Most turkeys are frozen to preserve freshness. This requires careful planning to thaw your turkey in a timely and most importantly, safe manner. The easiest and best way is to slowly thaw your turkey in the refrigerator, but this could take days. Find out how to safely thaw your turkey to avoid any potential food poisoning.
• How to Thaw a Turkey
• Turkey Roasting Times Chart
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Turkey Photo © 2010 Peggy Trowbridge Filippone, licensed to About.com, Inc.
Comments
I bought a 24.50lb.turkey for Thanksgivings Day I need to know how long to thaw out the turkey and cook it.I would appreciate it.
Thanks,
Tamara Holt
Hi Tamara!
That’s a big bird! Better keep it in the fridge (not freezer) from now until Thursday for it to thaw. Check it early in the morning on Thursday, and if it still is not completely thawed, put it in a bath of =cold= water in the sink, changing the cold water frequently, until it is thawed. It all depends upon how cold you keep your refrigerator as to how long it will take to thaw. Do not thaw it outside the refrigerator.
More thawing tips here:
Thawing a Turkey
I can’t tell you exactly how long it will take. It all depends on your oven, whether the bird is stuffed or unstuffed, and the roasting temperature you prefer to use. The USDA has now revised their standard to state that a safe internal temperature for cooked poultry is 165 F. Always use a meat thermometer to be sure.
Peggy
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I bought a 16lb turkey Saturday (frozen) and put it in the refr. Is this fine to leave it in there until I cook it Wednesday or Thursday?
Yes, Jonathan. It should be just fine.
Peggy
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I bought a 12 lb. turkey and put it in the refrigerator Friday. Will it be okay until Thursday?
Put the turkey in the back of the refrigerator and avoid opening the door a lot so it stays very cold. It should be okay.
Peggy
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I bought a turkey today that weights 21.80 pounds.
How can I thaw the turkey so that it can be cooked Thursday morning?
Thanks-
Just leave it in the bottom of your fridge. It should thaw by Thursday.
Peggy
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Hi
I got a 8lb turkey & Have 2 questions:
1. I placed it at the bottom of the fridge on Monday Morning will it thaw out in time for Wednesday/thursday?
2. how long will it take to bake?
thanks
I bought a 21lb turkey. I put in the bottom of the frig yesterday, Nov. 24th. Will it be thawed by Thurs? Thanks!
Chants, your 8-pound turkey should thaw by Thursday in the refrigerator. At 325F, your turkey may take 2-3/4 to 3 hours to cook, unstuffed. Stuffed will take 3 to 3-1/2 hours. Ovens vary. Use an instant-read thermometer to check. At least 165F internal temperature is now recommended by the USDA.
Peggy
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I just put a frozen 21 lb turkey in my refrigerator monday afternoon to thaw. I would like to brine my turkey and cook it for a Wednesday night meal. Is this even possible? Can I thaw it in cold water overnight and then brine it in the morning and cook it at 1:00 for dinner???
I doubt you have time, Shelly. You need to change the water every half hour and then the turkey should be cooked immediately after thawing, not held another day in brine. Need to plan ahead!
Peggy
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Lynda, you will need to use the cold water method to thaw that huge turkey. A frozen turkey needs 24 hours in the refrigerator for each 5 pounds of weight in order to thaw naturally.
Peggy
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I picked up my turkey today. It was supposed to be fully thawed but I don’t think it is. What should I do in order to have it thawed by tomorrow around 1:00. I plan on deep frying it.
Thank you
I bough a 17.5 lb frozen turkey Sunday night. It has been in the fridge since then and will go in the oven T-day morning. The directions suggest 24 hrs for every 4 lbs which will leave me a day behind. Should I do the cold water thing in the morning as well? It is smushy on top but still a little hard on the bottom.
Thanks!!!
Teri and Glen, you should both use the cold water method to get your turkey completely thawed. Be sure to dry it thoroughly, inside and out, before deep-frying.
Peggy
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What is the longest time for a turkey to be left uncooked in the fridge?? Turkey weighs 20.65 lbs.
Once the turkey has thawed in the refrigerator, I would cook it within 48 hours.
Peggy
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Hi,
I have a 26 lb turkey in my freezer that I would like to thaw and brine for Christmas dinner. Today is Friday, December 19th…can I do it and how?
