We’ve found that covering a turkey in foil yields much moister results than roasting it without foil, and we favor simply covering up the breast to even out cooking time. Some people swear that roasting a turkey breast-side down and flipping it halfway through achieves the same results as a foil covered breast.
Should a turkey breast be cooked covered or uncovered?
Start checking after 1 hour of roasting and continue checking every 10 to 15 minutes until the breast is cooked through. Cover the turkey to prevent over-browning. If the skin over the breast meat begins to brown too darkly toward the end of cooking, cover it with aluminum foil to prevent scorching.
Do you put foil around turkey when cooking?
Always preheat your oven for at least 20 minutes before cooking your turkey. Place a trivet of veggies and onions in the bottom of the tray to help make an epic gravy with all the juices. Cover the turkey loosely with foil, but remove it just under an hour before the timing is up to get the turkey nicely browned.
When should I cover my turkey in foil?
For stuffed turkey, add 30 minutes to roasting time. To brown turkey, open and turn back foil 30 minutes before roasting is finished. For easy slicing, cover turkey with aluminum foil after removing and let stand 15 minutes.
Should a boneless turkey breast be covered?
Because of its size, you will need to loosely cover it with foil after about 20 minutes in the oven, then finish roasting it. The foil will keep the top from scorching.
Is it better to cook a turkey at 325 or 350?
Do I Cook a Turkey at 325 or 350 Degrees? Though “low and slow” is a good rule for cooking a bird all the way through without burning it, there’s no hard-and-fast rule. All of our temperature guides assume you’re cooking at 325, but you can cook it a little warmer for roughly the same, or just a little less time.
How do you cook a turkey breast in foil?
MAKE a foil tent by placing a sheet of foil over turkey breast, leaving 1 inch between top of turkey breast and foil tent for heat circulation. Crimp foil onto long sides of pan. BAKE 1 hour remove foil tent to brown turkey breast. CONTINUE BAKING uncovered 1 to 1 3/4 hours longer or until meat thermometer reads 170°F.
How long do you cook turkey uncovered?
Roast the turkey uncovered in a 325°F oven for 2 hours. (Note: Roasting the turkey uncovered at the start of the bake time will increase the browning, so keep an eye on it.)
How to Roast a Turkey.
| Whole Turkey (not stuffed) | Oven Temp. 325ºF | |
|---|---|---|
| 18-20 lbs | 4.25-4.5 hrs | 165ºF |
| 20-24 lbs | 4.5-5 hrs | 165ºF |
Do you put water in the bottom of the roasting pan for turkey?
Place on the bottom of your roasting pan. Place the turkey, breast-side up on top of the vegetables. Add about a half-inch of liquid (water or stock) to the roasting pan. This will keep the oven moist, and the turkey juicy.
How do you use aluminum foil on a turkey?
MAKE a foil tent by placing a sheet of foil over turkey, leaving 1 inch between top of turkey and foil tent for heat circulation. Crimp foil onto long sides of pan. ROAST turkey until meat thermometer inserted in thickness part of the thigh not touching the bone reads a temperature of 180°F.
How do you cover a turkey in the oven?
Always cook your turkey until the skin is a light golden color. Cover your roasting pan with a lid or foil and cook covered for 2 hours (depending on size of your bird) and uncovered for the remaining time. Baste your turkey every half hour or so.
How long do you cook a turkey wrapped in foil?
If you want to speed up the cooking time for your Thanksgiving turkey, wrap the turkey in aluminum foil and roast it at 450 degrees F. Using this method, a turkey can be ready for carving in just over three hours. For foil wrapped roasted turkey, preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
How long does a turkey breast take to cook?
Set the turkey breast-side up in the pan. Roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the roast registers 160 degrees F, 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Transfer the turkey to a cutting board and tent loosely with foil for 30 minutes.
How do you bake a Butterball boneless turkey breast?
