Welcome back to our next post in the Cooking Meat for the Freezer in the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker! If you happened to miss last week’s post you can catch up by clicking on this link: How to Cook Beef for the Freezer in the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker.
This week we’ll be sharing some tips and recipes focusing on turkey. And just in case you didn’t know, turkey is great every month of the year, not just in November.
One of the beautiful things about turkey is that you can easily use it in place of chicken in so many recipes. It allows for a slight change of pace and it’s really easy to cook up lots of it to freeze ahead and add to recipes in a flash.
You will want to consider using a smaller turkey, or cutting it up before cooking because they are so much larger than chicken and typically will not fit in an instant pot whole.
Pressure cooking a frozen turkey may seem daunting, but it’s actually a fast, convenient and delicious way to cook your bird. With an electric pressure cooker like the Instant Pot, you can cook a juicy, flavorful turkey in a fraction of the traditional oven roasting time.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to pressure cook a tasty frozen turkey with ease.
Benefits of Pressure Cooking a Frozen Turkey
Pressure cooking offers several advantages over roasting a frozen turkey in the oven
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Speed – You can have a fully cooked frozen turkey on the table in about an hour or two with a pressure cooker, as opposed to 4-6 hours in the oven. This is perfect for pulling together a last minute Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.
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Moistness – The pressurized steam tenderizes the meat and seals in moisture extremely well Pressure cooked turkey comes out very juicy and flavorful,
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Safety – Shorter cooking time means less handling of raw poultry The sealed pot also prevents splatter and reduces contamination risk,
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Convenience – Just throw the turkey and ingredients into the pot, set it, and walk away. No basting required!
How Long Does it Take to Pressure Cook a Frozen Turkey?
Cooking time can vary based on the size and shape of your turkey, but here are general guidelines:
- Small (8-12 lbs): 50-70 minutes
- Medium (12-16 lbs): 60-90 minutes
- Large (16-20 lbs): 90-120 minutes
- X-Large (20-24 lbs): 120-150 minutes
I always recommend using a meat thermometer to check that the thickest part of the breast and thighs reach 165°F. If it’s undercooked, you can put the lid back on and cook for a bit longer.
Step-by-Step Guide to Pressure Cooking a Juicy Frozen Turkey
Follow these simple steps for tender, delicious pressure cooked turkey every time:
1. Choose the Right Size Turkey for your Pressure Cooker
You need enough room for the turkey to sit comfortably in the pot without touching the sides. Check your pressure cooker’s manual for capacity.
For example, a 6-quart cooker can hold a 6-8 lb turkey and an 8-quart cooker can hold up to an 18-20 lb turkey.
2. Remove Packaging and Giblets
Discard any plastic wraps, ties or netting. Remove and discard the neck and giblets from inside the cavities. Rinse the turkey under cool water and pat dry.
3. Season the Turkey
Rub salt, pepper and any other desired seasonings all over the outside and inside cavities of the turkey. Herbs like thyme, sage and rosemary are perfect for flavor.
4. Brown the Turkey (Optional)
Browning the turkey first adds color and enhances the flavor. To do this, set your pressure cooker to saute mode, add 1-2 tbsp oil and brown the turkey for 2-3 minutes per side.
5. Add Liquid
Pour 1-2 cups broth, wine or water into the pressure cooking pot. This will create steam and prevent burning.
6. Insert Meat Thermometer (Optional)
Put the meat thermometer probe into the thickest part of the breast, taking care that the pointed tip is not touching any bone. This lets you monitor the temp.
7. Pressure Cook
Place prepared turkey breast side up on a trivet or steamer basket in the pot. Lock the lid, make sure the pressure valve is sealed, and cook on high pressure for the recommended time based on weight (see chart above).
8. Allow Natural Pressure Release
When cooking time is complete, let the pressure release naturally for 10-15 minutes before manually venting the rest and opening the lid. This prevents overcooking.
9. Check Internal Temperature
The turkey is safe to eat when the thickest part of the breast and thighs reach 165°F on a meat thermometer. If undercooked, re-pressure cook for 5-10 minutes more.
10. Let Turkey Rest
Let the turkey rest for 10-15 minutes before carving. This allows the juices to redistribute through the meat for maximum juiciness.
11. Make Gravy from the Juices
Strain the liquid from the pressure cooker into a saucepan. Add flour or cornstarch to thicken, and use it as a base for gravy. Season with salt, pepper and herbs.
And that’s it – you now have a deliciously tender and moist pressure cooked frozen turkey ready to impress your guests!
Helpful Tips for Best Results
Follow these tips for optimal pressure cooked turkey:
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Use a raised trivet or steamer basket so the turkey doesn’t sit and burn in its juices.
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Add aromatics like onion, celery, garlic and fresh herbs to the cooking liquid for more flavor.
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Brining the turkey overnight before cooking helps keep it super juicy.
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For browning, dry the skin thoroughly so it crisps up nicely. Oil the skin instead of the pot.
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Flip the turkey over midway during pressure cooking to ensure even doneness.
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Baste with pan juices and broil for the last 5-10 minutes if you want crispy skin.
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Cook any stuffing separately to avoid undercooking. Stuffing expands and takes longer to cook than turkey.
