Easy Roast Turkey Crown
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
10 mins
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Cook Time
1 hr 50 mins
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Total Time
2 hrs
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Servings
10 people
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Calories
202 kcal
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Course
Main Course
Easy Roast Turkey Crown
Description
The recipe starts with a fully defrosted turkey crown, rubbed with olive oil and seasoned with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Roasting begins with the crown covered in foil to keep the breast meat moist and prevent premature browning. After the initial covered roasting phase, the crown is uncovered and basted, allowing the skin to crisp and develop color. Timings vary depending on weight to balance thorough cooking with juicy texture. Oven temperature is preheated to ensure even cooking from the start.
The result is a juicy, tender turkey breast with a nicely browned skin, suitable as a straightforward main for a meal without complicated seasoning. This method focuses on simplicity and ensuring the turkey remains moist through the cooking process.
The recipe includes detailed guidance on defrosting times to safely thaw the bird according to weight, recommending refrigeration or cool room thawing. It also offers practical roasting times for different crown weights and notes the turkey crown is suitable for freezing. Approximate nutrition details remind cooks to consider dietary information as guidance only.
Ingredients
- 2 kg Turkey crown (fully defrosted, if necessary)
- olive oil
- salt
- black pepper
Instructions
- Thoroughly defrost your turkey crown first (see note 1).
- Remove your turkey crown from the fridge about an hour before you are going to cook it.
- Preheat your oven to 180C / 160C fan / gas mark 4 / 350F about 15 minutes before you want to start cooking your turkey. It is really important that your oven is at the right temperature before you start.
- Next, drizzle 2 tablespoons of olive oil over the turkey and sprinkle over 1 teaspoon of salt and about 20 good grindings of black pepper. Rub the oil, salt and pepper all over the bird and place it, breast side up, in a roasting tray.
- Cover the turkey crown in foil and roast for 60 minutes. The foil will help keep the breast meat juicy and stop the skin browning too soon and burning before the meat is cooked.
- After 60 minutes, remove the turkey from the oven and remove the foil. Baste the turkey with the juices you find at the bottom of the tin. Put the turkey back in the oven, uncovered this time, for a further 20 minutes (see note 2).
- After 20 minutes, turn the oven up to 220C / 200C fan / gas mark 7 / 425F, remove the turkey from the oven and baste with the juices. Return the turkey back to the oven for a further 30 minutes. Cooking the turkey at a higher temperature will help the turkey skin to brown and crisp up. 220C is also the perfect temperature for roast potatoes, meaning you can start your roasties now and they will be ready when the turkey has rested for 30 minutes.
- After the final 30 minutes (the turkey will have cooked for a total of 1 hour and 50 minutes), remove the turkey from the oven and check it is done. Stick a small sharp knife in the fattest part of the turkey crown, and the juices should run clear and the meat should be white. If you have a meat thermometer, the internal temperature should be 74C (165F).
- Transfer the turkey crown to a clean roasting tin (or similar). Allow the turkey to rest for 30 minutes, covered loosely in foil. It will not get cold and the meat will taste much nicer.
- Use the turkey roasting tray to make delicious easy peasy turkey gravy.
Notes
- Defrost turkey in the fridge for 12 hours per kilo or in a cool room for 4 hours per kilo; ensure fully defrosted before cooking.
- For a 2kg crown, roast covered at 180°C for 60 minutes, uncover and roast 20 minutes at 180°C, then 30 minutes at 220°C uncovered.
- Cooking times increase proportionally for heavier crowns: adjust accordingly for 3kg or 4kg weights.
- The turkey crown can be frozen before or after cooking.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 10people
Amount Per Serving
Calories 202 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 202kcal | 10% |
| Carbohydrates | 0g | 0% |
| Protein | 43g | 86% |
| Fat | 3g | 5% |
| Saturated Fat | 0g | 0% |
| Cholesterol | 108mg | 36% |
| Sodium | 412mg | 17% |
| Potassium | 484mg | 10% |
| Sugar | 0g | 0% |
| Vitamin A | 40IU | 1% |
| Calcium | 28mg | 3% |
| Iron | 1.1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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