Ella Walter
Cooking turkey breast fillets in an air fryer is a great way to make a delicious, juicy, and tender main dish in a fraction of the time it would take to cook a whole turkey in the oven. This method is perfect for small holiday gatherings or weeknight dinners, yielding a more manageable amount of meat that is ready in under an hour. The air fryer also produces a crispy skin and juicy, flavourful inside that is sure to impress.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Taste | Juicy, tender, flavourful |
| Time | Much less time than an oven-roasted turkey |
| Quantity | More manageable than a whole turkey |
| Occasion | Perfect for small gatherings and weeknight dinners |
| Type of turkey breast | Boneless or bone-in |
| Weight | 3-5 pounds |
| Temperature | 350-360 degrees F |
| Resting time | 10-15 minutes |
| Skin | Crispy |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing the right turkey breast
Type of Turkey Breast
Decide whether you want to cook a boneless or bone-in turkey breast. Boneless turkey breasts are more convenient if you're looking for a quicker and easier option. They are perfect for smaller gatherings or weeknight dinners as they are easier to fit into the air fryer and cook more evenly. On the other hand, bone-in turkey breasts can be more flavourful and juicy, but they may require a longer cooking time and might be more challenging to fit into your air fryer, depending on its size.
Size of the Turkey Breast
Select a turkey breast that fits comfortably inside your air fryer. A standard 4-5 pound bone-in turkey breast should fit well in a 5-quart or larger air fryer. However, ensure that the height of the meat is below the top of the basket before starting. If you're using a boneless turkey breast, it will likely be smaller and easier to fit, but still ensure it's an appropriate size for even cooking.
Fresh or Frozen
You can choose between fresh or frozen turkey breasts. Fresh turkey breasts are readily available at most grocery stores and can be cooked immediately. Frozen turkey breasts, such as Butterball turkey breasts, are also an option and can be purchased year-round. Just ensure you properly thaw and prepare the frozen breast before cooking.
Brining
Consider whether you want to brine your turkey breast. Brining can help keep the meat moist and juicy, especially if you're cooking a bone-in turkey breast. You can opt for a dry brine or a wet brine, depending on your preference. However, keep in mind that brining adds an extra step to your preparation process.
Seasoning and Flavour
Decide on the seasoning and flavour profile you want for your turkey breast. You can go for a simple herb seasoning with rosemary, sage, thyme, and garlic, or get creative with spices like onion powder, paprika, and pepper. You can also inject the breast with a liquid of your choice to add moisture and flavour. Don't forget to rub the outside of the turkey breast with olive oil or butter to add flavour and crispness to the skin.
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Preparing the turkey breast
Pat the Turkey Dry:
Use clean paper towels to pat the turkey breast dry. This step is crucial, as it helps the spices and seasonings adhere to the meat and promotes a crispier skin. Make sure to pat the turkey very dry before moving on to the next step.
Create a Spice Rub or Herb Butter:
In a small bowl, mix your choice of dry spices and herbs. A typical spice rub may include salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, thyme, and paprika. Alternatively, you can make an herb butter by blending fresh herbs like rosemary, chives, garlic, salt, and pepper with softened butter.
Apply Oil and Seasonings:
Rub or brush the turkey breast generously with oil. This step ensures that the meat doesn't dry out during cooking. Use enough oil to completely coat the breast. Then, apply the spice rub or herb butter to the turkey breast, making sure to cover all sides, top, and bottom.
Preheat the Air Fryer:
Set your air fryer to preheat at 350°F (175°C). It is recommended to preheat for at least 5 minutes. The preheating temperature may vary slightly depending on your air fryer model, so refer to the manufacturer's instructions if necessary.
Place the Turkey in the Air Fryer Basket:
Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray or olive oil spray to prevent sticking. Place the seasoned turkey breast into the basket, ensuring that the skin side is facing down. This initial positioning helps achieve a crispy skin.
