Although some people balk at the thought of cooking anything bigger than a chicken breast in the microwave, it is in fact perfectly safe as long as you cook it properly. Poultry must always been cooked right through, so there is no trace of pink in the center of the meat.
If you find turkey breast on sale, buy some because it is easy to cook and it also freezes well. It will go brown when you cook it and nobody will know that you microwaved it. Check that the poultry is 165 degrees F at its thickest point. This is the minimum temperature it needs to reach in order to be safe to eat, so you will need to use a thermometer to check.
Actually, it is possible to cook a whole bird in the microwave, although most machines will not be able to hold anything larger than about fourteen pounds. If you are thinking about cooking a whole one, you will need a microwave-safe roasting bag, else the meat might not cook evenly.
Microwaved Turkey Breast – Step By Step
You need to use a fresh or thawed turkey breast. Cooking frozen poultry in the microwave is not recommended because it cooks unevenly and might not cook properly all the way through.
Wash your poultry breast outside and inside using cold water, then pat it dry using paper towels. Put some salt and black pepper in the cavity, and then put a stalk of celery, a sliced onion, some sage, parsley, and thyme in there too. Put the poultry in a greased dish made from glass, Pyrex or another microwave-safe material.
Flavoring The Bird
Rub some vegetable oil on the outside of the bird and sprinkle some more salt and pepper over it. If you prefer, you can use melted butter instead of the oil and you can use different herbs or seasonings inside the turkey.
Some people like to make the stuffing separately, rather than cooking it inside the bird. There are some safety issues to do with cooking a stuffed turkey but when the meat has reached 165 degrees F at its thickest part, it is fine to eat. Of course, if you prefer crispy stuffing to moist stuffing, you can make it separately and cook it while the meat is cooked and resting.
When you have prepared the poultry, cover it with waxed paper, and cook for nine or ten minutes per pound at 50% power. If there is no carousel in your microwave oven, you will need to turn the dish around every ten or fifteen minutes, to ensure the meat cooks evenly. When it is cooked, take the dish out of the microwave and let the turkey rest for fifteen minutes before carving it.
Tasty Serving Ideas
You can serve your delicious turkey breast with any kind of potato side dish, as well as your favorite boiled, sauteed or steamed vegetables. This makes a healthy and nutritious meal, which the whole family is sure to love.