The Quickest Way to Thaw a Turkey Breast

The quickest way to thaw a turkey breast is in the microwave.

You may be tempted to leave a frozen turkey breast on the counter, believing it to be a quick way to thaw it, but this is not safe and it could breed bacteria. The quickest way to thaw a turkey breast is in the microwave, but this method can also partially cook the turkey. Another quick method, which will not begin to cook the turkey, is using cold water. The catch to thawing meat using either the microwave or cold water method is that you must cook the meat right away so bacteria does not have time to grow on the surface. Does this Spark an idea?

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Microwave-safe dish
Food storage bag
Bowl

Instructions

Microwave
- 1
  
  Place the turkey breast on a microwave-safe dish.
- 2
  
  Microwave the turkey on 50 percent power for 3 minutes.
- 3
  
  Turn the turkey breast over and microwave on 50 percent power for an additional 2 minutes.
Cold Water
- 4
  
  Place the turkey breast in a leak-proof plastic bag, such as a food storage bag.
- 5
  
  Fill a large bowl with cold water and place the bag in the bowl. Leave the top of the bag out of the water so water does not get into the bag.
- 6
  
  Soak the turkey breast for 15 minutes.
- 7
  
  Change the water in the bowl by filling it with fresh cold water.
- 8
  
  Soak the turkey breast for another 15 minutes.

Tips & Warnings

The safest way to thaw meat is in the refrigerator but this is not the quickest method.
Thaw turkey using the cold water method for 30 minutes per 1 pound.
Thaw turkey using the microwave method for 5 minutes per 1 pound.