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Cooking Turkey Breast in an Oven Bag

January 11, 2020   65 Comments

Cooking turkey breast in an oven bag saves you so much effort and worry.

Cooking Turkey Breast in an Oven Bag

Why? You simply can’t go wrong using an oven bag. A few years ago, a reader suggested that I try them and I became a convert. I find cooking meat like turkey breast stressful because when it goes wrong - it can be inedible. Go ahead, try to eat dry turkey breast.

But, it is worth cooking your own. I did a sliced turkey breast review and found buying pre-cooked turkey breast to be a crap shoot. Also, it was expensive. A bone-in turkey breast costs about $2 per pound and you can freeze the cooked breast meat for later meals or lunches.

I cooked turkey breast in the slow cooker and that was pretty good because all the moisture remained inside the slow cooker. The problem was getting the timing right so that turkey was perfect.

If you are a WW member, turkey breast is zero points on the blue and purple plan. For 6 ounces of turkey breast with no skin, it costs you 2 smart points on the green plan. Turkey breast is high in protein and low in saturated fat so it is a favorite for nutritionists.

The Reynolds bags come with easy instructions for all sorts of turkey. My turkey breast was 8 pounds and was bone in (at the very bottom of the scale) and took exactly 2 hours to cook at 350 F. I calculated 13.5 minutes per pound based on the above chart.

All you do is put 1 tablespoon of flour in the bag and shake it, salt and pepper the turkey all over (no need for butter), tie up the bag, cut a few slits in it, put it in a 9x13 inch casserole and pop it in the oven.

Go do something else!!

Do not stand there obsessed with whether or not your turkey will be done perfectly because it will be done perfectly and your family will throw a party for you when the turkey breast is moist and delicious.

I checked about 10 minutes before it was done with a digital thermometer. This is the other tool you need to ensure your turkey is perfect. You are aiming for 165 F.

Are you ready for the best part?

Pull it out of the oven, cut open the bag, pull out the turkey breast and there is almost no clean up. Do you have to scrub the roasting pan because of the burnt on pan juices? No!!

You are done in a matter of minutes and you simply toss out the bag. I know the green groovies are going to come after me – but this is far better than buying 1 pound plastic bags full of sliced turkey breast from the deli counter once per week.

The turkey tastes so much better than the sliced meat from the deli counter. You can adjust the flavorings to suit you. Usually, I use salt and pepper because I like the taste of plain turkey.

The only issue with the oven bags is that you cannot get the skin to brown. If you want that perfectly roasted look, take the breast out of the bag, and put it under a high temperature broiler for a few minutes (watch carefully) to brown it.

Or you can simply toss the skin (or give it to your dog) - which is what I do.

Have you tried cooking turkey breast in an oven bag? What did you think?

Other posts you might like:

Sliced Turkey Breast: Which Brand Should You Buy?

Sliced Turkey Breast: Which Brand Should You Buy?

Sliced turkey breast shouldn’t be hard to buy. But, the choices are many. I am frequently amazed when I stand in front of product at the supermarket how many different items there are for purchase....

Turkey Breast: The Slow Cooker Method

A few weeks ago, I roasted turkey breast and found out that I had done it all wrong.....

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65 Comments:

So happy you like oven bags and my suggestion! As for the mess - with bag or without I use the turkey juices to make gravy. If I don't use a bag I whisk the roasting pan with the juices and water to scrape up all the crunchy stuff and then make the gravy.

Do you need to defrost or can you cook a frozen breast in the bag ? This is a great idea can't wait to try it thanks

I like to use crock-pot liners for ease of cleaning, does that affect the outcome or cooking time?

@Sara - You do need to defrost the breast to have it cook evenly and properly. Great question!!

@ghada - crock pot liners do not affect cooking or outcome with a turkey breast. use them!!

I have cooked turkey breats in the oven bags and they came out really moist. I am concerned now if cooking in plastic is a good idea. Are these bags BPA free ..are they safe to cook with. I don't want to add chemicals to the food.

I won't cook anything in plastic. I cook mine in my slow cooker and they turn out great! Plus--the disposable bags aren't very environmentally friendly. I don't mind cleaning a pot/pan after cooking if I know that it keeps me and my family healthy and I'm contributing towards a cleaner, healthy planet!

I make my chicken in the oven bags and I love it.

