INDIANA – 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 can take some time, so allow one day for each 4 – 5 pounds of weight. If your turkey weighs 16 pounds, it will take about four days to thaw.
- 4-7 pound turkey should be put into the fridge on November 22nd
- 8-11 pound turkey should be put into the fridge on November 21st
- 12-15 pound turkey should be put into the fridge on November 20th
- 16-19 pound turkey should be put in the fridge on November 19th
- 20-23 pound turkey should be put in the fridge on November 18th
- 24-27 pound turkey should be put in the fridge on November 17th
Cold Water Thawing
According to the USDA, you can also thaw your turkey in cold water. This method doesn’t take as long to thaw as using the refrigerator, but it does require a little more work on your part. To thaw your turkey in cold water, place it into the sink or another container full of cold water, but make sure you keep the turkey in its original wrapping. You’re going to have to change out the water every 30 minutes and replace it with fresh cold water.
According to the USDA, with this method, you need to allow 30 minutes of defrosting time per pound. Once the turkey has thawed, cook it immediately. Here’s how long it will take to thaw out your turkey using this method.
- 4-pound turkey – 2 hours
- 8-pound turkey – 4 hours
- 12-pound turkey – 6 hours
- 16-pound turkey – 8 hours
- 20-pound turkey – 10 hours
- 24-pound turkey – 12 hours
Again make sure you change out the water every 30 minutes and replace it with fresh cold.
Microwave Thawing
Before you commit to thawing your turkey in the microwave, check your owner’s manual for the size of turkey that will fit in your microwave oven, the minutes per pound, and the power level to use when thawing a turkey. Remove all outside wrapping and place the turkey on a microwave-safe dish to catch any juices that may leak. Use the defrost function based on weight. As a general rule, allow 6 minutes per pound when thawing a turkey in the microwave. Be sure to rotate it several times, and even flip it, during the thawing process.
If the turkey starts to actually cook instead of just defrosting, let it rest for 5 minutes or so before you resume thawing. Partway through thawing you may wish to cover the tips of the wings and drumsticks with a small piece of foil to shield them from the microwaves and keep them from cooking. Once the turkey has thawed you should cook it immediately.
How NOT to Thaw a Turkey
In case you are wondering, here are some thawing methods that are not recommended:
- thawing a turkey on the counter, in the garage, or on the back porch
- thawing a turkey in a brown paper grocery bag or plastic garbage bag
- using the dishwasher to thaw a turkey (with or without water)
- any method that is not the refrigerator, cold water, or the microwave
How to Cook a Frozen Turkey
If your turkey is still icy on Thanksgiving morning, don’t panic! It is perfectly safe to cook a turkey from a frozen state; it will just take longer to cook. A solidly frozen turkey will take at least 50 percent longer to cook than a thawed turkey. If your turkey is only partially frozen, remember that it will take a bit longer to cook. Use your food thermometer, and when your bird measures 165˚F in the innermost part of the thigh, the innermost part of the wing and the thickest part of the breast, it is ready.
Have a great Thanksgiving.
