With the holidays coming up, many home cooks look to Costco for an affordable turkey breast to roast up for those big family feasts. Costco offers a fantastic selection of quality uncooked turkey breasts at budget-friendly prices. In this article, I’ll walk through everything you need to know about buying, cooking, and storing uncooked turkey breasts from Costco
Overview of Costco’s Turkey Breast Selection
Costco provides a variety of great options when it comes to uncooked turkey breasts. Here’s a quick look at what they offer:
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Jennie-O Turkey Breast Roast: Costco’s most popular turkey breast, these boneless, skinless roasts average 11 lbs and come pre-seasoned.
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Kirkland Signature Whole Turkey: For a full turkey, go for these whole birds ranging from 10-24 lbs.
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Butterball Turkey Breast: Find Butterball turkey breasts at Costco in various sizes, both boneless and bone-in.
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Organic Turkey Breast Costco carries organic, free-range turkey breasts from reputable brands
Why Choose Costco for Turkey Breasts?
There are some excellent reasons to buy your uncooked turkey breast from Costco
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Unbeatable Prices: Costco offers amazing deals, like Jennie-O breasts for just $1.69/lb on average.
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Consistent Quality: Their turkey consistently rates high for texture, juiciness and flavor.
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Convenience: You can get the turkey plus everything else for the meal in one trip!
Cooking a Delicious Costco Turkey Breast
Cooking up a tasty uncooked turkey breast from Costco is simple. Follow these tips:
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Thaw fully: Thaw breast completely in the fridge 1-2 days before cooking.
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Preheat the oven: Preheat to 325°F. Use a roasting pan.
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Calculate cook time: Figure about 15 minutes per lb. An 11 lb breast takes ~2 3⁄4 hours.
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Check doneness: Cook until 165°F internal temperature. Allow 10-15 minute rest before carving.
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Season simply: A basic rub of oil, salt and pepper is all you need.
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Try other methods: You can also smoke, grill or slow cook for delicious variety.
Handy Turkey Breast Cook Times
Use these estimates for how long your Costco turkey breast will take to cook:
- 5 lbs: 1 1⁄4 hours
- 8 lbs: 2 hours
- 10 lbs: 2 1⁄2 hours
- 11 lbs: 2 3⁄4 hours
- 12 lbs: 3 hours
Check temperature to confirm doneness as times may vary a bit.
Storing Costco Turkey Breasts
Follow these tips for proper storage and food safety:
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Store uncooked breast in fridge up to 2 days in original packaging.
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For longer fridge storage up to 5 days, tightly rewrap breast in plastic or foil.
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Uncooked breast can be frozen for up to 1 year. Wrap well in plastic and freezer bags.
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Cooked breast keeps 3-4 days refrigerated. Store sliced meat in airtight containers.
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Cooked breast can be frozen for 2-3 months. Portion into bags or containers.
Proper storage keeps your Costco turkey breast fresh and ready to enjoy!
FAQs About Cooking Turkey Breasts
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:
Q: What’s the best way to thaw a frozen breast?
A: Thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours per 4-5 lbs.
Q: Can I cook a breast fully frozen?
A: Yes, but it will take 50% longer. Thaw first for best results.
Q: Is 325°F a safe cooking temp for turkey breast?
A: Yes, the safe range is 325-350°F for poultry.
Q: Can I use an instant read thermometer to check doneness?
A: Definitely, instant read thermometers work great.
Q: How long does cooked turkey breast last refrigerated?
A: 3-4 days refrigerated, 2-3 months frozen.
Satisfy Your Crew with Costco’s Delicious Turkey Breasts
With amazing prices, convenience, quality and helpful cooking tips, you can feel confident cooking up a delicious uncooked turkey breast feast from Costco. Just remember to thaw, prep, roast, and store properly for the perfect holiday centerpiece!
