Roast Turkey Breast In A Bag Recipe | CDKitchen.com (2024)

FAQs

How long does it take to cook a turkey breast in a baking bag? ›

Cut 6 (1/2-inch) slits in the top of the bag. Insert a meat thermometer through a slit in the bag into the thickest part of the meat, making sure the thermometer is not touching the bone. Roast the turkey at 350°F. for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until the thermometer reads 165°F.

It will yield juicy and tender meat and will avoid entirely the brining or basting steps that most turkey recipes require. By trapping the moisture and heat, oven bags cook the bird faster and make it a breeze to collect all the juices to start making the gravy while the turkey rests.

Place your turkey, breast-side up inside the bag. Use the enclosed oven-safe tie to secure the bag at the top. Snip six 1/2-inch-long slits in the bag with scissors – be sure to put one near a breast and a thigh, that way you can sneak your thermometer in to check the temperature.

Flour is needed to help prevent the bag from bursting and to help blend the fats and juices during cooking. You can use wheat, rice, potato, or gluten free flour. Corn starch, corn meal, matzo meal or finely crushed crackers all work well as flour substitutes.

2- to 2½-pound bone-in turkey breast half: Roast at 325°F for 60 to 70 minutes. 2½- to 3-pound boneless turkey breast: Roast at 325°F for 40 to 60 minutes. 4- to 6-pound whole turkey breast: Roast at 325°F for 1½ to 2¼ hours. 6- to 8-pound whole turkey breast: Roast at 325°F for 2¼ to 3¼ hours.

Oven-Roasted Turkey

We recommend starting the turkey in a 425 degree oven for 30-45 minutes before tenting the pan with foil and lowering the temperature to 350 degrees until a meat thermometer reads 165 degrees when inserted into the thickest part of the bird.

Don't expect that cooking a turkey in a bag will result in crispy skin, but you'll have a turkey bursting with moisture and juiciness when you roast it in an oven bag.

Stick with salt and pepper, put herbs like rosemary, thyme, and sage to work, or take spicy Cajun seasoning for a spin for some kick. Whatever blend you choose, spread it all over the turkey—on top, underneath, between the body and wings and legs, under the skin, and even in the cavity of the bird.

Roast the turkey undisturbed for 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Check the temperature of the turkey by inserting a probe thermometer into one of the bag's vents and into the thickest part of a thigh not touching bone. The turkey is ready when the the thigh registers at least 175°F and the breast at least 180°F.

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 often should you baste a turkey? ›

How Often to Baste a Turkey. Most recipes will tell you to baste your turkey every thirty minutes. But our rule of thumb is actually every forty minutes, and here's why. You don't want to open the oven too many times, or else the whole bird will take much long to cook, and that's a huge inconvenience.

Rub the turkey all over with oil or softened butter and your choice of seasonings. Salt and pepper are a must, but you can also add herbs and garlic. Place the bag in a roasting pan, and put the turkey inside the bag. (Never use a roasting rack in the pan, which can cause the bag to melt.)

Do I really need to cut slits? Yes, always cut six 1/2 inch slits in the top of the bag.

A 12-pound turkey should be fully cooked (using this bag method) after about 3 to 3.5 hours in a 350 degrees F oven.

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.