How Long to Cook a 9 Pound Turkey Breast for a Perfectly Done Bird

Cooking a turkey breast can seem intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. With some simple guidelines, you can cook a juicy, flavorful 9 pound turkey breast with ease.

Overview on Cooking Times

According to experts, you should calculate around 20 minutes per pound when cooking a bone-in turkey breast in a 350 degree F oven This means a 9 pound turkey breast will need to cook for approximately 3 hours. However, always rely on a meat thermometer over cook times. You want to cook the breast until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F

For boneless turkey breasts, the cook time is shorter since there is no bone to slow down the cooking. Count on around 15 minutes per pound for a boneless breast. A 9 pound boneless breast will cook in 2 to 2 1/4 hours.

These cook times are simply estimates The thickness and shape of each breast can impact total cook time. Let your meat thermometer be the deciding factor on when the turkey is finished.

Why Cook Time Varies

There are a few key factors that affect cook times for turkey breasts

• Bone-in vs boneless – Bones conduct heat slower than meat and insulate the meat near them. Boneless breasts cook faster.

• Size and shape – A short, fat breast will cook faster than a long, slender one of equal weight.

• Frozen vs thawed – Frozen breasts require significantly more cook time. Always thaw the breast first.

• Brined or not – Brined turkey cooks slightly faster than unbrined since brining tenderizes the meat.

• Oven temperature – Higher oven temps will decrease cook time, while lower oven temps increase it.

• Stuffing – Stuffed breasts take longer since the stuffing must reach safe temp as well.

Tricks to Shorten the Cook Time

If you want to reduce the cook time for a 9 pound turkey breast, here are a few options:

• Butterfly the breast – Cutting through the breast almost halfway and opening it like a book exposes more surface area and decreases cook time.

• Increase the oven temp – Cook at 375 or 400 degrees F instead of 350 to shave off some minutes. Watch closely to avoid burning.

• Grill or smoke the breast – Grilling and smoking typically cook faster than traditional roasting.

• Use an oven-safe meat thermometer – It allows you to increase oven temp at end to speed up cooking once breast is almost done.

• Cut into smaller pieces – Cutting a whole breast in half would reduce the cook time of each piece.

• Cook boneless – Removing the bone before cooking eliminates its insulating effect and decreases cook time.

Step-by-Step Guide to Roasting a Turkey Breast

Follow these simple steps for roasting a juicy 9 pound turkey breast:

1. Thaw the Turkey Breast

Always thaw frozen turkey breasts before cooking. Thaw in the refrigerator 1 day per 5 pounds of turkey. A 9 pound breast will need about 2 days to thaw.

Once thawed, remove breast from packaging and pat dry with paper towels. Let sit at room temperature as oven preheats.

2. Prepare the Breast

• If desired, remove skin for lower fat. Leave it on for added moisture and flavor.
• Rinse breast and pat dry again.
• Trim any excess fat or skin from the breast.
• Make 2-3 shallow cuts across thickest part of breast to help seasonings penetrate meat.
• Generously coat breast all over with olive oil or melted butter. This helps browning.

3. Apply Seasoning Rub

Make your own rub or use a store-bought blend like poultry seasoning. Coat the breast evenly with the rub. Gently loosen skin and massage seasoning under the skin too.

4. Insert Meat Thermometer

Insert an oven-safe meat thermometer into the thickest part of the breast, taking care not to hit the bone.

5. Roast the Turkey Breast

Place breast on a rack in a roasting pan. Roast at 350 degrees F, until thermometer reads 165 degrees F. For a 9 pound breast, this will take around 3 hours.

6. Let Turkey Breast Rest

Once it reaches 165 F, remove turkey from oven, loosely tent with foil, and let rest 15-20 minutes before slicing. The temp will rise 5-10 degrees during this time.

And that’s it! With these simple tips, you can roast a 9 pound turkey breast to juicy perfection. Trust your meat thermometer, and you’ll have ideal results every time. Enjoy your beautifully cooked turkey breast!