Be very careful when using oven roasting bags!!!! Make sure the pan is large enough to accommodate not only your turkey, but the bag! Last year, on New Year's Day, I had a grease fire in my oven! The bag filled up with turkey drippings, plopped over the side of the pan, and sprang a leak. The dripping juice caused a fire on the oven floor, and burst into flames. I immediately called 911. In less than 10 minutes, I had 3 fire engines show up at my house. The fire was quickly extinguished, but it took months before I felt safe enough to use my oven again!

Technically the bags are nylon and not plastic so they do NOT contain BPA. Just letting everyone know I wanted to check for myself.

Do you put the breast in the bag with the skin side up or down? Thanks & Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

To Lauren: these are NOT...I repeat NOT plastic bags. You had to assume didn't you.. Perhaps you should read before you make your sermon. The bags are a nylon type and no BPAs. Do you really believe Reynolds is that stupid? Give me a break. If you don't do turkey this way, fine. Just learn before you preach.

Looks great. Can your recommend a good oven safe digital thermometer? Thank you :)

Wow! Just tried for first time ever. In fact, I've not done a breast before....and I'm 70. Always did whole turkey and we had a small dinner today after Thanksgiving with friends. Can't get over how well this worked. I mixed thyme, rosemary and Herbs de Provence into butter and rubbed over bird and under skin. Then used a med, peeled onion and half lemon inside the cavity. This was a most moist bird...first time in 40 years my husband had wanted more white meat.....so yes on this as a method. Bravo!

I have used many different brands. I always thought one was about the same as another...NOT true. After spending who knows how much I finally invested in the one that is the standard for all others: ThermoWorks is the best...bar none in my opinion.. Here is a look from Cooks Illustrated that discusses why it is worth the $$$$. The Mk4 is sold for $99; ThermoWorks plans to keep selling the older model, now called the Classic Splash-Proof Thermapen, for $79. Curious to see if the improvements were worth having, we bought four Mk4s and tested them against the Classic, using them to take the temperatures of...

https://www.cooksillustrated.com/equipment_reviews/1646-ins…

If I am cooking two turkey breasts (1 - 8 lbs) (2nd is 6 pounds) in two large oven bags, would I cook for the same amount of time for both or cook as though it was one big turkey breast? Can't wait to try and get good results. Thanks for the post!

If using a turkey bag do u put water in the bag or pan

7 lb frozen turkey breast in oven bag @ 325°how much time per pound?

WHOA...FIRST OF ALL...DO NOT ROAST THE TURKEY FROZEN...NEVER DO THIS...

TO THAW THE TURKEY:To thaw a frozen turkey, calculate ONE DAY of fridge time for every 4 pounds of turkey. If you need to speed it up...Fill a large bucket with cold water and plunk the still-wrapped bird in and let thaw for 30 minutes per pound, BUT BE SURE THAT YOU change the cold water every 30 minutes to avoid accidentally inviting nasty bacteria to your holiday feast.

Once the bird is well thawed...then you can prepare it for roasting.

Then follow the directions on the Reynolds Oven Bag ==times differ for a turkey with the bone and one that is boneless. AGAIN..DO NOT TRY TO ROAST THE FROZEN TURKEY...I am 70 years old and I can't ever remember someone telling me they tried to roast a frozen turkey.....first of all...you need to get the giblets out of the neck cavity...do not roast the turkey with those inside the bird. Hope this is of help to you.

If. I am cooking to turkey breasts each 5-6 lbs , each in their own bag, do i still follow the time as if cooking one ?

?? I would contact the Mfg directly. Have no clue because I've never done this. Most co's are great answering this type of question. I just started using the bags in 2016 and I was impressed.

I have been using these Reynolds Oven bags for many years, for my Thanksgiving Turkey and Christmas Hams.

*Just a little note, I never add flour to my bags. I do however always add about ¾-1inch of water.

And rub the top of Turkey with butter, which will not only keep the skin from burning but give it a nice golden brown finish.

I’m cooking two 7lb turkey breasts in separate bags. How much time should I add to the cooking time?

I am interested in cooking two turkey breasts in a roaster oven does anyone know how long I cook it? And can I do it in a bag in the roaster?

I’m also doing two breasts of about 6 lbs each...same bag or different bags? I’m thinking time is based on one 6 lb as opposed to doubling it as if 12 lbs.?? I’m hoping to have juices to make gravy with. Is that realistic?