Cooking Instructions
Add ½ cup liquid. Cover and cook on LOW up to 8 hours or on HIGH up to 4 hours, until a minimum internal temperature of 165ºF as measured with a meat thermometer. Turkey must reach 140ºF within 4 hours.
What temperature should a boneless turkey breast be cooked to?
What temperature to cook a boneless turkey breast? I usually roast it at 375 degrees. However 350 degrees can work, but it will take a bit longer. It can also potentially dry boneless turkey breast.
How long does it take to cook a turkey breast per pound?
A very frequently asked question around turkey is: how long to cook a turkey breast per lb? The answer is simple! 20 minutes per pound at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Should a turkey be rinsed before cooking?
Should You Rinse a Turkey? In short, no. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), rinsing a raw turkey in the kitchen sink can lead to the spread of bacteria on countertops, nearby food, and other surfaces, which can cause cross-contamination.
What is the best temperature for cooking turkey?
Stick with a temperature of 325°F, which ensures the turkey gets cooked all the way without becoming overdone.
How long does it take a 6 lb turkey breast to cook?
How Long Does it Take Per Pound to Cook a Turkey Breast? Generally speaking, a good rule of thumb is 20 minutes per pound of turkey breast at 350°F. A lower temperature would increase your cooking time and a higher temperature will cook the meat faster.
How do I keep my turkey moist?
Here is a fantastic tip: to protect the turkey breast and keep it juicy: Fold a large square sheet of foil into a triangle. Rub one side of your triangle with olive oil and shape the foil (oil-side-down) over the turkey breast, then remove foil; it will shield your turkey breast and keep it from getting dry.
How do I keep my turkey from drying out?
Classic Bread Stuffing Recipe
- Choose a fresh turkey instead of a frozen one.
- Roast two small turkeys rather than one large one.
- Brine the turkey.
- Rub soft butter under the skin.
- Truss loosely, or not at all.
- Roast the turkey upside down at first.
- Don’t overcook it.
- Let the turkey rest before carving.
How do you tell if a turkey is done without a thermometer?
To find out if your turkey is done without a thermometer, pierce it with a fork in the mid-thigh muscle, explains Nicole Johnson, the co-director of the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line. “When the juices run clear, and no longer reddish or pink in color, it’s a good indication that your turkey is done.”
Should you wash turkey?
Wash your hands, but not the turkey! Many consumers think that washing their turkey will remove bacteria and make it safer. However, it’s virtually impossible to wash bacteria off the bird. Instead, juices that splash during washing can transfer bacteria onto the surfaces of your kitchen, other foods and utensils.
What do you put in the bottom of a turkey roasting pan?
Place chopped onions, celery, and carrots in the bottom of the roasting pan. Pick a few herbs off the stalks and add to the vegetables.
How do you make turkey skin crispy?
Rub the skin with fat.
Once you’ve carefully dried off the skin, the next step you can take to guarantee perfectly crispy turkey skin is to rub it with a fat, like butter or oil. Oil will yield a crispier skin than butter because butter is at least 20 percent water, while oil contains no water.
Is basting turkey necessary?
Basting the skin is not necessary to flavor the meat. You’ll flavor the skin, but you’ll also let heat out of the oven each time you open it to baste. “That means the bird is going to be in there for a longer time cooking, which means it’s going to dry out more,” Brown says.
Does tin foil make turkey cook faster?
Are you looking for a turkey in a hurry this Thanksgiving? Aluminum foil can help! Wrapping the turkey in aluminum foil can speed up cooking times.
Should I cover my turkey with foil in a convection oven?
When cooking in convection, it is best to leave the turkey uncovered so that it benefits from the convection sear. However, if the wings and legs begin to brown too much, you certainly can use foil to cover these areas.
What do you baste turkey with?
You can baste turkey with melted butter or other fat, stock, or drippings from the roasting pan.
How long does it take to cook a 5 lb turkey breast at 325?