Thanks!
Nancy, you may just have enough time to thaw and brine that turkey. Let the turkey thaw naturally in the refrigerator. This will probably take about 5 days. Then you will need to brine it for about a day. Here is a savory brine recipe from About BBQ:
Savory Turkey Brine
Peggy
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We bought a 21 pound turkey. I thought my hubby took it out to thaw yesterday, but he didn’t. Now it is sitting in the frig. My question is this: We are having our Christmas Dinner on the Sat. after Christmas. Do I have time to thaw and cook that bird? Do you know about how long it would take to cook and at what temp? It’s our first time for such a big one!
Darlene;
You’re about a day short of thawing it completely in the refrigerator. You need about a day per each 5 lbs. Of course, this all depends on how cold you keep your refrigerator and how much in and out traffic there is. Depending on your refrigerator, you might just make it. Leave it in the bottom of the fridge. You may need to finish thawing it with the cold water method, so keep checking on it and allow for additional time, if so.
How to thaw a turkey
As for how long:
Turkey Roasting Time Chart
Gobble, gobble!
Peggy
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I bought a turkey today that is 17lb turkey that is not completely frozen. Is it ok to be in the refrigerator up until I stuff it on Thursday morning? That’s a little over four days in the refrigerator before it’s cooked.
correction to my previous post:
I bought a FRESH 17lb turkey today (Saturday), not thinking about the timing for when it would be cooked.
How long will it be good in the refrigerator before roasting?
Kelly, a fresh turkey should be cooked within 1 to 2 days of purchase. Sorry…I know that’s not what you wanted to hear. sighs.
Peggy
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Peggy, thank you for your answer. No, not what I was hoping for. But now I have to ask if there is a solution? Can I freeze it and follow the thaw instructions by Thursday?
Kelly, you can freeze it, but do it now. You will need about 3 days to thaw it in the refrigerator, so start thawing early Tuesday morning.
Turkey Thawing Tips
Peggy
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Thanks. I was hoping you would say that. I put it in the freezer yesterday.
It will go in the refrigerator on Tuesday morning and I will be monitoring the thaw closely. Thanks for the tips and Happy Thanksgiving!
I think I screwed up. I left a 21 lb turkey in cold water for about 5 hours, then put it in the refrigerator for thursday. I did not think there would be enough time to refrigerator thawing from this afternoon to Thanksgiving, today being sunday afternoon.
Should I get another turkey or is this one safe?
Michael, it’s hard to advise you without more information. Is it still partially frozen, still in the original packaging? If so, keep it in the coldest part of the refrigerator and it should be okay.
Peggy
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My problem is this, I bought a 20lb. turkey on Nov 22nd Sun. I then asked my sister how to thaw a turkey – She said put in brown paper bags and leave it at room temp.
So then Mon morn I looked up online how to thaw it properly in the frig. My question is if I put it in the frig mon morning and it has been in there ever since is it safe to eat still? – When I put it in the frig it was still frozen and cold, but it did leak some juices out but not much.
HI
I HAVE A 8 LB TURKEY AND PUT IT IN THE REFRIGERATOR YESTERDAY ON MONDAY AND TODAY IT WAS STILL FROZEN AND MY HUSBAND TOOK THE BIRD OUT OF ITS COVER SO I PUT SARAN WRAP ON IT AND COVERED IT WITH FOIL—WILL THIS BIRD BE OK UNTIL THURSDAY AM TO COOK??
PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!
Teresa, I wouldn’t take a chance on it if the turkey was left outside the refrigerator for 2 days.
Peggy
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Llana, your bird should be fine. Sounds like your refrigerator is colder than most. In general, allow 1 day of thawing time in the refrigerator per 5 pounds of turkey.
Peggy
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we have a 21.99lb turkey in the fridge since monday about 5pm will it be ready by thursday morn to cook for turkey day dinner?
Steph, it really depends on how cold you keep your refrigerator. In general, allow 1 day per 5 pounds of turkey. You may need to finish with the cold water method.
Turkey Thawing Tips
Peggy
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im not sure how cold it is in my fridge, i know the setting is on 4..
thanks
can you do the “water” and “fridge” thaw method together?
can you put a 21 pound turkey in cold water and change the water every 30 minutes for an hour in a half and then put it back in the refridgerator to be put in a bag and cooked tomorrow morning?
