Turkey breast is a great faff-free festive option for smaller groups. Half a turkey breast (from one side of the bird) will serve two to four people and a whole breast will serve six. Show
As a joint, half a breast looks like a giant chicken breast or a roll tied up with string or butcher’s netting. A whole breast can be folded in half and treated in the same way. Sometimes they come bundled in strips of bacon or pancetta, or you can wrap your own following the recipes below. You can also tie the breast yourself, which will keep it neat in the oven and the skin in place to give you more even slices when you carve it. For more inspiration, see our turkey breast recipes, plus ways to use leftover turkey. When it comes to oven temperatures and timings, roast turkey breast has the same requirements as a whole roast turkey. So, at a temperature of 190C/170C fan/gas 5, you'll need to cook it for 40 mins per kilo, plus an additional 20 mins. How to cook turkey breastYou needn’t give up your favourite flavourings or skip the brining process, if that’s how you like it. Alternatively, you could wrap the turkey breast in pastry to make a wellington or cook it in a slow cooker – see our best turkey breast recipes for more ideas. A turkey breast is also a useful way of bumping up the meat on Christmas Day without resorting to buying an enormous turkey, because there's nothing that can go to waste. It makes better leftovers for sandwiches, too. In fact, because it's a lean, low-fat, cheaper cut of meat, it's becoming popular all year round, not just for Christmas. Turkey breast is readily available in strips for stir-frying, steaks and fillets for pan-frying and grilling, and in cubes for casseroles and as mince for bolognese and meatballs. See our recipes using turkey mince and turkey steak. Roast turkey breast recipeServes 4 1 large turkey breast or 1 double breast, tied into a joint
More turkey breast recipes for inspiration:Stuffed turkey breast with garlic & cheese Decided to serve up some turkey breast at your next cookout? Many people don’t cook with it often so they aren’t sure how much to serve! So I usually get a few questions like; So, how much turkey breast do you need per person? You need need to allocate around 1¼ lbs of raw turkey breast per person However, they are many variables such as the time of the event, the age of guests, and what you’re serving with it. So if you decide to go with turkey breast, you find out below exactly how much you’ll need. Why Choose Turkey Breast?It’s easy to overlook poultry when they are so many yummy things to do with pork and beef. However, smoked turkey has always been a popular choice of meat for special occasions. But why limit it to special occasions? Boneless or bone-in turkey breast is also excellent for casual get-together meals. There are a lot of advantages to eating turkey. First of all, it’s white meat that’s rich in vitamins, high in protein, and low in fat. Plus it also cooks relatively quickly, even if you’re dealing with bone-in turkey breast. With bone-in turkey, you need to allocate around 1¼ lbs of raw turkey per person. It seems a lot, but you are accounting for the bone An average adult usually consumes approximately half, if not a full, pound of the cooked bird. Of course, it depends on how hungry they are, and how much they tend to eat.. We recommend preparing a serving of ¼ to ½ pounds of turkey for each child present. Other important and helpful things to remember include:
It’s always smart to stick with the 1¼ pounds per person rule when you’re trying to figure out how much turkey per person attending your event. Although if you want some leftovers, it’s worth catering for 1.5 pounds per person. If you do end up with leftovers you might wonder how long does smoked turkey last? Just ensure you eat it within 3-4 days of putting it in the fridge. If Your Serving Boneless TurkeyIf you’ve chosen boneless meat, then the general rule of thumb includes allocating around ¾ pound per person. We’ve mainly been discussing how you should portion the meat if you’ve decided to go with the bone-in option. However, we can’t disregard the convenient boneless option. If you’ve chosen boneless meat, then the general rule of thumb includes allocating around ¾ pound per person. Therefore, if you’ve bought a 3-pound turkey breast, then you’re looking at feeding around 4 people. Calculations for How Much Turkey Breast You’ll Need For;8 People
16 People
24 People
How Long Does it Take to Thaw Turkey Breast?Always leave enough time for your turkey breast to defrost. It takes around 24 hours for a 6lb breast to defrost in the fridge. What if you’re handling frozen turkeys? If you’re handling an entire turkey, then you’ll want to start early. This is because a full-size turkey can take a couple of days to thaw. (Of course, it’s best to always thaw fresh turkeys and other meats in the fridge. This keeps bacteria growth to a minimum.) We have found that it takes around a whole day to thaw four pounds of raw turkey. Hence, if you’ve got a 12-pound turkey, then it’ll take around three days to have it fully thawed out in the fridge. Minimal Internal Temperature for Turkey BreastThe internal temperature of the turkey needs to reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit before it is safe to consume. We highly recommend investing in a good meat thermometer or instant-read thermometer. This will ensure that you’re receiving accurate temperature readings throughout the entire cooking process. Another way to make sure that you are receiving the right temperature is to probe the meat. Always stick the kitchen thermometer into the thickest part of the turkey breast meat. Also, don’t stick the thermometer so far in that it ends up touching the turkey bone. You want to read the temperature of the meat. Not the temperature of the bone. Now, here are some of our favorite methods for cooking turkey meat: Our Favorite Methods For Preparing Turkey BreastOn The GrillGrilling is the way to go if you want your turkey to be crispy and golden on the outside while remaining soft and juicy on the inside.
In The OvenWe usually like to use this method if we’re planning to cook a bone-in turkey.
In The Crock PotIf you intend to use this method, we recommend only using a piece of turkey that weighs no more than4 pounds.
Pro tip! Resist the temptation to lift the lid and check on the cooking progress. Cooking a 20lb Turkey?If you’re cooking a whole 20lb turkey you might want to know how many people it will feed. This will make catering for your Thanksgiving meal much easier. Here are some of our favorite sides that go well with turkey breast! Don’t Forget The SidesHere are some of our favorite sides that go well with turkey breast! We like to include:
There is nothing like having all the family over and serving a beautiful turkey! Just make sure you have your side and cranberry sauce ready to go! Author: Charlie Reeves You will usually find me playing with the kids, perfecting my brisket bark, or sipping beers with boys around the fire. Can’t wait to share all my delicious smoking and grilling adventures with you! You can read more on our About Us page. Hungry For More? How many does a 5 pound turkey breast serve?LITTLE BIRD
If you're not cooking for a crowd, make a bone-in turkey breast. A 5- to 7-pound breast feeds about 4.
How many pounds of turkey breast do you need per person?Here's your answer: If you're buying a whole turkey, plan on 1 lb of turkey per person. For a bone-in turkey breast, get 3/4 lb per person (½ lb per person for a boneless breast).
How many people will a 4 lb boneless turkey breast feed?So if you have 16 people attending dinner you will need 8 pounds of turkey breast meat. Here are a few quick numbers to reference: 4 people = 2 pound turkey breast. 8 people = 4 pound turkey breast.
How many people will an 8 pound turkey breast feed?Generally speaking, a boneless turkey breast that is around 8-10 pounds and 2-3 inches thick will feed about 10 people. If cooked at 325 degrees Fahrenheit in an oven, it will take about 2 1/2 hours for the meat to reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
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