How To Defrost Turkey Breast?

This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links, at no cost to you.

Turkey breast is a very unique and delicious addition to the meat compartment of your freezer. however, to cook it properly, it is important to have it defrosted efficiently.

When you start to defrost turkey breasts, you should know all the precautions and procedures so that you do not end up ruining them. The following article will help you further in understanding these methods.

Table of Contents

How Long Does It Take to Defrost Turkey Breast?

Turkey breast takes time in defrosting and its size and weight play an important role in defrosting method. The following list will help you in understanding the time taken to defrost the turkey breasts.

In the refrigerator

When you put a turkey breast in the refrigerator for defrosting, it can take a lot of time. Putting turkey breast in the refrigerator is the slowest method. Dividing turkey breast into following lbs and each lb can take different time which is given below.

4lbs can take 1 day in defrosting.
8 lbs can take 2 days.
12 lbs can take 3 days.
16 lbs can take 4 days.
20 lbs can take 5 days.
24 lbs can take 6 days.

In cold water

To figure out that how long turkey breast takes time in cold water, the following lb tell you the exact time, which is given below

4 lbs can take 2 hours.
8 lbs can take 4 hours.
12 lbs can take 6 hours.
16 lbs can take 8 hours.
20 lbs can take 10 hours.
24 lbs can take 12 hours.

How Do I Defrost Turkey Breast Fast?

If you want to defrost turkey breast fast, then you can use the microwave method. The procedure for this method is simple and quite easy. If you have the best microwave, then turkey breast can be defrosted safely and easily. A microwave can take 6 minutes per lb to defrost but the time varies with the cuts of breast too. If the weight of the turkey breast is 12 lbs, then it takes 12 minutes in a microwave.

For defrosting the turkey breast in microwave, take it out of the freezer and unwrapped them from the packaging. Directly put your frozen turkey breast in a microwave and set the time that the turkey breast needs in defrosting based on its weight. Once it has been defrosted thoroughly, you should cook immediately for good results.

Can I Defrost Turkey Breast in a Refrigerator?

Choosing the refrigerator method to defrost turkey breast is recommended as it saves the turkey from going bad but it is the slowest process. To follow this simple method, first take the frozen turkey breast out of the freezer and don’t remove it from the packaging.

Take a plate and put the thawed turkey breast on it. Then put the plate in the refrigerator and leave them for one day. The defrosted turkey breasts can be kept in the fridge for 3 – 4 days and it can also be frozen again.

Can I Defrost Turkey Breast in a Microwave?

If you have an emergency and want to defrost turkey breast fast, you can put them in a microwave. It takes comparatively less time but is not safe if proper procedure is not followed. Defrosting the turkey breast in a microwave can take 10 – 15 minutes.

Make sure after defrosting your turkey breast in the microwave, you cook it immediately. You can use the best roaster oven to try some amazing dishes to cook your defrosted turkey breast.

Can I Defrost Turkey Breast in Water?

When you use cold tap water for defrosting, it can take some hours, like defrost turkey breast in cold tap water takes 2 hours for every 4 lbs. For example, if the weight of turkey breast 12 lbs, it takes 6 hours in defrosting. For defrosting the turkey breast in water, take the turkey breasts out of the freezer.

Then, take a new plastic bag to place the turkey breasts in it and put this plastic bag in cold water for every 30 minutes. Keep changing the water until it is not completely defrosted. Once defrosted, you can grill the breast pieces in the best propane grill for a juicy and tender flavor.