Serve a Thanksgiving meal any time of the year with Sara Lee® Raw Chef’s Single Lobe Skin-on Turkey Breast as the center-of-plate, surrounded with fresh veggies and mashed potatoes.
Conventional Oven 1. Pre-heat oven to 350°F. 2. Remove turkey from bag and place turkey on rack in roasting pan. Add about 1-2 inches water to bottom of pan. (Add additional water during cooking, if needed) 3. Place roasting pan carefully on center rack of oven. 4. Bake according to the following times and temperatures: FROZEN: 45-50 MIN/LB THAWED: 28-30 MIN/LB 5. During final hour of roasting, use a stem thermometer to check internal temperature. Check temperature in thickest part of the turkey. Turkey is done when thermometer reaches internal temperature of 160°F or above. Remove from oven and let stand for 20 minutes. Internal temperature should reach 165°F or above prior to eating. Carve into slices. Serve. Note: Cooking times are approximate. Due to variances in ovens and initial temperatures of product, cooking times may need adjustment.
Convection Oven 1. Pre-heat oven to 325°F. 2. Remove turkey from bag and place turkey on rack in roasting pan. Add about 1-2 inches water to bottom of pan. (Add additional water during cooking, if needed) 3. Place roasting pan carefully on center rack of oven. 4. Bake according to the following times and temperatures: FROZEN: 30-32 MIN/LB THAWED: 23-25 MIN/LB 5. During final hour of roasting, use a stem thermometer to check internal temperature. Check temperature in thickest part of the turkey. Turkey is done when thermometer reaches internal temperature of 160°F or above. Remove from oven and let stand for 20 minutes. Internal temperature should reach 165°F or above prior to eating. Carve into slices. Serve. Note: Cooking times are approximate. Due to variances in ovens and initial temperatures of product, cooking times may need adjustment.
Thawing Instructions For best results, THAW turkey in refrigerator before cooking. To thaw: Remove product from box. Leave product in packaging and place on a tray. Place in refrigerator and thaw for 24-48 hour
Turkey breast is a delicious, lean protein choice that’s perfect for holidays, family dinners, and anytime you want a hearty meat option. But when it comes to buying and cooking turkey breasts, one question always comes up – how big are turkey breasts?
The size of turkey breasts can vary quite a bit based on whether you choose bone-in or boneless as well as the overall weight of the turkey they came from. This guide will cover everything you need to know about sizing buying, and cooking turkey breasts for any occasion.
Average Turkey Breast Sizes
Turkey breast sizes are generally categorized as follows
Boneless Turkey Breasts
- Small: 2-3 lbs
- Medium: 3-4 lbs
- Large: 5-7 lbs
Boneless turkey breast sizes max out around 7 lbs, A boneless breast contains just the breast meat with no bones
Bone-In Turkey Breasts
- Small: 5-7 lbs
- Medium: 8-10 lbs
- Large: 10-14 lbs
Bone-in turkey breasts contain the breastbones and cartilage attached. They range from 5 pounds up to about 16 pounds for very large specimens.
The bone adds extra weight, so a bone-in breast weighs significantly more than a boneless breast with the same amount of meat.
How Much Turkey Per Person
Figuring out how much turkey breast to buy per person requires a bit of math. Here are some general guidelines:
Boneless Turkey Breast
- 0.5 lb per average adult
- 0.25 lb per child
- 1 lb per extra hungry adult
So for 10 average adults, you’d need 10 x 0.5 lbs = 5 lbs of boneless turkey breast.
Bone-In Turkey Breast
Since the bone adds weight, you’ll need about double the estimates above for boneless.
So for 10 adults, plan for around 10 lbs of bone-in turkey breast.
To have ample leftovers, increase the per person estimates. A good rule of thumb is 1-1.5 lbs per person for bone-in turkey breast.
Buying Turkey Breasts
When shopping for turkey breasts, keep these tips in mind:
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Check your recipe for the required boneless or bone-in breast weight.
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Count guests and think about appetites to estimate how much meat you need.
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Look at the breast sizes available in store or online to find the right fit.
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Order larger special-order turkey breasts ahead of time.
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Consider if you want lots of leftovers or just a bit extra.
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Remember bone-in breasts weigh more than boneless.
Common Brand Breast Sizes
To give an idea of what’s available, here are some typical size ranges for popular brands:
Butterball
- Boneless: Up to 6.75 lbs
- Bone-In: Up to 16 lbs
Jennie-O
- Boneless: Up to 7 lbs
- Bone-In: Up to 14 lbs
Perdue
- Boneless: Up to 7 lbs
- Bone-In: Up to 16 lbs
Plainville Farms
- Boneless: Up to 5 lbs
- Bone-In: Up to 10 lbs
As you can see, there’s ample variety whether you’re feeding a smaller dinner party or large holiday gathering.
Cooking Times by Turkey Breast Size
Preparation time can vary quite a bit depending on the size of your turkey breast. Here are some general guidelines:
Boneless Turkey Breast
- 2-3 lbs: 60-90 minutes
- 3-4 lbs: 90-120 minutes
- 5-6 lbs: 120-150 minutes
Cook to an internal temperature of 165°F. Allow breasts to rest for 15 minutes before slicing.
Bone-In Turkey Breast
- 5-7 lbs: 120-150 minutes
- 8-10 lbs: 150-180 minutes
- 10-14 lbs: 180-240 minutes
Again, cook bone-in breasts to 165°F and let rest for 15 minutes once done.
Monitor temperature closely with a meat thermometer, since overcooking can lead to dryness, especially for lean white breast meat.
Serving and Leftovers
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Allow for about 1/2 pound of cooked boneless turkey breast per average adult.
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With a bone-in breast, plan for 3/4 lb per person since some weight is taken up by the bones.
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For hearty appetites or ample leftovers, boost to 1 lb per person.
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Sliced turkey breast is excellent for sandwiches, wraps, tacos, and more after the main meal.
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Diced or shredded turkey breast works great in casseroles, soups, salads, and pasta dishes.
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Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours and use within 3-4 days. Reheat thoroughly to 165°F.
When planning your next turkey breast meal, keep these breast size guidelines, buying tips, and cooking times in mind. Properly sized and cooked turkey breast makes for a satisfying entree along with delicious leftovers after. With the right techniques, you can enjoy flawlessly prepared turkey breast any night of the year.
More about this item
Sara Lee® Raw Turkey Breast is ready to cook, and with no MSG and Gluten Free its a better-for-you, meaty choice on your menu.
- Premium, ready to cook turkey breast.
- Boneless turkey breast with no fillers.
- No nitrates or nitrites added.
- Gluten Free.
- No MSG.
Contains up to 10% of a solution of Turkey Broth, Salt, Sugar, Sodium Phosphate, Flavor.
Simple Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
FAQ
How many people will a 5 pound turkey breast feed?
- If you’re serving a large group, you can plan for 2 lbs of turkey per person.
- If you’re buying boneless turkey breast, you can plan for 1/2 lb per person.
- If you want more leftovers, you can plan for more turkey.
- If you know you won’t eat much turkey beyond the holiday, you can plan for less turkey.
- If you’re cooking for a small gathering, you can estimate about 1 lb of turkey per person.
- If you’re cooking for a large group, you can cook two smaller turkeys instead of one large turkey. This will help the turkey cook more evenly and yield juicier meat.
How big of a turkey breast for 2 people?
As a rule of thumb, plan to purchase 1 ½ pounds of turkey per person with leftovers or 1 pound of turkey per person without leftovers.Nov 28, 2024
How much breast meat is on a 12 lb turkey?
Typically, you’ll get 2 to 3 times as much white meat as dark meat from a whole turkey. For example, from a 12-pound turkey, you’ll end up with about 5 pounds of cooked meat—roughly 3 1/2 pounds of white meat and 1 1/2 pounds of dark meat.
Is a turkey breast 150 or 165?
For food safety, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends cooking turkey to an internal temperature of 165 degrees. But at that temperature, López-Alt notes, breast meat will dry out.
How much does a turkey breast weigh?
Our ultimate guide to turkey breast size has the answers. Turkey breast weight varies depending on the size of the bird and whether the breasts are sold bone-in or boneless. You can expect to find turkey breasts weighing between 4 and 8 pounds when you buy them at the supermarket, although there may also be larger specimens available.
Do you know the right turkey breast size?
Knowing the right turkey breast size ensures you buy the correct amount to feed all of your guests without tons of leftovers. When determining turkey breast size there are a few key factors to consider Turkey breasts come both bone-in and boneless. A boneless turkey breast is just the breast meat without bones.
How much turkey breast to buy?
When calculating how much turkey breast to buy, here are some general servings guidelines: Boneless breast: Plan on 1/2 pound per person. Bone-in breast: Allow 3/4 to 1 pound per person to account for bones. These serving sizes provide a starting point, but consider your guests’ preferences too.
How much turkey breast should a 2 pounder eat?
From petite 2 pounders to mammoth 12 pound tom turkey breasts, turkey breast sizes run the gamut. Typically, bone-in breast halves fall in the 4 to 8 pound range. Allow 3/4 to 1 pound per person for bone-in or 1/2 pound per person of boneless. Adjust up or down depending on appetites.
How much turkey breast do you need per person?
A bone-in turkey breast weighs 4-5 pounds and can be as large as 8 pounds. So if your recipe calls for 3 pounds of boneless turkey breast you’d need to buy a 6 pound bone-in breast to get the equivalent amount of meat. Figuring out how much turkey per person requires some simple math. Here are general guidelines: For Boneless Turkey Breast:
How much does a turkey weigh?
Younger turkeys, often referred to as “young hens” or “fryers,” are typically smaller, weighing around 6-12 pounds (2.7-5.5 kg). Older turkeys, or “roasters,” can weigh 16-24 pounds (7-10.9 kg) or more. Believe it or not, the sex of a turkey can also affect its size. Tom turkeys, being larger and more muscular, tend to weigh more than hen turkeys.