Do You Cook a Turkey Breast at 325 or 350 Degrees?

When it comes to cooking the perfect turkey breast, one of the most common questions is whether to roast it at 325 or 350 degrees Fahrenheit. The short answer is that both temperatures will work, but there are some differences to consider when deciding between 325 vs 350 degrees for your turkey breast

Key Factors When Choosing Oven Temperature

Several key factors come into play when determining the best oven temperature for cooking turkey breast

• Size of the breast – Smaller breasts cook faster larger breasts need more time at a lower temp.

• Bone-in or boneless – Bone-in breasts take longer to cook through. Boneless cooks faster.

• Brined or unbrined – Brined breasts tend to cook more evenly throughout.

• Crispiness of skin – Higher heat crisps up the skin better.

• Preventing dry meat – Lower temperature keeps meat moist.

Taking these factors into account will help decide whether 325 or 350 is best.

Benefits of Cooking at 325°F

Slow, even cooking – The lower 325°F oven temperature allows the turkey breast to cook low and slow. This gives time for the heat to penetrate deep into the meat, ensuring even cooking throughout.

Prevents overcooking – It’s easy to dry out turkey breast by cooking it too hot and fast. 325°F prevents the outside from drying out before the inside cooks through.

Better for large breasts – Larger 8-12 lb turkey breasts need time for inner meat to roast without outer meat overcooking.

Keeps meat juicy – Slow roasting leads to incredibly tender, juicy turkey breast.

Easier to control – More time in the oven provides a larger window to check for doneness and remove from oven at perfect temp.

Benefits of Cooking at 350°F

Faster cooking time – At 350°F, turkey breasts will finish cooking 25% faster compared to 325°F. This can be good for smaller breasts.

Crispier skin – The higher heat helps render fat and crisp up the skin better than lower temps.

Less time in danger zone – Getting in and out of the oven quicker reduces time meat sits at unsafe bacterial temperatures.

Good for boneless – Boneless breasts cook faster than bone-in, so higher heat prevents dryness.

Higher heat penetrates better – Especially good for brined breasts. The hotter oven temp helps infuse flavors deep into meat.

General Cooking Time Guidelines

Use these cooking times as a starting point when roasting turkey breast:

• 325°F – Estimate 15-20 minutes per pound

• 350°F – Estimate 12-15 minutes per pound

For example, a 5 lb breast will take 75-100 min at 325°F and 60-75 min at 350°F.

Always rely on a meat thermometer over time to determine doneness rather than just going by minutes. Turkey breasts are safely cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F.

Tips for the Juiciest Turkey Breast

Here are some tips to help ensure a flavorful, juicy turkey breast no matter which temp you choose:

• Brine the breast 1-2 days before roasting
• Roast breast side down for half the cook time, then flip
• Baste with pan juices every 30 minutes
• Allow breast to rest 15+ minutes before slicing

With the right technique, both 325 and 350°F can produce amazing turkey breast. Decide based on the size of your breast and your timeline. Follow the temperature guidelines, check with a meat thermometer, tent with foil, and let it rest. Your turkey breast will turn out mouthwateringly moist and delicious every time.