How Much Does a Turkey Breast Weigh? Everything You Need to Know

Chop up and add to a bed of greens with hard boiled egg, cheese, croutons, tomatoes and black olives, topped with any dressing for a yummy cobb salad.

For best results, thaw turkey in refrigerator before cooking. To thaw: remove product from box. Leave product in packaging and place on a tray. Place in refrigerator and thaw for 48-72 hours or until thawed. Cook turkey immediately after it is thawed. Do not refreeze. Conventional Oven For food safety and quality purposes, this product must be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165°F prior to eating. Pre-heat conventional oven to 350°F. Remove plastic packaging, leaving turkey in foil. Place product in roasting pan. Add about 1-inch water to pan. Place roasting pan carefully on center rack of oven. Bake according to the following times and temperatures. Frozen: Time 36-40 Min/LB Temp: 350°F Thawed: Time 27-28 Min/LB Temp: 350°F Do not puncture foil until you are ready to check the internal temperature approximately 3/4 of the way into cooking cycle. The steam trapped within the foil wrapping prevents the skin from sticking to the foil. Use a stem thermometer to check the internal temperature. The center of the product should be approximately 110-120°F. Remove product from oven and peel back foil to allow turkey to brown. At this time, you may choose to place vegetables, stuffing, herbs or spices in the foil around the meat. Return to oven and continue cooking until internal temperature reaches 160°F or above. Remove from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes. Internal temperature should reach 165°F or above while standing. Carve into slices. Serve. Cooking times are approximate. Due to variances in ovens and initial temperature of product, coking times may need adjustment. For optimal results, carve with the grain.

For best results, thaw turkey in refrigerator before cooking. To thaw: remove product from box. Leave product in packaging and place on a tray. Place in refrigerator and thaw for 48-72 hours or until thawed. Cook turkey immediately after it is thawed. Do not refreeze. Convection Oven For food sa

The holidays are approaching, and for many that means it’s time to start planning the star of your holiday meal – the turkey! Choosing the right size turkey breast is key to ensuring you have both enough food for your guests while also avoiding too many leftovers. But how much does a turkey breast actually weigh? Let’s dig into the details.

Average Turkey Breast Weights

On average, a whole bone-in turkey breast half weighs between 4 to 8 pounds However, weights can vary quite a bit

  • Smaller turkey breasts from young birds may weigh just 2 to 3 pounds These are uncommon in grocery stores but sometimes found at local farms or markets,

  • Large tom turkey breast halves can reach 10 to 12 pounds. Toms tend to have much heavier breasts compared to hens.

  • Heritage breed and wild turkeys generally have lighter breasts than commercial broad-breasted turkeys, usually between 3 to 5 pounds.

  • Boneless turkey breasts range from 2 to 6 pounds. Removing the bones and skin reduces overall weight.

So while 5 to 6 pounds is typical, turkey breast sizes truly run the gamut from petite to massive. Always check the packaging for the exact weight.

What Impacts Turkey Breast Size?

Several key factors influence the final weight of a turkey breast:

  • Breed – Heritage turkey breeds like Narragansett and Bourbon Red tend to have smaller breasts than broad-breasted commercial turkeys selectively bred for large breast meat.

  • Sex – Tom turkeys develop much larger breast muscles compared to hens. Tom breast halves are dramatically heavier.

  • Age – Young “fryer-roaster” turkeys under 16 weeks old have smaller, lighter breasts than fully mature birds.

  • Diet – Pasture-raised and organic turkeys that get more exercise and diverse feed are usually lighter than conventionally farmed turkeys.

  • Preparation – Boneless turkey breasts are lighter than bone-in. Removing skin and trimming excess fat also reduces overall weight.

  • Enhancements – Some raw turkey breasts are enhanced with a salt solution to add moisture. This increases the final weight. Check labels for enhanced or brined products.

  • Time of Year – Turkeys are largest in the fall and early winter months right before the holidays.

How Much Per Person?

When calculating how much turkey breast you need, here are some general serving size guidelines per person:

  • Boneless breast: Plan on 1/2 pound per person.

  • Bone-in breast: Allow 3/4 to 1 pound per person to account for the bone weight.

  • Smaller appetites: Reduce to 1/3 pound boneless or 1/2 pound bone-in.

  • Hearty appetites: Increase to 3/4 pound boneless or 1 1/4 pounds bone-in.

  • Leftovers: Add an extra 1/2 to 1 pound boneless or 1 to 1 1/2 pounds bone-in.

These turkey breast serving sizes provide a starting point, but consider your guests’ preferences too. You can always carve and serve additional breast meat if needed.

Bone-In vs. Boneless Turkey Breasts

Bone-in turkey breasts contain the wishbone, rib bones, and partial backbone still intact. They require carving but the bones do add flavor.

Boneless turkey breasts have all bones fully removed for easier cooking and serving. However, they can dry out quicker with no bones to lend moisture.

