How to Thaw a Turkey Easily and Safely

Picture this: Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and you’ve got everything planned perfectly. But what about “how to thaw a turkey”? 🦃 It’s an essential step that, if done incorrectly, could lead to dreaded food poisoning. Fear not! In this blog post, you’ll discover the art of how to thaw a turkey safely and efficiently, ensuring your Thanksgiving dinner goes off without a hitch.

Have you ever been ready to go on Thanksgiving morning and realized the turkey still wasn’t thawed? We’ve all been there. If you’re planning on making some delicious turkey recipes and are using a frozen turkey, it’s helpful to know how to thaw it properly. And no, letting your turkey sit out on the counter isn’t the best method. We’ll cover how long it takes to defrost a whole turkey per pound, the best thawing methods, cooking a frozen turkey, and storage!

How long does it take to thaw a turkey?

It can take anywhere from 1 day to 4 days to thaw a frozen turkey, depending on the size of the bird. So, it’s important to allow enough time to thaw your bird before any cooking begins. 

For example, safely thawing a 20-pound frozen turkey takes a full four days of refrigerator time – 24 hours for every 5 pounds. We suggest starting to thaw your turkey six days before you want to cook it if using a brining method.

🦃 How to Thaw a Turkey

There are two methods we’ll discuss in this post – the refrigerator thawing method and the cold water thawing method. 

How to thaw a turkey in the Refrigerator

Here are the steps for the refrigerator method to thaw a turkey in the fridge:

1. Preparation – Place your turkey on a rimmed baking sheet, breast side up. Make sure you leave the turkey in the original packaging to contain the turkey juices. 
2. Placement – Put the turkey at the bottom of your fridge so it doesn’t get in the way of your other food items.
3. Timing – Allow enough time for the turkey to thaw slowly. As a general guideline, you’ll need approximately 24 hours of thawing time for every 4-5 pounds of turkey. For instance, a 12-pound turkey will take around 2-3 days to thaw completely in the refrigerator.
4. Temperature – Make sure your refrigerator is set at 40 degrees F or below. This low temperature prevents the growth of harmful bacteria while allowing the turkey to thaw at a safe pace.
5. Check Progress – Check your turkey every so often and dump any juices that have accumulated on the baking sheet. We don’t want the turkey sitting in a pool of liquid as this can promote bacterial growth. 
6. Temperature – Use an instant-read thermometer to ensure the internal temperature of the bird is around 40 degrees F or below, the same temperature as your fridge.

How to thaw a turkey in Cold Water

These are the steps for the cold water thawing method.

1. Preparation – Keep the turkey in its original packaging breast side down and place it in the sink or a large container big enough to submerge the frozen bird.
2. Timing – Cold water thawing is faster than refrigerator thawing, taking about 30 minutes per pound. So, for example, a 12-pound bird would take approximately 6 hours to thaw using this method.
3. Temperature – Every 30 minutes, replace the water with fresh, cold tap water. This constant circulation of cold water helps speed up the thawing process and keeps the turkey safe from harmful bacteria that can grow in warmer temperatures.

Choosing the Right Thawing Method

​The method you choose will depend on how much time you have. If you have plenty of time to thaw a turkey, use the refrigerator method. On the other hand, if you need to thaw your turkey within 6-8 hours, the cold water method is more effective. 

The Best Thawing Method

The Cold-Water Method is the fastest way to thaw your turkey. Submerge it breast-side down in a tub of cold water, making sure you change out the liquid every 30 minutes for food safety purposes. An eight-pound bird should take around four hours with this method.

However, we think thawing your bird in the refrigerator is the best and easiest way to thaw a turkey, if you have the time.