Just checked on our frozen turkey, put into fridge 3 days ago, 20 lb bird…still frozen solid.. HELP! how do I thaw the bird so I can put it into the oven at 6 am tomorrow??
To Everyone:
It’s the night before Thanksgiving. If your turkey has not yet thawed out, time to use the cold water method:
Turkey Thawing Tips
Peggy
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Is two weeks too long to thaw a turkey in the fridge before you cook it?
I would say that is a bit too long, Ashley.
Peggy
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I bought a 14lb turkey on friday. It was frozen solid. It seems to be mostly thawed now, except im sure the cavity area is probably still a bit frozen. It is still in the original wrapping and in the bottom shelve of the fridge at the back. Will it still be okay by Christmas? And is it safe to take the turkey out on Christmas Eve just long enough to wash and season, then return it to the fridge for the following morning?
Every year my boss has me buy turkeys for all the employees. Usually I do this on the Friday before Thanksgiving and then everyone has plenty of time to defrost their turkey. This year he wants me to buy them on Monday but I’m worried that wont give everyone enough time to thaw a 20 pound bird…Everything that I’ve read says it will take 4 days or so…would Monday and Thursday count in that equation or should they start the thawing process over the weekend?
I tend to agree with you, Summer. Buy them the Friday before. It will give the recipients more options. Plan on 24 hours of thawing for each 5 pounds of turkey. Thus, a 20-lb turkey would take 4 days to thaw in the refrigerator. Refrigerator thawing is considered the safest method.
Peggy
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how long should you cool a 21 lb turkey, right from the oven to replace in refridge to be eaten next day. luke warm or cold? thanks a lot
You should definitely let it cool down, Cookie, and it will probably take about an hour or even longer. When it gets to lukewarm, wrap it up and refrigerate.
Peggy
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I bought a turkey last night and put it in the freezer. It’s about 13 pounds. If I take it out when I get home from work tonight do you think it will be ready to put in the oven Thursday morning? Could I do the water thawing wednesday night for about an hour and a half and put it back in the fridge or should I start out with the water thawing and then put it in the fridge?
How long to thaw an 11 pound turkey. It is in the freezer now. Should I take it out and put in the refrig. Please advise
Jackie: Put your 13-pounder in the fridge when you get home and it should be okay by Thurs. If not, use the cold water method.
BP: You need 24 hours per each 5 pounds, so you’ll need more than 2 days in the fridge.
Check here: Turkey Thawing Tips
Peggy
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Hi! I got distracted by my 2 kids and forgot about thawing my turkey! I put my 20.85 LB turkey into the fridge Monday (11/22) at 10am, will it be ok to put into the oven by Thursday moring at 9am?? I’m thinking no…so I’d have to do the water thawing method for a few hours prior to cooking correct? Help!
Oh and one more question…could I possibly submerge the turkey in water and leave it IN the fridge on wednesday night just to be on the safe side…would this work?? (i have an extra fridge in my basement with room to do this)
Holly: Your thinking is right. It probably won’t thaw in the fridge in time unless your fridge is set at dangerously high temps. Go with the water thawing method as you suggest. And yes, you can submerge it in water in your basement fridge until you’re ready. It will thaw faster in water, even in the fridge on an average temperature.
Peggy
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I have a 30lb turkey that was frozen up until Sunday Evening 11/21. My family has always thawed there turkey on the counter in a thick paper bag. Is that okay to do? Everything I read says that it needs to be thawed in the freezer or in cold water…
Everything you read is right, Sheree. It is not safe to thaw on the kitchen counter, especially such a large bird. It should be thawed in the refrigerator or by using the cold water method.
Peggy
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It’s Tuesday (11/23) afternoon and I just realized that I forgot to take out my 19 lb turkey from the freezer. I know it’s too late to defrost it in the refrigerator and will need to use the cold water method. I need the turkey to be defrosted by 11 am on Thursday (11/25). Could I do the cold water method on Wednesday night and once it’s defrosted stick it back in the refrigerator until Thursday morning? If not, what would you recommend? Please help!
Yes, that will work, Belen.
Peggy
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I bought a 21lbs turkey Friday the 19th and have kept it in the fridge since then, is this safe?
Jackie: It’s hard to say. Was it frozen when you bought it? What is the expiration on the label? If it was frozen, it should be fine.