@Laura - I would keep the cooking time the same. I think your oven can handle 12 pounds of turkey without a big decrease in temperature.

@Wendy - I don't know what you mean by roaster oven but you can use the bag in any oven. The amount of time you cook depends on the weight. Check out my photo in the post of times for different weights.

@Suzanne - I would use one bag and you might have enough but I would have chicken stock on hand just in case there isn't.

Thanks for al the great questions!!

Just put our Thanksgiving 7 lb turkey breast in the oven with the baking bag and before doing so shook the needed flour in the bag, rinsed the turkey, salt and peppered it after rubbing with oil. We also added into the bag some cut up onion and celery hoping the bag will catch some of the juices for me to add into the home made gravy before we serve our Thangsgiving feast. 7 lb turkey breast on 350 degrees till it gets to 165 degrees I am guessing will take about 2 hours. Thermometer ready to check later this morning.

I always do two breasts, but I always put each one in their own bag. I put both bags in a roasting pan. I use the time for one breast (like 2 hours). When they’re done, I snip the corners of the bag to get the juices for gravy. I don’t think I’ve ever needed to add chicken broth! Not saying this is the way, just sharing what I’ve done in the past! I appreciate reading everyone’s suggestions!

If I stuff the turkey breast and am baking 2 8lb breast...how much additional time should I add? I'm going to bake them in separate bags and pans. Thanks in advance!

Can I start my boneless turkey breast in the oven bag at a low temp and then raise the temp.

To Marcomom and Lauren, Nylon is a polymer—a plastic with super-long, heavy molecules built up of short, endlessly repeating sections of atoms, just like a heavy metal chain is made of ever-repeating links. Nylon is not actually one, single substance but the name given to a whole family of very similar materials called polyamide. Please be polite.

Put your turkey or turkey breast in a big enough pan. That is why they make roasting pans which are very deep. This avoids dangerous spills. Invest in one with a rack. Safely THAW your food before you cook it.

Does the turkey breast in oven bag get a little golden color so it looks appetizing? Is this a better method than slow cooker? I love the idea of less cleanup because there will be plenty of other pots and pans!

If you are doing a whole turkey you should be testing for doneness at the thickest part of the turkey, your photo shows in the breast.

Wow. I didn't know that my comment would generate so much ire from another reader. MARCOMOM--It doesn't matter if the bag is plastic or nylon as all of them are reported to leach chemicals when heated at high temps, especially into the skin and juices. Breastcancer.org recommends against using roasting bags due to the leaching issue. I was just trying to inform, not criticize. Reading comments from others helps me learn about different issues so I was just trying to educate. And Susanne Couture--I thought I was being polite---not sure you meant that comment for me or MARCOMOM.

Don't take it so hard Lauren. I do the same thing and get flamed all the time. I got used to it. I try to educate too but I think lots of people don't want to know. I can't say I blame some of them because we so often hear of things that are bad for us. I appreciate your knowledge on this topic. Good work.

can you roast a stuffed bone in turkey breast in an oven bag.

all recipes I see don;t specify stuffed for breast only for whole turkeys

@Joanne - There is no reason why you can't do it. If you can roast a whole stuffed turkey in an oven bag - you can roast a stuffed turkey breast. I would add 1/2 hour to ensure that it call gets cooked. Thanks for your question!!

Wow - my husband LICKED the bowl (served with roasted bsprouts and potatoes. Yes, mine browned and must have been tasty. I'm a veg, so I don't eat it, but it was easy and he loved it. Win-win.

One more thing that I don't think was addressed is that you can cut the bag open near the end of the cooking time for the turkey to brown.

I have two turkey breast one 7-pound and 1-9 pounds. Can I roast them both at the same time? If so how long would it take at 3:50 in my oven? Or Should I bake them separately? Thank you kindly

will the skin brown in the bag?

@ANNETTE and stephanie - the skin does brown but not like the bird when it is outside the bag. It doesn't get that "CRUNCH" that you get from roasting the bird soley in the oven. Check out my video of the whole bird so you can see exactly what the breast skin will look like.

Great question!! Thank you!

I had googled how to cook two bone in turkey breast, and the advice was to follow directions for cooking time for the larger turkey and add 15 minutes. I am cooking one 8.5 lb and one 7 lb, I'll post results later, Happy Thanksgiving all!