Preparing Your Workspace

Getting your workspace ready to thaw a turkey is important to keep things clean and safe. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Clean Your Workspace: First, make sure your workspace is nice and clean. You’ll be using your sink or a container, so give them a good wash with hot, soapy water. After that, use a mixture of one tablespoon of unscented liquid chlorine bleach in a gallon of water to sanitize the surfaces. This helps keep things germ-free.
2. Pick the Right Spot: Choose a sink or container that’s big enough for your turkey to fit in comfortably. You don’t want it spilling over the edges.
3. Double-Bag It: If you’re using a plastic bag to hold the turkey, use two. This helps prevent any leaks and ensures that the turkey stays dry during thawing.
4. Check the Temperature: Keep your workspace at a cool room temperature. A warm kitchen can make bacteria grow faster, so a cooler room is better for food safety.
5. Tools You’ll Need: Have a food thermometer handy. You’ll use it to check the water temperature while your turkey thaws. You’ll also need clean towels or paper towels for wiping your hands and cleaning up any spills.
6. Plan Your Timing: Before you start thawing, think about how long it will take. Cold water thawing takes a few hours, so make sure you’ve got enough time to finish the process and cook the turkey as soon as it’s thawed.

Cooking a Partially Defrosted Bird

If you don’t have a ton of time to thaw your bird, you can cook a partially frozen turkey. When cooking a turkey that is partially frozen, it’s important to add an extra 50% of time to the preparation process. Don’t worry about preparing and roasting this type of bird – just ensure you account for its semi-hardiness semi-frozen state. And always use a digital meat thermometer to check the internal temperature when cooking. Turkey needs to reach 165 degrees F, according to the USDA.

Avoiding Unsafe Thawing Practices

We get it; we’ve all had that moment where we’re wondering how to defrost a turkey. But don’t rush it and risk ruining dinner.

Leaving the Turkey on the Counter

• Don’t leave your turkey on the kitchen counter for more than 2 hours. This can cause bacteria to grow even if the bird is still partially frozen. 

Leaving the Turkey Out Overnight

• The turkey should not be left out overnight since bacteria can form on the raw poultry, and it would no longer be edible. Transferring to a cooler environment, such as a refrigerator, after two hours at room temperature will ensure that the thawing process is successful. Keeping this in mind helps you make sure your turkey is properly thawed before consuming or cooking with it.

Leaving the Turkey In Cold Water Overnight

• Planning ahead is key when it comes to thawing a frozen turkey in cold water. To maintain a safe temperature, you should change the water every 30 minutes. Leaving one overnight would not be considered safe, so instead, allow some time for it at temperatures under 40°F over several days to ensure optimal results with your bird.

Microwaving the Turkey

• Don’t microwave your turkey to thaw it. Although this might seem like the quickest option, it can result in partially frozen and thawed meat. 

Washing the turkey

• You do not need to wash your turkey, and doing so actually increases the chance of spreading germs. We recommend brining and then air drying the turkey for crispy skin and amazing flavor. This all comes back to planning the perfect Thanksgiving dinner ahead of time.

How long does it take to thaw a turkey?

Generally, it takes one day for every 5 pounds of turkey. So, you’ll want to plan accordingly to ensure your Thanksgiving dinner goes smoothly. If you’re looking for the perfect Thanksgiving turkey recipe, try our Smoked Thanksgiving Turkey, Smoked Spatchcock Turkey, or Traeger Smoked Turkey with Stuffing!

Storing a Thawed Turkey

Store a fully thawed turkey in the refrigerator for up to 2 days before cooking. Want to add more flavor? Take this time for a turkey brine. Go with a traditional wet brine or a dry brine for added flavor and crispy skin.

Cooking a Thawed Turkey

Once your turkey is thawed, it’s time to cook! Depending on the size of your turkey, check out how long to cook a turkey per pound so you can estimate how much time you will need.

Not sure how to cook a thawed turkey? Try our How to Spatchcock a Turkey guide for a fast and delicious turkey, cook it traditional with an oven-roasted turkey, or smoked turkey for an amazing Thanksgiving dinner. Use our Turkey Cooking Time guide for the best results.

Remember, according to the USDA, no matter how you cook your turkey, the internal temperature needs to reach 165°F at the thickest part of the meat with a digital meat thermometer.

As for cutting the turkey once it’s finished cooking, use our How to Carve a Turkey guide!

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Thawing a turkey can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days, depending on your preferred method and the size of the bird. So, it’s important to calculate how much time you’ll need so you don’t stress about your dinner! Following these methods can help you thaw your turkey safely and with enough time to prepare your meal. 

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