Now that you’re armed with this handy guide, you can relax knowing that cooking up a perfect pressure cooked turkey from frozen is easy and doable, even on a hectic holiday timetable. Enjoy your fast, foolproof frozen turkey!
How to Cook Turkey for the Freezer in the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker
The Instant Pot Pressure Cooker is a great way to cook a turkey breast. Be warned though – a whole turkey won’t fit inside a pressure cooker, unless it’s very small. You’ll want to use a turkey breast or boneless turkey roast instead.
Add at least 2 cups of water or more. You can also add onions, celery, salt, pepper and other seasonings as you like.
Turkey cook times:
- Boneless turkey roast: 15-20 minutes thawed or 30-35 minutes frozen
- Turkey breast with bones: 25-30 minutes thawed or 40-50 minutes frozen
Here’s a quick video for you with tips for cooking a turkey breast in your pressure cooker.
Substitute the chicken in any of these for Turkey cooked in the instant pot.
Easy Turkey and Tortellini Kale Soup – substitute turkey for the chicken in this recipe.
- Zip top freezer bags, freezer tape and a sharpie or two are your best friends here. Since cooked turkey can be frozen for 3 to 4 months, you’ll want to label each bag and include the date it was cooked.
- A good rule of thumb is about 3 cups of cooked turkey per bag. If you have a specific recipe in mind for your turkey, you’ll find some good ones listed in the next section, then include further prep instructions and sides that you may want to add.
- Be sure to cool your cooked turkey before sealing it in the zip top bags to prevent ice build up and freezer burn.
- For more extensive tips on everything you ever wanted to know about storing meats in the freezer, check out this post about Freezer Cooking. And then there’s this post with all sorts of Tips and a Recipe Roundup of Freezer Meals
- If you are new to pressure cooking and the instant pot, check out my honest review of two brands I own, the Instant Pot vs. Cuisinart
Fastest way to cook frozen turkey: how to pressure cook frozen turkey,
FAQ
How long do you cook frozen meat in a pressure cooker?
If you want to cook meats that will tenderize and fall off the bone, like baby back or short ribs, you can start from frozen, says Gill. To do so, cut ribs into smaller pieces (about two to three ribs per rack) and rub with rib seasoning. Then, cook on high pressure for 30 minutes.
How long do you cook a frozen turkey for?
Cooking Times for Frozen Turkey
8- to 12-pound turkey: 4 hours to 4 hours and 30 minutes. 12- to 14-pound turkey: 4 hours and 30 minutes to 5 hours and 45 minutes. 14- to 18-pound turkey: 6 hours to 6 hours and 45 minutes. 18- to 20-pound turkey: 6 hours and 45 minutes to 7 hours and 30 minutes.
How to pressure cook a whole frozen turkey?
Frozen Turkey –Pressure cook for about 15 minutes at 15lbs, no need to vent PC, just put weight on start cooking. Remember that the cool down period is included in the total of 20 minutes, Meat will be falling off the bone. Thawed turkey – Pressure cook for about 10 minutes at 15lbs.
How long to cook a 3 lb frozen turkey breast?
If you bought turkey breast straight from the open freezer in your store and brought it home, 55 minutes for a 3 lb breast should be enough time to cook it thoroughly. Always check with the kitchen thermometer to make sure the turkey is at least 165 degrees F.
How long does it take to cook a Turkey in a pressure cooker?
The cooking time for a turkey in a pressure cooker depends on the size of the turkey. As a general guideline, for a 12-pound turkey, it can take approximately 30 minutes of cooking time per pound. Do I need to thaw the turkey before cooking it in a pressure cooker?
How long do you Pressure Cook a frozen turkey breast?
Pressure cook the turkey. The cooking time will vary, depending on whether the turkey breast is frozen or thawed. You’ll need approximately 65 minutes to pressure cook a frozen breast, and 35 minutes for a thawed breast. Remember to allow an extra 15 to 20 minutes for the pressure cooker to reach full pressure. Allow a resting time.
Can you cook frozen turkey in Instant Pot?
To cook frozen whole turkey in the Instant Pot, you will need the following ingredients: We use a Instant Pot LUX 6 Quart 6-in-1 Programmable Pressure Cooker. It is basically seven appliances in one. You can use it as a pressure cooker, rice cooker, slow cooker, saute, steamer, cake maker, and warmer.
How do you Pressure Cook a turkey breast?
Pressure cook the turkey breast on high pressure until cooked through. Once the meat has finished cooking, it can be served right away or anytime while it is still warm. I use tongs to remove the turkey breast from inside the pressure cooker and place it on a platter.
Does pressure cooking a turkey breast make it tender?
The pressure cooking makes the boneless turkey breast extremely tender and gives the turkey crispy skin. The turkey dinner will be an easy recipe for you to make for years to come. If you have leftover turkey breast you can easily store it in an airtight container or even throw it in the freezer, in freezer bags.
How long do you cook a Turkey in the oven?
If you want a crispier skin, place the turkey in an oven-safe pan and broil in the oven for 1-3 minutes until it reaches the crisp you desire. Cook time will depend on the size of your turkey (see the table in the post for more details).