I have always used Reynolds bag, however lately the time is not good. I follow the directions to a T and the bottom always looks raw. It happened today AND their was blood by the thigh. I was really frustrated.

I have been cooking my bird in the Reynolds bag for at least 40 years. I am 70 now. Always always my turkey is moist, soft, the taste is amazing. My secret: Whole "heads" of garlic, depending on lbs. ,apple, onions, lemon quarters, rosemary, salt and pepper. Enjoy. Ps: use the electric knife for carving. Make gravy from drippings in bag. Delicious. Enjoy!

I have a small convection oven. Will the bags work with it? Also, I'm not sure there will be room in the oven for the heat to circulate around the roasting pan, just on top of breast & bottom of pan. Do you know if that will be a problem. I cannot turn the convection off, like some ovens that can do regular bake too

Don’t be intimidated by a big bird! Cook it the most natural way....no bags.

It will turn out beautiful and moist....all you need is a little arithmetic ...get out that pad of paper and pen for “entry and exit “ time.

When we have soooo many people getting cancer every day in the land....why set yourself up when you don’t have too?

Isn’t it a delight to peek in the oven and see a nice turkey? Not a plastic, nylon, man made composite bag.

Happy Thanksgiving!

My DIL bought me a Jennie-O boneless turkey breast, and the instructions are {DO NOT THAW}. There is an inner bag and you take off the outer bag. Make 3 slits on the inner bag, put in a high walled pan, cook 325* for 3 hours.It's 2.75 lbs, has the herbs on it already, and also a gravy pack to make gravy.She bought it at our Kroger store. I live alone will be alone since my family will be out of town. I've neve made this but this is all she buys, and I know it's very good.

My turkey is almost done in the Reynolds bag but it is not brown. Is there anyway to get it a nice brown.

@Kathy - the best way to get it brown is to take it out of the bag and put it under a high temperature broiler for a few minutes. Thanks for your question!

Do a melted butter herb rub before putting in the bag. The skin will be brown and crisp. Delicious!!!

This is the only way I cook roasts or turkey. I've done it this way for about 14 years and I've never had a bad result. Everything I've ever cooked in the bag has come out juicy and tender.

I always make my turkey (breast or whole) in a bag. After flouring the bag, I put in some cut up pieces of carrots, celery and onion, then I put in the bird. When it's done, I take the cooked veggies and put them in the food processor with the juices from the turkey, process it all and call it gravy. It makes a thick gravy, depending on how many veggies you use. Yum!

I want to make a turkey in the bag and I can’t use regular flour in the bag. I have celiac disease. Can I use gluten free all purpose flour.

i have been using cooking bags for many years. easiest way of cooking ever. season the turkey breast, add flour to bag and shake a bit, pop it in oven and delicious turkey.

I have used bags for many years an never had a turkey that was not perfectly done. Always moist and juicy an a whole turkey will brown. Great drippings for gravy too,just skim off grease.

Good article. I have been making my turkey's in a Reynold's bag for years. Mine always turn out nice and golden brown. I put a tbs of butter, 2 tbsp of olive oil, and some orange juice, with spices in a bowl and mix it together. Then I coat the turkey with this mixture. I slice oranges and onions and layer these inside and around the turkey. The oranges help keep the turkey moist (it gives it a VERY mild citrus flavor) and the onions give it a nice flavor too. Mine always turns out golden.... Something to try next time.

Not recommended to give turkey or skin to dogs~

Do you cook the turkey breast to 165 degrees in the oven, or take it out of the oven before then to let it rest to reach the 165 degrees?

the turkey breast I bought had a pop up already in it, but I roasted a thawed turkey breast at 325 X the poundage to get 2 hr and 10 minutes, the popup actually came up right on the money!

To brown the breast, smear a little olive oil on it before closing bag. My son also sprinkles some paprika over it for even a deeper color.

Do not feed dogs turkey skin. It can lead to pancreatitis.

If you're scared to use an Oven bag, take it real deep southern old school and use a paper bag well coated in crisco. If you Luv cooking bags this is Plan B. Same temp and cooking time. If you're from the back woods you know this works.

Warning!! I if your care about your dog, never feed it fatty

Turkey skin. Very dangerous. Possibly even fatal!!

This is the only way I cook a whole turkey or just the breast. Perfect every time

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