Peggy
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I have a frozen 18.5 lbs turkey I put in the fridge on Nov. 18th. Its still in its casing, and still in the fridge. Will this be safe to cook?
I bought a frozen 24.22 lb. turkey and put it in the sink with no water I have tomorrow to thaw it in time for Thursday. My question is when do I need to start the 30 minute water change?
Bob: Hard to tell. It should have only taken a little more than 3 days to thaw, which means it should have been completely thawed by the 21st. It really depends on the expiration date, how hard-frozen it was, how cold you keep your refrigerator, and how often you are opening the door. Most turkeys these days are enhanced (like chickens) which means they are injected with a salt solution (a brine of sorts) to extend shelf life and enhance preservation. So, cook it properly, and it will probably be fine. I really can’t give a definitive answer without seeing how it was when you bought it and how it was stored.
Brett: The water thawing method requires an immediate bath of cold water, with frequent water changes. Never let it sit on the counter or in the sink without beginning the water method immediately. You are inviting Salmonella poisoning. Once it is completely thawed, refrigerate up to 1 day before cooking.
Peggy
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I bought a couple of 16lb frozen turkeys on sat (11/20) put them in the freezer until monday morn then they were put in the fridge. Last night my husband told me to take them out of the fridge and put on the counter to thaw (they were still frozen , but alittle squishy on the outside). Well, I forgot about them on the counter overnight and when I woke up at 6:30 this morn I put them back in the fridge. Are they safe? They were still cold, but not that cold. They were out for about 12 hrs. Help?
my 20.80 lb turkey has been in the fridge since sat afternoon. It is still pretty frozen & I was hoping to clean it & get it ready today. Can I put it in cold water bath today, clean it this afternoon & put it in the pan covered with foil or plastic in fridge til tommorrow morning?
its Wednesday and my turkey is not thawed out yet. can I defrost in cold water and then put back into the refrigerator till tomorrow morning
Nicole: Unless your kitchen is cooled at around a constant 40F, I cannot, in good conscience, tell you that they are safe. 12 hours at normal room temperature is just not safe.
Mandy: You should be fine to clean today, then cover and refrigerate until tomorrow. Do NOT stuff it until right before putting into the oven. Actually, the food police recommend cooking the stuffing separately these days.
Lori: Yes. Defrost in cold water, changing the water often, and refrigerate until tomorrow.
Peggy
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Help! I just bought a 21 pound frozen bird, will the cold water method work so I can get it cooking by 10 am?
Kelly: You might make it, if you stay up all night to change the water every 30 minutes. You need about 30 minutes of thawing time in the cold water for every pound. Thus, you need about 11 hours.
Peggy
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I put my 14 lb turkey in the fridge at 9 this morning. I put it in the sink with cold water and left. I got home at about midnight and it’s thawed but still cold so I put it back in the fridge. Is it ok to roast tomorrow?!
I have been thawing (2 )10-12 turkey since noon today. I filled my freshly cleaned bathtub with cold water and submerged the turkeys in the water. I didn’t change the water every 30 minutes because it was ice cold. I changed it maybe 3 times within an 9-10 period. When I opened the casing and washed the birds off the neckbone and gibblets inside were still frozen and the inside was super cold. The outside was still very cold to touch but pretty well thawed. The legs were a little hard to pull apart to get in the cavity. I am paranoid and worried about the safety of the turkeys. I have 4 kids and by no means do I want to serve them something potentially bad. Please set my mind at ease by giving me the answer, yes okay or buy 2 new birds.
Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving!
Can I thawl my 14lb turkey longer than 30 minutes in cold water…I am working third shift tonight…and dinner is tomorrow. Every site I have looked at say change water every 30 minutes. If I put the turkey in cold water, in a cooler….MAYBE outside? It rain and possible snow here. and about 37 degrees out
Pleeese help
Umm I bought a frozen 9lb turkey and it was still frozen even though it was in the fridge for 2
Days already.So today at night (wensday at 9pm) I put it in cold water but I forgot about it, when I actually remembered it was 12 so its been 4 hrs with out me changing the water is it still safe???? Oh and um the turkey is still partially frozen can I put it back in the fridge ??? Until tomorrow?