Put your turkey into the preheat oven and roast the turkey. The cooking time will vary based on weight. Figure 15-25 minutes per pound at 325.
How long does it take to cook a turkey breast at 325?
Roasting times for a turkey breast cooked in a 325 degrees F oven: Unstuffed, a 2 to 3-pound turkey will cook from 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Unstuffed, a 7 to 8-pound turkey will cook from 2 1/4 to 3 1/4 hours; if stuffed, it will cook in 3 to 4 hours.
How long do I cook a 5 pound turkey breast?
In general, you’ll want to cook a bone-in turkey breast for about 20 minutes per pound at 350 degrees F (177 degrees C), or until it reaches a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
Do you cover a Butterball turkey breast in the oven?
Place breast on rack in shallow roasting pan. Brush with oil to prevent drying. Do not cover. Cook for 4 hours or until meat thermometer reads 165°F (74°C).
How long does it take to cook a 5 lb Butterball turkey breast?
Approx. roasting time is 1¼ to 3 hours. Browning occurs without basting. Check internal temperature during final half hour by inserting thermometer into thickest part of turkey breast.
How long do you cook a Butterball turkey breast in the oven?
Brush or spray skin with vegetable oil. Place turkey breast in 350° oven and heat until warm. 3/4 – 1.5 hours. Check temperature with a meat thermometer.
Serve Cold:
- Remove turkey breast from the wrapper.
- Let meat stand at room temperature 15 minutes to take off the chill.
- Carve turkey breast and serve immediately.
Can turkey breast be slightly pink?
Turkey can remain pink even after cooking to a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F. The meat of smoked turkey is always pink.
How do you tell if a turkey breast is done?
You’ll need a meat thermometer to make sure you cook your turkey to the right temperature. Insert it close to, but not touching, the thigh bone. If it reads 180 degrees F in the thigh and 170 degrees F in the breast, it’s done and ready to serve.
How long does it take to cook a 7 lb turkey breast?
The general rule is to roast the turkey breast for 20 minutes per pound. So, if my turkey breast weighs 7 lbs, I will cook it for 140 minutes (2 hours and 20 minutes). When the time is up, check the breast in the meatiest place to make sure it reads 165 degrees F.
Do you cook a turkey breast side up or down?
The United States Department of Agriculture advises to cook a whole turkey breast side up during the entire cooking time. Turning over a large, hot bird can be dangerous and it’s very easy to tear the skin, making the finished product less attractive.
How long does it take to cook a 10 lb turkey breast at 325?
How to Roast a Turkey Breast
- Preheat your oven to 325 degrees.
- Place the turkey breast in the pan skin side up.
- Rub the butter all over the meat under the skin, then smooth the skin down so the butter doesn’t drip out.
- Roast in the oven, uncovered for about 20 minutes per pound.
How long should you cook an 8-pound turkey breast?
An 8-pound turkey breast should roast for about 2.5 to 3 hours in a 400 degree F. oven. For the first 2 hours, cover the baking dish with foil, and remove the foil for the last 30 minutes to an hour of baking time.
Should turkey be at room temp before cooking?
Before it goes in the oven, the turkey should be at room temperature, so take it out of the fridge (1 hr for a whole turkey, or 30 mins for a cut) before cooking. Keep it covered in a cool place.
Should I Drain juices from turkey?
Turkey breasts cook up tender and delicious, and are easy to roast when you follow these instructions: Preheat oven to 325° F. Remove whole breast from bag. Drain juices and pat dry with clean paper towels.
Why you should never wash your turkey?
Despite popular belief, food experts warn that washing turkey and other raw meats isn’t an effective way to remove germs. In fact, it’s more likely to send harmful bacteria that causes salmonella and other food-borne illnesses splashing onto the sink and other kitchen surfaces.
Do you cook a turkey covered or uncovered?
