Thanksgiving is right around the corner, which means it is nearly time to get the massive turkey out of your freezer for thawing. If your bird is especially large, however, you may already be too late.
Turkeys in a freezer are “indefinitely” protected from bacteria, the U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service explains. A frozen turkey should be kept frozen where the temperature is consistent — not stored in your basement or car truck or the snow bank in your yard — until thawing or cooking time.
It’s also important to keep the temperature consistent when thawing your turkey, the FSIS says. Again, the trunk of your car or on a shelf in your garage is probably not the best option here. Your kitchen counter won’t work, either.
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While parts of the turkey will thaw, the FSIS warns that “frozen meat or poultry left thawing on the counter more than 2 hours is not at a safe temperature.” This is because the outer layers of the product are likely to enter what is known as the “Danger Zone” of 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit, the exact range in which bacteria are known to multiply quickly.
Instead, the FSIS recommends three safe methods of thawing:
Thawing a turkey in the fridge
This may be the simplest — yet most time-consuming — option to prepare your turkey for Thanksgiving.
The rule of thumb is that for every four to five pounds of turkey you’ve got, you should allow about one whole day for thawing.
This means if your turkey weighs more than 24 pounds, and you’re hoping to eat it on Thanksgiving, you should have gotten it into the refrigerator on Friday. If your turkey is six times lighter than that, you can wait until Thanksgiving Eve.
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Below, you’ll find the FSIS’s guidance on how many days you need to thaw your turkey depending on its size, and which day you should start the refrigerator thawing process if you’re cooking the bird on Thanksgiving.
| Turkey Size | How long to thaw? | Which day to start thawing |
|---|---|---|
| 4-12 pounds | 1 to 3 days | Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday |
| 12-16 pounds | 3 to 4 days | Sunday or Monday |
| 16 to 20 pounds | 4 to 5 days | Saturday or Sunday |
| 20 to 24 pounds | 5 to 6 days | Friday or Saturday |
According to the FSIS, a thawed turkey can safely stay in the fridge for a day or two before it is cooked. Remember to put your turkey on a tray or pan while it thaws to catch any leaking juices.
Thawing a turkey in cold water
If it’s too late to move your turkey into the refrigerator to thaw, using cold water may save your Turkey Day.
For every pound your turkey weighs, the FSIS says to account for roughly 30 minutes of cold water thawing. Your turkey should be in a leak-proof bag and entirely submerged in cold tap water that you change every half hour.
Once you have reached thawed status, the turkey must be cooked immediately.
The table below includes roughly how long you’ll need to thaw your turkey, depending on its size, in cold water, as well as the estimated time it would take to cook the bird if you adhere to the FSIS’s cooking guidelines (at 325 degrees, plan for about 15 minutes per pound for an unstuffed turkey).
| Turkey Size | How long to thaw? | Est. cook time |
|---|---|---|
| 4-12 pounds | 2-6 hours | 1 1/2-3 hours |
| 12-16 pounds | 6-8 hours | 3-4 hours |
| 16 to 20 pounds | 8-10 hours | 4-4 1/2 hours |
| 20 to 24 pounds | 10-12 hours | 4 1/2-5 hours |
These cooking times are approximate. When cooking, the FSIS says the temperature of the inner thigh, the wing, and the thickest part of the turkey breast should be at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Thawing a turkey in a microwave oven
This isn’t the best method for a whole turkey, according to Butterball, but only for some turkey products. When thawing these turkey parts, the FSIS recommends consulting your microwave oven’s owner’s manual for guidance on the power level to use and how long it will take.
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Like the cold water thawing method, you’ll want to cook your turkey immediately if you thaw it using your microwave.
Forgot to thaw? Here’s what to do with your turkey
If you wake up on Thanksgiving and realize you forgot to start thawing your turkey, you don’t necessarily need to rush to make a reservation at one of the national restaurant chains that are open for the holiday.
Frozen turkeys can be cooked but they’ll take at least 50% longer than a thawed bird, the FSIS warns. You’ll still want to check the inner thigh, wing, and thickest part of the turkey breast to ensure it’s thoroughly cooked — you’re looking for a temperature reading of at least 165 degrees in all three areas.
