But how do you cook an already cooked turkey? Lisa is a retired personal trainer with more than 4,000 hours of hands-on experience working with a variety of clients, from sports teams to weight loss and post-rehab populations. Place the cold (not room-temperature) turkey in a roasting pan, breast-side down. This allows the fat from underneath the bird to drip down while it heats up, ensuring a moist, tender breast. Leaf Group Ltd. Many pre-cooked turkey breasts come with a roasting bag. Follow the easy guidelines below to make your precooked turkey the star of the night. If you didn't get your turkey out of the freezer in time, you can also thaw it in cold water. advertisements are served by third party advertising companies. 2020 The simple answer is no. Claudia has a PhD in Physical Activity, Nutrition and Wellness and is a Registered Dietitian. If your turkey breast is frozen, thaw it before you start the cooking process. Cooking a pre-cooked, roasted turkey breast might seem counterintuitive, but it's a great way to serve an impressive dish without much time or labor in the kitchen — especially if you're not serving enough people to justify cooking a whole turkey. If you're in a real bind for time, you can also thaw your turkey breast in the microwave. LIVESTRONG is a registered trademark of the LIVESTRONG Foundation. Cover the turkey with foil and place in oven. Your precooked turkey, whether oven-roasted or smoked, is likely frozen. used as a substitute for professional medical advice, If you're not using a roasting bag and want a little extra browning, create a loose foil tent over your turkey breast. USDA: "Let's Talk Turkey — a Consumer Guide to Safely Roasting a Turkey", PARTNER & LICENSEE OF THE LIVESTRONG FOUNDATION. . It seemed simple enough; it’s already cooked. Copyright © This allows all the juices simmering beneath the skin to sink into the meat resulting in a juicer turkey and will be easier to carve. In that case, the USDA recommends allowing about 30 minutes of thawing time per pound of meat. LIVESTRONG.com may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Copyright Policy and If you thaw your turkey breast in the refrigerator, the USDA recommends allowing 24 hours of thawing time per every 4 to 5 pounds of meat. ... Place the cold (not room-temperature) turkey in a roasting pan, breast-side down. Just like cooking a raw bird, be sure to let your turkey rest about 15-20 minutes. But there are several clever ways you can add flavor to your precooked turkey breast. Preheat your oven to 375°F. But it'll take at least 50 percent longer to be done, so it's well worth taking the time to thaw it out first. Cover the turkey with foil and place in oven. Review additional tips You don't have to preheat the oven. However, these times are all approximate. Just like cooking a whole turkey, cooking time for a a precooked turkey breast depends on its weight. Refer to our, Purchase Turkey Gift Certificate By Weight, 10 Easy Steps to Cooking the Perfect Turkey, Jason Christensen - Norbest Turkey Rancher. , The first, of course, is to rub the turkey breast with the seasonings of your choice. Hope is not lost if you had your heart set on gravy but bought a precooked bird. The LIVESTRONG Foundation and LIVESTRONG.COM do not endorse The USDA advises that you should set your oven no lower than 325 degrees F for cooking — or recooking — turkey. But in that case, the USDA warns that for the sake of food safety, you must cook your turkey immediately after — don't freeze or refrigerate it again — and you'll have to consult your microwave owner's manual for details about what power level and time settings to use. All of these times assume that the turkey breast is unstuffed. Carve turkey breast and serve immediately. diagnosis or treatment. It will mix with the drippings and absorb that turkey flavor, perfect for making a delicious gravy. Per USDA guidelines, the center of the breast should reach at least 165 degrees. This allows the fat from underneath the bird to drip down while it heats up, ensuring a moist, tender breast. Drop oven temperature to 275°F. Let meat stand at room temperature 15 minutes to take off the chill. Often people wonder if they can stuff a bird once it’s already cooked. Choose from a whole roasted turkey ($54.99) or a precooked boneless turkey breast … This allows all the juices simmering beneath the skin to sink into the meat resulting in a juicer turkey and will be easier to carve. Privacy Policy The material appearing on LIVESTRONG.COM is for educational use only. Order the whole menu from Boston Market, or go a la carte and pick up a fully cooked turkey and take care of the sides yourself. She's also a professional writer. You may prepare your stuffing via stovetop or oven, a more widely recommended route anyway. Read more: How Many Calories Are in a Turkey Sandwich? However, never fear. Place turkey breast in 350° oven and heat until warm. Your precooked turkey, whether oven-roasted or smoked, is likely frozen. It should not be However if you want to reheat it and serve the traditional way, keep reading. Your prep work can be as simple as slipping the turkey into the roasting bag, sealing it and placing it on the rack of a shallow roasting pan, then adding a bit of water to the bottom of the pan to help keep the turkey moist. Cooking a pre-cooked, roasted turkey breast might seem counterintuitive. And a third option is to baste the breast every 20 minutes as it cooks, using a sweet, savory or sweet/tangy glaze. Approximate cooking times provided by the USDA for an unstuffed, thawed turkey breast are one and a half to three and a quarter hours for a 4- to 8-pound breast; two and three quarters to three hours for an 8- to 12-pound breast; and three to three and three quarters hours in the unlikely event that you have a massive 12- to 14-pound breast. 10 Easy Steps to Cooking the Perfect Turkey, Just like cooking a raw bird, be sure to let your turkey rest about 15-20 minutes. The temperature should be 140° F. Carve and serve immediately. Published credits in the health field include Feel Rich, SheKnows, Precor.com, and the East Coast magazine Breathe. Now you want to serve it to your guests. Roasting the Perfect Turkey Terms of Use Check temperature with a meat thermometer. Slice it up for sandwiches, carve it up and eat it cold, etc. 3/4 - 1.5 hours. So a 10lb turkey would need to reheat for around 50 minutes. The second option is adding herbs and spices to the water in the bottom of the pan. Copyright ©2017 Norbest Inc. All rights reserved. The classic combination of rosemary, sage and thyme is a great place to start. You can use a few tricks to keep it moist and flavorful. How Many Calories Are in a Turkey Sandwich? Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the LIVESTRONG.COM This year you decided to go the precooked route for one reason or another. Thaw the meat in the refrigerator for up to five days prior to needing to serve. USDA recommends cooking and reheating all poultry to an internal temperature of 165°F. Use a meat thermometer before removing. any of the products or services that are advertised on the web site. The bird won’t be in the oven for nearly as long as a raw bird, meaning the stuffing won’t cook appropriately.