A 10-pound turkey should hold about 7 cups of stuffing. Q: Should I roast the bird covered or uncovered? A: The Butterball folks recommend cooking the turkey uncovered in a roasting pan. Two-thirds of the way through cooking, Butterball says foil can be placed over the breast area to prevent it from drying out.
Where do you put the thermometer in a turkey breast?
Temperature Matters: Meat Thermometer Guidelines
- When preparing a whole turkey, insert the thermometer into the thickest portion of the turkey breast, the innermost portion of thigh and the innermost portion of the wing.
- Make sure the thermometer does not touch bone, gristle or the pan.
Is turkey done at 165 or 180?
While some recipes state that turkey should be cooked to 180 degrees Fahrenheit, the meat is safe to consume once it reaches the 165-degree mark. Cooking the breasts past 165 can result in dry meat, but the dark meat can be cooked to 180.
Is it better to cook a turkey at 325 or 350?
Do I Cook a Turkey at 325 or 350 Degrees? Though “low and slow” is a good rule for cooking a bird all the way through without burning it, there’s no hard-and-fast rule. All of our temperature guides assume you’re cooking at 325, but you can cook it a little warmer for roughly the same, or just a little less time.
What should I serve with turkey breast?
Favorite Side Dishes
- Mashed Potatoes.
- Dinner Rolls.
- Cranberry Sauce.
- Cranberry Fluff.
- Creamed Corn.
How long do you cook a 9 pound turkey breast?
This obviously means that roasting a 9-pound turkey breast requires a longer cooking time than usual. You’re likely looking at a minimum cooking time of three and a half hours. This amount of time can easily increase to four hours if you’ve decided to stuff your turkey breast.
Should I put butter or oil on my turkey?
Don’t butter your bird
Placing butter under the skin won’t make the meat juicier, though it might help the skin brown faster. However, butter is about 17 percent water, and it will make your bird splotchy, says López-Alt. Instead, rub the skin with vegetable oil before you roast.
Should you put water in the bottom of the pan when roasting a turkey?
Add water to the roasting pan to keep the turkey from drying out. Grandma always added water or chicken broth to the bottom of the roasting pan, at the start of the cooking. This keeps the bird from drying out.
Do you have to put water in pan when cooking turkey?
“Often consumers will inquire about adding water to the bottom of their roasting pans. We do not recommend adding water to the bottom of the pan. Cooking a turkey with steam is a moist heat-cook method and is acceptable, sure, but is not the preferred method for cooking your turkey.”
When should you put foil on the turkey?
Tenting the Turkey – In the beginning, a tent of aluminum foil may be place loosely over the breast of the turkey for the first 1 to 1-1/2 hours, then removed for browning. Or, a tent of foil may be placed over the turkey after the turkey has reached the desired golden brown.
How do you keep a turkey breast moist when roasting?
How Do You Keep a Turkey Breast From Drying Out? The secret to a juicy bird that doesn’t dry out is to roast it at high temperature in a 400°F oven. Cooking at high heat seals in the juices while creating a skin that’s crisp and browned.
Why is my turkey breast always dry?
Because dark meat has more connective tissues, it takes longer to break down, so if you cook the turkey whole, by time the legs and thighs are done, the breasts are overcooked and dry. The solution: Carve your turkey before you cook it.
How long should I cook my turkey uncovered?
Just make sure you uncover the lid about 30 minutes before the turkey’s done roasting so the skin has a chance to get crispy. Many recipes today will instruct you to cook your bird in a roasting rack tented with foil.
Why is my turkey still pink?
Nitrites and nitrates are often added to cured meats, like bacon and ham, to make them pink. But they also occur naturally in vegetables and water. So, turkeys are exposed to both through their food. If enough nitrites and nitrates are present, it can give the meat a pink tinge.
What temperature do you take turkey out of oven?
According to the Department of Agriculture, a turkey must reach 165 degrees F to be safe, but you can take it out of the oven as low as 160 degrees F because the temperature will rise at it rests. 1. Use a digital, instant read thermometer for the most-accurate results. 2.