Good luck to all of you who didn’t have time to plan ahead to thaw your turkey. Please don’t ask me to sanction practices that might be detrimental to the health of your family and friends. It might be fine, it might be disastrous. Here are the best ways to plan ahead:
Turkey Thawing Tips
Happy Thanksgiving!
Peggy
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I took my ten pound turkey out of the freezer and put it in the fridge to thaw Sunday night, it is now 3am Thursday (Thanksgiving) and its still slightly frozen. My question is, is the bird still safe to cook being in the fridge that long to thaw. It was rock hard when I took it out of the freezer.
Jessica: Your refrigerator is colder than most. Yes, it is fine.
Peggy
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I bought two 9 lb tukey’s on monday (frozen). They have been in the fridge since will they be okay to cook on Sat.?
Jessica: If they were rock hard frozen on Monday, they should still be fine if they were stored in your refrigerator since you bought them. It’s hard to say when you don’t know expiration dates or how they were stored at the market.
Peggy
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I got a 18lb turkey, and put it in cold water when I got home and my son ran hot water in the turkey water, it was only in it for 20 minutes, and turkey is still frozen. Is it ok or do I need to get a new turkey (don’t want my family to get sick) I changed the water and it is sitting back in Cold water, but I am nervous! Also, since i’m doing the cold water method to dethaw can I put it in the fridge and cook it in the morning or do I need to cook it tonight??? Please Help.
I put two turkeys in the bottom of my fridge around 8:00 P.M. Tuesday night one being 14LBS and one 16LBS I need both of them to be thawed out by Friday afternoon will I need to do the cold water method on Friday?
Maggie: It will depend upon how cold you keep your refrigerator. You will be cutting it close. Check on Friday morning. You may need to finish with the cold water method.
Peggy
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I forgot to change the water when I was thawing my turkey. It was about 3hrs or so. Will it be ok?
Thanks
Lori: As long as the water remained cold, it should be okay. The water changes are to speed up the thawing process.
Peggy
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Hi…I purchased a completely frozen 16+ turkey on Monday late afternoon. I put it in the fridge that we barely use and it is just now thawed and today is Monday. I did not want to cook it frozen but now I am afraid it sat in the fridge for too long. It is a very cold fridge and rarely used.
I have a 27lb turkey and I just took it out of the freezer and put it in the fridge, it is Saturday night, midnight here, will it be ready to cook early, early Thursday morning?
I have a 12lb turk, its been in the freezer for a week now, my guy says not to take it out till tues, but i want to rub it and inject it, and all kinds of yummy things to it 3 days before the 27th, my guy says it will go bad if I do that.
Melissa: It depends on how cold you keep your refrigerator. You are cutting it close. Check it the day before. You may need to finish with the cold water thawing method.
Misa: Three days of marination (injection and seasoning) is too much. 24 hours is plenty, especially for a small bird.
Peggy
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I bought a frozen 14# turkey 11/15 and put in fridge with ice packs. Is it safe to brine 11/22 and roast on 11/24?
Nellie: I would not brine for more than 24 hours. With a 14-lb turkey, 12 to 16 hours should be plenty. If you over-do it, the meat starts to turn rubbery, because the salt in the brine actually begins to cure it. Keep in mind that many frozen turkeys are already somewhat brined. Check the packaging to see if it is enhanced. You can also tell by checking the nutritional data on the label. If there is a high sodium content, it is enhanced and already injected with a briny solution.
Peggy
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I’ve had a turkey frozen for the better part of a year. Will it still be good to eat?
It may suffer a bit in texture, John, but it shouldn’t kill you.
Peggy
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Peggy, I brought a 24 lb turkey it is frozen and I put it in the freg. Yesterday afternoon will it be done by thursday.
Sherry: Probably not. You need at least 1 day of thawing time for every 5 pounds of meat. You’ll probably need to switch to the cold water method on Wednesday.
Peggy
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hello, i bought a 22lb turkey on friday november 18th and it has been in the bottom fridge since then. will it be thawed by thursday morning? or have i started to thaw it too soon and put it back in the freezer?
thank you peggy
Star: It should be thawed by Thursday, but check on Wednesday to be sure. It all depends on how cold you keep your refrigerator.
Peggy
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I have a 23 pound turkey that I want to brine for about 20 hours starting Wednesday at noon. The turkey is thawing in the refrigerator, but I’m not convinced that it will be fully thawed for the brining by that time. Suggestions? Thank you.
