Thanksgiving Day is just around the corner, and one of the most important elements of creating a delicious turkey dinner is ensuring that the turkey is cooked to perfection. But no matter how well you cooked the turkey, it won’t be juicy and flavorful if you don’t let it rest before carving and serving. The length of time that a turkey breast should rest is often debated, with different sources providing different advice. Some suggest that the turkey should rest for at least 20 minutes, while others suggest that an hour or more is necessary. This can be daunting for those who are new to cooking a turkey, or those who are short on time and need to get their meal on the table quickly. In this blog post, we will explore how long a turkey breast should rest, and what the benefits of a longer rest time are. We will also provide helpful tips for carving and serving the turkey, so that you can ensure that the meat is juicy and flavorful.
Why You Shouldn’t Neglect The Resting Period
If you cut into a piece of meat immediately after taking it off the heat, you’re bound to notice the juices spilling out onto the cutting board. Resting the turkey allows the meat’s fibers to reabsorb this moisture, so the flavor will reach its full potential.
Furthermore, the turkey will continue to cook for a few minutes after you remove it from the oven. Thus, rather than being merely a formality, the resting period is an essential component of the recipe. In order to avoid disappointment, you should always take this step into account when determining the overall cooking and serving times.
How Long To Rest Turkey Breast
Since the turkey breast is obviously smaller than the entire bird, it won’t need to rest for as long. If you’re only cooking the breast or other small portions, like turkey ribs, allow the meat to rest for 15 to 20 minutes.
The turkey breast should be covered in foil after being taken out of the oven and placed in a secure area with no drafts. When the time for resting is up, slice it into thin pieces. You can choose to remove the skin, but we believe it gives the lean meat a nice texture and a welcome dose of flavor.
Not Removing the Breast Meat From the Bone Before Slicing
Although it is common practice, cutting breast meat on the bone is not recommended. Instead, remove the entire breast at once to preserve the crisped skin and make it simpler to slice the breast meat across the grain. Starting in the middle, cut straight down along the cartilage to accomplish this. Next, use the rib cage as a guide to separate the meat from the bones.
FAQ
Can you let a turkey rest too long?
Turkey shouldn’t be left out at room temperature for more than two hours, or for more than an hour in temperatures above 90°F, per the USDA.
Do you rest a turkey covered or uncovered?
Depending on the temperature of the room, a large bird may wait up to 40 minutes or longer. Cover it with foil, but only loosely; if the moisture is sealed in, the skin will steam and lose the level of crispness you’ve managed to achieve.
Do you cover turkey breast when resting?
The turkey needs to rest before carving. The skin will become soggy if you tent the turkey with foil to keep it warm while it rests. The turkey will cool very slowly if it is intact.
