Thaw Your Turkey Safely in Time for Thanksgiving (2024)

FAQs

Thaw Your Turkey Safely in Time for Thanksgiving? ›

The USDA recommends thawing your turkey in the refrigerator. This is the safest method because the turkey will thaw at a consistent, safe temperature. This method takes some time, so allow one day for each 4 - 5 pounds of weight.

The USDA recommends thawing your turkey in the refrigerator. This is the safest method because the turkey will thaw at a consistent, safe temperature. This method takes some time, so allow one day for each 4 - 5 pounds of weight.

If There's No Time to Thaw

It's perfectly safe to cook a frozen or partially frozen turkey in the oven — you just need to allow some extra cooking time, according to the USDA.

The USDA recommends thawing a frozen turkey in the refrigerator, which translates to one day for each 4 to 5 pounds of weight. So for a 12-pound turkey that would imply at least three days of thawing, ideally with a bonus day thrown in. Here's the thing, though. I simply don't find that that's enough.

Frozen turkeys should not be left on the back porch, in the car trunk, in the basem*nt, or any place else where temperatures cannot be constantly monitored. A package of frozen meat or poultry left thawing on the counter more than 2 hours is not at a safe temperature.

“Actually, from a food safety standpoint it's safer to cook the turkey when it's still frozen. A frozen turkey will not spread raw juices around the kitchen, will not waste water as you try to thaw it and will produce an excellent and juicy cooked product.”

Thaw turkey breast side down, in an unopened wrapper, with enough cold water to cover your turkey completely. Change water every 30 minutes and if turkey cannot be completely covered, rotate every 30 minutes to keep the turkey chilled. You can expect 30 minutes of thawing per pound of turkey.

A faster thawing method is to submerge the frozen bird in cold water. You need to change the water every 30 minutes to be safe. While this method is faster, it still takes about 30 minutes per pound for complete thawing.

It is safe to cook a turkey that is frozen. A solidly frozen turkey will take 50% longer to cook than a thawed turkey. If it is only partially frozen, it will still take longer to cook than a thawed one.

Is it OK to leave a frozen turkey in the fridge for a week? ›

So, for example, if you're cooking a 20-24-pound bird, you need to stick it in the fridge to thaw at least six days before you'll be eating it (so it has time to fully thaw), and no more than eight days before you'll be eating it (to stay within that two-day window).

In both cases, you'll want to store the turkey in the deepest part of the freezer. When properly stored, raw turkey pieces should stay good in the freezer for up to 9 months, while whole raw turkeys last for a year when frozen. Cooked turkey pieces last in the freezer for 4–6 months.

The Best Place to Thaw Your Thanksgiving Turkey In Your Refrigerator Is On the Bottom Shelf | Rachael Ray Show.

A thawed turkey can remain in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days. If necessary, a turkey that has been properly thawed in the refrigerator may be refrozen.

It is safe to cook a turkey that is frozen. A solidly frozen turkey will take 50% longer to cook than a thawed turkey. If it is only partially frozen, it will still take longer to cook than a thawed one.

You should never thaw large food items, such as roasts or turkeys, at room temperature. If you want to thaw these types of food, you can safely submerge the item under running potable water at 70˚F (21˚C) or lower; never thaw food in standing water.