Cook the Turkey Breast:
Close the air fryer basket and begin the cooking process. The cooking time will vary depending on the size of your turkey breast and the power of your air fryer. For a typical 4-5 pound turkey breast, cook skin-side down for about 20 minutes, then flip it over and cook for an additional 30-40 minutes. However, always use an instant-read thermometer to determine doneness accurately. The internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C) when measured near the bone or in the thickest part of the breast.
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Cooking the turkey breast
Firstly, remove the turkey from the refrigerator and leave it to stand at room temperature for 20-30 minutes. This will help to remove the chill.
Pat the turkey breast dry with clean paper towels. This will help the spices stick and the skin to crisp. In a small bowl, mix together your chosen seasonings. For example, you could use salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, thyme, and paprika. Alternatively, you could make an herb butter with fresh rosemary, chives, garlic, salt, pepper, and butter.
Next, rub or brush the turkey breast with oil and then apply your chosen seasoning all over the turkey.
Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray or olive oil spray. Place the turkey breast into the basket, skin-side down. If your turkey has bones, it is easier to fit the breast in the basket with the ribs removed.
Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C) for at least 5 minutes. Once preheated, place the basket in the air fryer and cook for 20 minutes. Then, carefully flip the turkey over and cook for a further 18-50 minutes, depending on the size of your turkey breast. The turkey is done when an instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone reads an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
Once cooked, remove the turkey from the basket and let it rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving. Tent the turkey with aluminium foil to keep it warm and to allow the juices to redistribute.
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Resting the cooked turkey breast
Once the turkey breast is cooked, remove it from the air fryer basket and place it on a carving board or platter. Cover the meat loosely with foil to retain heat and let the turkey breast rest for at least 10 minutes. If you are cooking a larger breast, you may need to rest it for 15 minutes or slightly longer.
While the turkey is resting, the internal temperature will continue to rise and the meat will become more tender. The FDA recommends cooking turkey to a safe internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. However, it is best to remove the turkey from the air fryer at 155 degrees Fahrenheit, as the temperature will continue to rise during the resting period.
After resting, use a large, sharp knife to carve the turkey breast. If your turkey breast is boneless, you can simply slice it into your desired thickness. If your turkey breast is bone-in, use a sharp knife to run along the side of the breast bone, following it down to the bottom of the board. Bring the knife back around to the front and connect where you started carving. Cut down the ribs and follow the bone to the bottom to connect to the bottom of the first breast bone cut. Pull the meat away from the bone and slice. Repeat on the other side.
Finally, serve the turkey breast warm with your choice of sides. Enjoy!
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Carving and serving the turkey breast
Place the cooked turkey breast on the cutting board, breast side up, and allow it to rest for at least 10 to 15 minutes under loosely tented foil to keep it warm. This step is crucial as it allows the juices to redistribute, making the meat juicy and flavourful.
Now, it's time to start carving. Using a sharp chef's knife, run the knife alongside the breast bone, using long and even strokes. If you are using a serrated knife, use a sawing motion. Follow the bone down towards the serving plate, and bring your knife around to the front, connecting where you started carving at the top of the breast bone. Cut down the ribs, following the bone's curvature, and pull the meat away from the bone, slicing as you go. Repeat the same process on the other side.
You can now transfer the sliced turkey breast to a platter and serve it warm with your choice of sides. Don't forget to reserve the drippings to make a delicious gravy if desired!
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Frequently asked questions
Cooking time depends on the size of the fillet and the power of the air fryer. A 3-4 pound breast will take 45-50 minutes, while a 5-pound breast will take about an hour.
Preheat the air fryer to 350-360 degrees Fahrenheit.
Pat the turkey breast dry with a paper towel. Season both sides with salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, thyme, and paprika. Rub or brush the turkey with oil.
The turkey breast fillets are done when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Use an instant-read thermometer to check.
To make the turkey breast fillets crispy, ensure that you pat the meat dry before air frying and apply a complete coating of oil.