Dawn: Better start checking it now. You might need to use the cold water method to get the innards out before you brine.
Peggy
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It’s Tuesday morning and my 22 lb turkey is frozen I just took it out this morning and need it thawed by Thanksgiving morning. Is it ok to leave it in it’s package in the sink for the day, like I would normally do when making chicken or steak? What is the best way to have it thawed and ready to brine?
Elsie: Use the cold water method.
Peggy
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I bought a frozen 14lb turkey on Sunday afternoon (11/20) and put it in the refrigerator. I just checked it (it is Tuesday evening) and it is still frozen solid, not even mushy on the top. Will it thaw in time or do I need to do the cold water method tomorrow?? Based on the guidelines (1 hr for every 5 lbs), it should be thawed in time, but sicne it’s still frozen, I’m getting concerned. I thought I planned far enough ahead!
Angie: Your refrigerator must stay very cold. Yes, do use the cold water method to thaw.
Peggy
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Thanks! I checked it again after I posted, and it actually was starting to thaw. Not mushy yet, but it was definitely thawing out. It’s our garage frig which we usually kept colder to keep drinks cold. I lowered it so it’s not as cold. I think/hope it’ll be ok. Otherwise I’ll start the cold water thawing method tomorrow night. Thank you for your quick response!
Help, first timer
I put a 16 lbs frozen turkey Sunday night in my fridge to thaw. Will it be safe to brine on Wednesday for at least 16 hours…in enough time to roast Thursday morning? Thank you for all your answers!
Chanel: Yes, it should be safe. Enjoy!
Peggy
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I bought a frozen solid 18lb turkey on Wednesday November 16th. I’ve had it in the fridge since 6pm Wednesday night and it was fully dethawed on Monday morning. Do you think it is safe to cook this Thursday for Thanksgiving? Should I buy a new one and dispose of this one? Kind of scared- I don’t want to get sick.
Bella: That’s hard to say, without knowing the holding temperature of your refrigerator. It may okay because most are enhanced with brine and preservatives when you buy them, which helps preserve poultry. Then again, you don’t really know how it was kept in the store before you bought it. I can’t tell you for sure, obviously. Your nose should be a good indicator. When in doubt, throw it out.
Peggy
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Hello,
I have a 23lb frozen turkey that I was thawing using the cold water method, however I fell asleep and the turkey sat in cold water for about 5 hours without being changed every 1/2 hour. Would it be safe to cook and eat? or should I buy another turkey?
Daphne: It should be fine if you refrigerated it after thawing.
Peggy
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I took my 23pound turkey out of the freezer on Monday night and put it in the fridge.. it is still frozen solid. Can i use the cold water method today?
Mrs. B: Yes, use the cold water method.
Peggy
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I bought a 21.5 lb frozen turkey (and put it in the bottom of our fridge) on Friday the 18th. We are having our Thanksgiving on Saturday at noon (not Thursday). I checked the turkey today and it feels mostly thawed on one side but still icy on the other, so I turned the tray around.
Assuming it will probably be mostly thawed by Thursday, so will it be okay to leave it thawed in the fridge until early Saturday morning?
First Thanksgiving: Keep it refrigerated in its package and it should be fine.
Peggy
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Bought a 16 lb turkey on Sunday. It was frozen and I
Put it in the fridge where it’s been ever since. Until last night when my husband took it out and left it on the counter overnight for about 9 hours. I feel like it needs to be thrown our but he doesn’t agree. Who is right??
Heather: It may be all right, but I cannot recommend eating it due to the potential of salmonella growth.
Peggy
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i just took mine out of the fridge where its been since saturday. its a block of ice. my fridge was set at 4 and i cant understand why this bird hasnt thawed one bit. if its not thawed by tomorrow morning im thinking exactly the same thing. toss it in the garbage and enjoy the spiral ham. lol good luck
I have a 18 pound Turkey I used the cold water to partly. Thaw Wednesday. Is it OK to put back into the fridge over night to cook in the morning. Thank u
Steve: As long as it was kept icy cold, it should be fine.
Peggy
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EXACT same question as Steve! Are our turkeys ok after using cold water thawing on wednesday afternoon/evening then back in fridge for about 8 hours (overnight) then cook. