Are you wondering How Long to Thaw a Turkey Breast? In this post, we are covering 2 thawing methods, which one is safest and even have included a handy time chart.
If you need more help with serving, check out how much turkey breast to buy per person and what goes with turkey breast.
Table of contents
While frozen in a freezer, turkey breast is good indefinitely. As soon as it begins to defrost, bacteria may start grow. That’s why it matters how you thaw a turkey breast.
Frozen turkey breasts are a go-to for most of us, especially if it’s not a holiday season. Brands like Jenni-O and Butterball are easier to find year round. Not to mention more affordable.
So, if you want to enjoy a turkey meal not on Thanksgiving, you need to know how to safely thaw a turkey breast.
What Is the Best Way to Thaw a Turkey Breast?
The best way and safest way to thaw a whole turkey breast in time for Thanksgiving is on the bottom shelf of your refrigerator. It is considered the safest method because turkey breast will thaw at consistent temperature.
It is not the fastest way, so you have to plan ahead. But when raw meat remains cold all the time, it prevents bacterial growth and everyone avoids a food poisoning. Therefore, it is the best way and my preferred method of thawing meat.
However, if you are in a rush, you can aslo thaw raw turkey in cold water.
How Long to Defrost Turkey Breast in Refrigerator?
Place frozen turkey breast in original wrapper on a large plate or baking dish to catch any juices, just in case. That is why it is recommended to thaw meat on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator.
Thaw smaller 2 pounds turkey breast overnight and defrost larger 4-5 pounds turkey breast for 24 hours. If you breast is even larger, 7-10 pounds, you will need to thaw it for 2 days.
Keep in mind, all standard refrigerators have colder and warmer zones. Generally speaking, bottom shelf above the veggie drawer is cooler than the top shelf. Likewise, the back is usually cooler than the front.
So, if you know your fridge runs colder, place meat on a top shelf. Recommended fridge temperature is 37 to 40 degrees F.
Pro Tip
After turkey has thawed, it is safe to refrigerate it for another 1-2 days.
How Long to Thaw Turkey Breast in Cold Water?
If it’s Thanksgiving morning and you don’t have enough time, the quickest way I learnt from Good Housekeeping is to thaw turkey breast in cold water bath with ice.
Keep breast meat in its original wrapping and place it in a large bowl, container or small sink. Add enough cold water to cover and the add ice. You may also change it once or twice to keep water ice cold.
Good rule of thumb is to plan on thawing time of 30 minutes per pound of turkey breast.
With cold water method, you have to cook thawed turkey breast immediately.
Pro Tip
If you don’t have ice on hand, you can place turkey in cold tap water but you will have to change it every 30 minutes. It is important to keep the water ice cold and maintain certain water temperature during the thawing process.
Turkey Breast Thawing Chart
I put this thawing time chart together for your quick reference:
- 2 lbs turkey breast: fridge – 12 hours, cold water – 1 – 2 hours
- 3 lbs turkey breast: fridge – 18 hours, cold water – 1.5 – 2.5 hours
- 4 lbs turkey breast: fridge – 24 hours, cold water – 2 – 3 hours
- 5 lbs turkey breast: fridge – 30 hours, cold water – 2.5 – 3.5 hours
- 6 lbs turkey breast: fridge – 1 1/2 days, cold water – 3 – 4 hours
- 7 lbs turkey breast: fridge – 1 3/4 days, cold water – 3.5 – 4.5 hours
- 8 lbs turkey breast: fridge – 2 days, cold water – 4 – 5 hours
- 9 lbs turkey breast: fridge – 2 1/4 days, cold water – 4.5 – 5.5 hours
- 10 lbs turkey breast: fridge – 2 1/2 days, cold water – 5 – 6 hours.
Things to Avoid
- Do not thaw turkey breast on a counter: Thawing turkey at room temperature is considered a danger zone due to harmful bacteria growth and possible food poisoning.
- Do not thaw turkey breast in hot water or warm water: Not only will bacteria grow, your turkey breast will also start “cooking” in certain spots.
- Do not thaw turkey breast in a microwave: While it is considered a safe practice by USDA, defrosting frozen turkey in a microwave oven is not a good idea, even on defrost setting. All ovens have different wattage and power level. You will more likely end up with some cooked spots, some defrosted spots and some still frozen areas.
FAQs
Touch it with your hand and see if it feels soft like fresh poultry. You can also poke with a fork outer layers of the breast to see that there aren’t any frozen parts. If it’s too hard to poke, then it is still partially frozen.
Yes you can, but it will affect your cook time and it will be longer.
Yes, it is safe to cook a fully frozen turkey breast. However, you will have hard time to season it, therefore it’s nice if you bought a seasoned turkey breast. And cooking time will be 50% longer, so plan ahead.
No. Since the bone is very small, it will take same time for either. The times I have included are also on a safe side, so you could follow them to thaw even full turkey.
Turkey Breast Recipes
- Boneless turkey breast
- Bone-in turkey breast
- Bacon wrapped turkey breast
- Air fryer turkey breast
- Instant Pot turkey breast
How Long to Thaw a Turkey Breast
Ingredients
- Turkey breast frozen
Instructions
Refrigerator Method
- Place frozen turkey breast in original wrapper on a large plate or baking dish to catch any juices, just in case. That is why it is recommended to thaw meat on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator.
- Thaw smaller 2 pounds turkey breast overnight and defrost larger 4-5 pounds turkey breast for 24 hours. If you breast is even larger, 7-10 pounds, you will need to thaw it for 2 days.
Cold Water Bath Method
- Keep breast meat in its original wrapping and place it in a large bowl, container or small sink. Add enough cold water to cover and the add ice. You may also change it once or twice to keep water ice cold.
- Good rule of thumb is to plan on thawing time of 30 minutes per pound of turkey breast.
I bought a frozen turkey breast 3 lbs on Sunday its now wednesday its been in the fridge is it safe to cook today? or tommorow?
Yes, it is. Happy Thanksgiving!
Is it safe to thaw 7 Lb. Turkey Breast in water in the sink overnight?
Well, as per safety guidelines probably not but maybe… But overnight for some people is 6 hours and for some 10 hours.:) Would I do it myself? Probably, in a sink with cold water and ice. My house is cold at night too as we keep the heat down. But it’s up to you…
Is it ok to get a head start thawing a turkey breast in water and then putting it in the fridge? I put a 3 lb packaged breast in water for about 1 hr. When I removed it from the water it still had some ice in the pkg. Water bath Tuesday evening to be cooked Thursday. It feels thawed Wednesday morning.
Thanks
Yes, it’s fine. As long as it’s in a cold temperature like cold water or fridge.
Once the turkey breast has thawed in the refrigerator, how long can it remain in the fridge before cooking in oven? Still safe if in fridge for 5 days??
I personally think 5 days would be pushing it. I would keep it in the fridge for 2 days maximum. Just to ensure freshness and because we don’t know how fresh it was when it was frozen.
I tried the cold water method to thaw my frozen turkey breast on Thanksgiving and it worked like a charm. Thank you so much for great instructions!
I’m so happy to read this! Thanks for your positive feedback!