When planning your holiday meal or looking to add a lean, versatile protein to your weekly meals, turkey is an excellent option. But should you choose a turkey breast or a turkey roast? While both can make for a delicious entree, there are some notable differences between the two that are important to understand before purchasing and cooking your turkey.
In this comprehensive guide, we will break down the differences between turkey breast and turkey roast to help you determine which is better for your needs.
Overview of Turkey Breast and Turkey Roast
Turkey breast – This refers to just the breast portion of a whole turkey. Turkey breasts are white meat and contain no dark leg or thigh meat.
Turkey roast – This is an entire bone-in half of a turkey (either the whole breast or the whole leg portion). Turkey roasts contain a mix of white and dark meat.
Now let’s explore the key differences in more detail
Size and Servings
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Turkey breasts are smaller, usually ranging from 2 to 6 pounds. A 3 lb turkey breast serves 4-6 people.
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Turkey roasts are much larger, from 8 to 15 pounds typically. A 10 lb roast feeds 10-15 people.
So turkey breast is better for smaller gatherings, while roast is ideal for large parties.
Bone-In vs Boneless
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Turkey breasts can be purchased bone-in or boneless. Boneless is more convenient but bone-in is more flavorful.
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Turkey roasts have the thigh and leg bones intact. Removing the bones requires more work.
White vs Dark Meat
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Turkey breasts are 100% white meat, which is leaner and more mild in flavor.
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Turkey roasts contain dark thigh/leg meat, which is fattier, more moist, and richer tasting.
Cooking Time
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A 3 lb turkey breast takes only 1-2 hours to roast.
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A 10 lb turkey roast needs 3-4 hours in the oven.
So turkey breast cooks much more quickly than roast.
Flavor Differences
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Turkey breast has a delicate, mildly sweet flavor.
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Turkey roast offers a deeper, more savory turkey flavor.
The dark meat in a roast gives it a more robust turkey taste.
Cost per Pound
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Turkey breasts cost $3-5 per pound, since it’s an in-demand cut.
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Turkey roasts run $1-2 per pound since it contains less popular dark meat too.
Turkey roast is the more budget-friendly option pound for pound.
Nutrition Profile
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Turkey breast is leaner with fewer calories and less fat. It has around 140 calories and 1g fat per 4oz serving.
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Turkey roast contains more calories and fat due to the thigh and leg meat. It provides around 170 calories and 5g fat per 4oz portion.
So breast is the healthier choice while roast offers more rich flavor.
Versatility
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Turkey breasts work great roasted, grilled, smoked, sautéed, baked, and in casseroles. Very versatile!
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Turkey roasts are best suited for roasting or braising only. Less versatility in cooking methods.
Skin Crispiness
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Turkey breasts tend to get crisper, more evenly browned skin since they lay flat.
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Turkey roasts have messier, harder to crisp skin due to the uneven shape.
So breasts yield picture-perfect crispy skin.
Ease of Carving
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Carving a turkey breast is simple since it’s one solid muscle.
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Turkey roasts require navigating around multiple bones and joints to carve, which is trickier.
Breasts are definitely easier to carve and serve.
Which is Better?
The right choice depends on your specific needs:
- For easy weeknight meals – turkey breast
- To feed a crowd – turkey roast
- For white meat only – turkey breast
- For lots of dark meat – turkey roast
- For lower cost – turkey roast
- For healthy options – turkey breast
Both can make for an amazing entree when cooked properly. Now that you know the differences between turkey breast and turkey roast, you can decide which is best for your upcoming meal!
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How to Defrost a Turkey
Cooking a turkey is pretty straightforward, but you do need to plan ahead. Since roasting can take a long time, the turkey needs to lose its chill from being in the fridge for several days before it is cooked.
If you are buying a frozen turkey, youll need to put it in the refrigerator to defrost. The turkey will need about 5 hours of defrosting time for every pound of turkey.
If you put a 15-pound turkey in the fridge, it should take about 75 hours, or 3 days, to melt away. A 20 pound turkey will take about 100 hours, or 4 days, to defrost.
If you want to cook your turkey the next day but it’s still partly frozen, clean out the sink basin, fill it with cool water, and put the turkey in it. Change the water every half hour until the turkey is defrosted.
How Long to Cook Your Turkey
This is a quick way to guess how long it will take to cook the turkey. Keep in mind that the actual cooking time will depend on your oven and how cold the turkey is to begin with. So check on the turkey WELL BEFORE you think it’s done (at least an hour before).
| Approximate Roasting Times of Turkeys By Weight | |
|---|---|
| Weight, in pounds | Approximate roasting time |
| 10-pound turkey | 2 hours 10 minutes |
| 12-pound turkey | 2 hours 36 minutes |
| 14-pound turkey | 3 hours 2 minutes |
| 16-pound turkey | 3 hours 28 minutes |
| 18-pound turkey | 3 hours 54 minutes |
| 20-pound turkey | 4 hours 20 minutes |
*For other size turkeys, multiply the weight of your turkey by 13 minutes per pound.
The times given are for starting with an oven that is preheated to 400°F for about 20 minutes and then turning down the heat to 325°F for the rest of the cooking time.
This is just a guess! It will take longer to cook your turkey if it is not close to room temperature when you put it in the oven. If it is at room temp, it may take less time to cook. So, check the temperature of your bird earlier than the full cooking time.
Simple Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
FAQ
Is it better to roast a turkey breast or a whole turkey?
What is a turkey roast?
Is butterball turkey breast real turkey?
Is a turkey breast roast processed?
What is the difference between Turkey Breast and Turkey Breast Roast?
Turkey breast roast has a similar flavor to turkey breast, but it is a bit more tender and juicy. It is also a good source of protein and other nutrients. The main difference between turkey breast and turkey breast roast is the way they are prepared. Turkey breast is usually roasted, while turkey breast roast is usually baked.
Can one have turkey and carrots?
Eating turkey and carrots is part of healthy habits. The turkey has meat like chicken and is another healthy poultry option. Carrots are rich in carotenoids, it is a source of vitamin A, fiber, potassium and vitamin B3.
What is Turkey Breast Roast?
Turkey breast roast is a smaller cut of meat that comes from the same part of the turkey as the breast. It is usually sold as a whole roast, or it can be cut into smaller pieces. Turkey breast roast has a similar flavor to turkey breast, but it is a bit more tender and juicy. It is also a good source of protein and other nutrients.
Should I roast a whole turkey breast?
Use skin-on, bone-in turkey breast if roasting whole, since it stays juicier when roasted, and its crisp skin boosts flavor and texture. Turkey breast is done when a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat registers 165 F. Allow the meat to rest for 10 minutes before carving into slices against the grain and serving.
What is turkey breast?
Turkey breast is a large, boneless cut of meat that comes from the chest of the turkey. It is usually sold as a whole breast, or it can be cut into smaller pieces. Turkey breast is a very popular cut of meat because it is lean and has a mild flavor. It is also a good source of protein and other nutrients.
Is Turkey Breast Roast healthy?
The turkey has meat like chicken and is another healthy poultry option. Carrots are rich in carotenoids, it is a source of vitamin A, fiber, potassium and vitamin B3. What is Turkey Breast Roast?