Both bone-in and boneless work well for roasting, smoking, grilling or braising. For easiest handling, boneless turkey breasts are ideal. But for maximum flavor, bone-in is the way to go.

Proper Thawing and Cook Times

Always thaw frozen turkey breasts fully before cooking. Here are the USDA recommended thaw times:

  • 4 to 12 pound turkey breast: Thaw 24 hours per 5 pounds in the refrigerator.

  • 4 to 12 pound turkey breast: Thaw 6 hours per 5 pounds in cold water, changing water every 30 minutes.

Once thawed, follow these general roast times:

  • Bone-in turkey breasts: Roast at 325°F allowing 18-22 minutes per pound, until 165°F internal temperature.

  • Boneless turkey breasts: Roast at 325°F allowing 12-15 minutes per pound, until 165°F internal temperature.

For smoking turkey breasts low and slow at 225-250°F, allow 30-40 minutes per pound whether bone-in or boneless. Cook to 165°F internal temperature.

Selecting and Storing Tips

When shopping for turkey breasts:

  • Look for plump, uniformly shaped breasts. Avoid irregular or misshapen pieces.

  • Opt for enhanced or brined turkey breasts for extra moisture and flavor.

  • Check for the USDA or FDA inspection seal indicating quality.

  • Verify the sell-by or use-by date and select the freshest product.

Store fresh raw turkey breasts in the refrigerator just 1 to 2 days. For longer storage, freeze turkey breasts up to 1 year. Always thaw frozen breasts slowly in the refrigerator, never at room temperature.

Turkey Breast Sizes Can Vary

While 5 to 6 pounds is the typical supermarket turkey breast size, weights range from dainty 2 pounders to monster 12 pound tom turkey breasts. Plan for 3/4 to 1 pound bone-in per person, or 1/2 pound boneless. Adjust up or down depending on your guests’ appetites. With proper thawing and cooking, even small or large turkey breasts cook up juicy and delicious.

So there you have it! Whether you prefer a petite 3 pound boneless breast or a massive 10 pound tom breast with bone, understanding turkey breast sizes helps ensure your holiday meal is picture perfect. With the right size, thawing and preparation, you’ll have a Norman Rockwell-worthy browned, juicy turkey breast sure to be the crowning jewel of your holiday table.

how much does a turkey breast weigh

More about this item

Sara Lee® Uncooked Foil Wrapped Skin-On Turkey Breast is high quality with great texture, ready-to-cook, easy to carve, with white and dark meat in every slice. Gluten Free with no fillers, nitrates or MSG, it makes a great entrée on any menu.

  • Skin-on for golden appearance with great eye appeal for buffet and carving stations.
  • High quality, three-piece, whole muscle breast for great texture.
  • Foil wrapped to seal in moisture and ensure even cooking temperature.
  • Ready-to-cook for fast, easy preparation.
  • Gluten Free and No MSG.

Contains Up To 15% Of A Solution Of Turkey Broth, Salt, Sugar, Sodium Phosphate, Flavor.

Simple Oven Roasted Turkey Breast

FAQ

How many people will a 5 pound turkey breast?

4 people = 2 pound turkey breast. 8 people = 4 pound turkey breast. 10 people = 5 pound turkey breast. 16 people = 8 pound turkey breast.

How much does the breast weigh on a 14-pound turkey?

This scientific paper on turkey deboning says a 6.5 to 7.25 kg (14.3 to 16 lbs) bird not including neck or giblets will yield just over 2 kg (4.4 lbs) of breast meat with bone and skin. A whole turkey including neck and giblets will need to be in the 17 to 19 lbs range to yield a 4-5 lbs breast.

How much does a butterball turkey breast weigh?

Butterball Turkey Breast Bone In Frozen – Weight Between 4-6 Lbs.

How much breast meat is on a 12 lb turkey?

Typically, you’ll get 2 to 3 times as much white meat as dark meat from a whole turkey. For example, from a 12-pound turkey, you’ll end up with about 5 pounds of cooked meat—roughly 3 1/2 pounds of white meat and 1 1/2 pounds of dark meat.

How much does a turkey breast weigh?

This award-winning turkey breast that has been roasted to perfection, serve this with a homemade cranberry sauce and use leftovers in a wrap or salad. Average weight of this product varies between 2.2KG – 3.2KG.Please note the price shown is calculated based on the maximum weight. This is a variable weight product and is priced by $/kg.

How much turkey breast do I Need?

A good rule of thumb is to plan approximately 3/4 pound of turkey breast for each person. A 6-7 pound turkey breast will feed approximately eight people. A larger one more, a smaller one less. That said, for some people this may feel like too much, for others too little.

How much turkey breast do you need for a Thanksgiving dinner?

The first thing you need to decide is how big of a turkey breast you need. A good rule of thumb is to plan on 1 pound of turkey per person. So, if you’re hosting a Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people, you’ll need a 10-pound turkey breast. Of course, you may not need a whole turkey breast.

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