How Long to Cook 3 lb, 5lb & 7lb Turkey Breast in Oven?
If you are cooking 3lb, 5lb & 7lb turkey breast in the oven, you have to preheat the oven to 375°F first. Brush the turkey breast with olive oil and sprinkle some herbs, salt & pepper. Place the turkey breast in a casserole dish and cook uncovered for 16-20 mins. per pound or the internal temperature reaches 160°F. Use the meat thermometer for accuracy and measure it from the center of the thickest part of the breast.
If you don’t have a meat thermometer in hand, cook the turkey breast until the inside juice runs clear. Test it using a knife, you just have to make a small cut into the center of the turkey breast. Juice running through this cut should be completely clear to indicate a well-cooked turkey breast.
When it’s done cover the turkey breast loosely with an aluminum foil. Let it rest for about 15 mins. until the temperature reaches 165°F. By the way, boneless turkey breast cooks faster as compared to bone-in turkey breast.
Tips to Cook Turkey Breast in Oven:
- Turkey breast cooks faster than the whole turkey so doesn’t baste the turkey with dripping to keep it most.
- Don’t let the turkey breast in the hot pan otherwise, it will be overcooked and rest for 10-15 mins. before slicing.
- You can brine the turkey only when you are sure your turkey has not been injected.
How Long to Cook Boneless Turkey Breast in Oven?
First, You have to preheat the oven to 350°F. Rub with seasoning and place on a casserole dish. Cook for about 90 mins. or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F. When it’s done cover the turkey breast loosely with an aluminum foil or a wrap. Let it rest for about 15 mins. until the temperature reaches 165°F.
Tips to Cook Boneless Turkey Breast in Oven:
- Don’t bake the turkey breast covered with foil.
- If your turkey gets brown too fast, cover it with foil to avoid burning before the middle part is cooked thoroughly.
- Make sure to pat dry your turkey breast before seasoning. The moisture on the skin from the fridge will make it difficult for your skin to crip up.
How Long to Cook Turkey Breast in Crock Pot?
If you are cooking a turkey breast in a crockpot, it will take about 6 hours to cook completely or until the internal temperature of the turkey breast reaches 165°F. You can check the internal temperature using a meat thermometer. Once it’s done with slow cooking, you can broil the turkey breast for 4-5 mins. if you want crispy skin.
Tips to Cook Turkey Breast in Crock Pot:
- Check the doneness of turkey breast using a meat thermometer which should display the temperature at about 165°F.
- When turkey breast is cooked in the crockpot, crisp the skin under the broiler. You’ll get some extra flavors also.
- You can use the turkey juice to make a flavorful gravy.
- Use a large oval-shaped crockpot. A standard round crock pot will not be large enough.
FAQ:
How Long Does Cooked Turkey Breast Last in the Fridge?
The cooked turkey can be stored easily in the refrigerator/fridge in an air-tight container for up to 4 days. If it’s possible store the turkey breast uncut because it remains moist when you reheat it.
Can I Stuff a Turkey Breast?
No, it’s not safe to stuff a turkey breast. The stuffing needs to reach 160°F for thorough cooking. This will overcook the turkey breast and make it dry.
