The Best Ways to Reheat Turkey Breast and Keep It Moist and Delicious

As we enter the holiday season, many of us will soon be faced with leftovers from large turkey dinners. While turkey is delicious when freshly roasted, leftovers can easily become dry and flavorless when reheated. However, with a few simple tricks, you can reheat turkey breast and have it come out just as moist, juicy and flavorful as the first time around!

In this article, I’ll share the best methods for reheating cooked turkey breast to maximize moisture and flavor. Whether you’re dealing with a whole turkey breast, sliced turkey breast or just leftover pieces, these techniques will yield you succulent, turkey that tastes freshly-cooked.

Why Turkey Dries Out When Reheated

Before jumping into the best reheating methods, it helps to understand why turkey tends to dry out and lose moisture during the reheating process. There are two main culprits:

• Evaporation – When turkey is exposed to heat, moisture on the surface evaporates, causing the meat to become drier. Covering the turkey while reheating prevents this moisture loss.

• Overcooking – It’s easy to overcook turkey when reheating, as it has already been cooked once. Going beyond the point of doneness breaks down proteins and squeezes out natural juices Monitoring temperature ensures you don’t overdo it.

Keeping these causes in mind, let’s look at some simple ways to retain moisture and flavor in reheated turkey breast.

Microwaving Turkey Breast

While the microwave provides the fastest reheating, it can lead to dry turkey if used improperly. Here are some tips for microwaving turkey breast correctly:

• Use Short Bursts – Microwave in 30 second bursts, checking in between. This prevents overcooking.

• Wrap in Damp Paper Towel – Wrap the turkey breast in a paper towel and dampen it with water before microwaving. This creates steam to help keep the turkey moist.

• Let Sit – After microwaving, let the turkey sit for a few minutes wrapped in foil to allow juices to redistribute.

With the right technique, the microwave can yield moist, juicy turkey breast in just minutes.

Oven Reheating Turkey Breast

The oven provides gentle, even heating that thoroughly warms turkey breast while keeping it tender and juicy. Here’s how to do it right:

• Use Lower Heat – Set the oven to 300°F or less to prevent overcooking. Anywhere from 250-325°F works well.

• Place in a Covered Dish – Put the turkey breast in a baking dish or casserole and cover tightly with foil to lock in steam and moisture.

• Add Some Liquid – For added insurance, pour a bit of turkey or chicken stock, wine or water in the bottom of the dish. This provides extra moisture.

• Check Temperature – Use a meat thermometer to monitor the internal temperature and prevent overcooking. Turkey breast should be 155-165°F when hot.

Give the turkey breast 20-30 minutes in the oven using this method, and it will come out steaming hot and full of flavor.

Stovetop Reheating Turkey Breast

You can also use the stovetop to gently reheat turkey breast:

• Simmer in Broth/Stock – Place the turkey breast in a skillet with some broth, stock, or even water. Bring to a bare simmer over medium heat.

• Partially Cover – Keep the pan partially covered so some moisture can escape as steam. This prevents the turkey breast from becoming soggy.

• Stir Occasionally – Gently move the turkey breast around occasionally so all sides are heated through.

• Shred for Faster Heating – For quick reheating, shred or slice the turkey breast first so smaller pieces will heat faster.

• Add Flavor – Consider adding herbs, pepper or other seasoning to the liquid to infuse the turkey breast with more flavor.

The stovetop method infuses terrific flavor into turkey breast while keeping it nice and moist. Just be careful not to boil, which can make the meat dry and stringy.

Slow Cooker Reheating

Slow cookers provide gentle, moist heat – perfect for reheating turkey breast without drying it out. To use a slow cooker:

• Shred the Meat – Place shredded or sliced turkey breast in the slow cooker so it will heat evenly.

• Add Liquid – Moisten the turkey with broth, stock, water or sauce. This adds flavor and moisture.

• Cook on Low – Set the slow cooker to low, cover and let the turkey breast reheat for 2-3 hours.

• Check Consistency – If needed, remove lid at the end to let excess moisture evaporate if the turkey is too wet.

• Mix in Vegetables – To make a full meal, toss in cooked veggies like carrots, potatoes or Brussels sprouts to reheat as well.

With this simple method, your slow cooker does all the work while keeping your turkey breast perfectly moist and delicious.

Tips for the Best Reheated Turkey Breast

Here are a few additional tips to ensure your reheated turkey breast turns out juicy, flavorful and great tasting every time:

• Allow turkey to reheat thoroughly until the thickest part reaches 165°F, but don’t overcook.
• Choose turkey pieces of equal size and thickness when possible so they’ll reheat evenly.
• Let the turkey rest for 5-10 minutes after reheating so juices can absorb back into the meat.
• Add extra flavor by reheating turkey in broth, gravy or sauce.
• Slice the turkey breast as needed before serving for a fresher, less processed appearance.
• Use within 3-4 days for maximum freshness and moisture – freeze any excess.

Moist and Delicious Turkey All Year Long

From Thanksgiving dinners to hearty winter casseroles, turkey is versatile and often shows up as tasty leftovers. With the techniques above for properly reheating cooked turkey breast, you can continue enjoying succulent, flavorful turkey meals for days after the initial cooking.

Give these methods a try and say goodbye to dried-out turkey leftovers! Whether you’re new to cooking turkey or a seasoned pro, perfectly reheated turkey breast is easy and will quickly become an essential skill in your kitchen arsenal. So go on and reheat those turkey leftovers without fear – a moist and delicious second meal is only minutes away!