Are you looking for a quick and easy way to cook a juicy and flavorful turkey breast? Look no further than your Ninja Foodi! This versatile appliance can pressure cook and air crisp your turkey breast, resulting in a perfectly cooked meal that’s sure to impress your family and friends.
Choosing the Right Turkey Breast
First things first, let’s talk about choosing the right turkey breast. According to The Salted Pepper, you’ll want a bone-in, skin-on turkey breast. These typically range in size from a few pounds to 9 or 10 pounds. The size you choose will depend on how many people you are feeding. A good rule of thumb is to figure on 1 pound of turkey breast per person So, if you are serving 8 people, look for an 8-pound turkey breast
Thawing and Brining Your Turkey Breast
Technically, you don’t have to thaw your turkey breast before cooking. However, if your turkey breast has a gravy packet inside, it’s best to thaw it to avoid the plastic melting during the pressure cook time. If you are sure there’s nothing inside your turkey breast, you can cook it from frozen. Just keep in mind that cooking lean meats from frozen can result in a poor end quality.
The Salted Pepper recommends brining your turkey breast for the best flavor and tenderness. You can find their detailed brining instructions in their article on How to cook a turkey in the Ninja Foodi.
Cooking Your Turkey Breast in the Ninja Foodi
Now let’s get to the fun part: cooking your turkey breast! Here’s what you need to do:
1, Pressure cook the turkey breast,
- Use the formula: multiply the weight of your turkey breast by 2 and then subtract 4 to get the cook time in minutes.
- For example, for a 6-pound turkey breast, you would multiply by 2 (12) and subtract 4 (8). So, your pressure cook time would be 8 minutes.
- If you are NOT going to air crisp the skin at the end, then you would only want to subtract 2 minutes instead of 4.
- After pressure cooking, allow a natural release of 15 minutes.
2. Air crisp the skin (optional).
- This step is optional, but it will give your turkey breast a crispy skin.
- Air crisp at 400 degrees for 15 minutes, or until the skin is golden brown and crispy.
- Check the internal temperature of the turkey breast using a digital thermometer. The turkey breast should be 165 degrees Fahrenheit when it has completed cooking.
Making Gravy
The Tasty Travelers provides a delicious recipe for making gravy with the drippings from your turkey breast. Here’s a summary of their instructions:
1. Remove the turkey breast from the Ninja Foodi.
2. Turn the Ninja Foodi on saute.
3. Make a slurry for your gravy by combining ¼ cup flour with ¼ cup water.
4. Slowly pour in the slurry and use a silicone whisk to combine and thicken the gravy.
5. Continue to stir until gravy has reached the desired consistency – about 5 minutes.
6. Using a mesh strainer, strain gravy into a gravy boat.
Serving Your Turkey Breast
Slice your turkey breast and serve with gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and your favorite vegetables.
Additional Tips
- If your turkey breast is larger than 8 pounds, you may need to cut the rib cage off so it fits in your Ninja Foodi.
- Use a digital thermometer to check the internal temperature of the turkey breast to ensure it is cooked through.
- Let your turkey breast rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing to allow the juices to redistribute.
- Leftover turkey breast can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I cook a frozen turkey breast in my Ninja Foodi?
A: Yes, you can cook a frozen turkey breast in your Ninja Foodi. However, the cook time will be longer than if you were cooking a thawed turkey breast. The Salted Pepper does not recommend cooking lean meats from frozen, as it can result in a poor end quality.
Q: How do I know if my turkey breast is done cooking?
A: The best way to know if your turkey breast is done cooking is to use a digital thermometer. The turkey breast should be 165 degrees Fahrenheit when it has completed cooking.
Q: Can I make gravy with the drippings from my turkey breast?
A: Yes, you can make gravy with the drippings from your turkey breast. The Tasty Travelers provides a delicious recipe for making gravy in their Ninja Foodi Turkey Breast with Gravy recipe.
Cooking a turkey breast in your Ninja Foodi is a quick and easy way to get a delicious and flavorful meal on the table. By following the tips and instructions above, you can be sure that your turkey breast will be cooked to perfection. So, what are you waiting for? Get out your Ninja Foodi and start cooking!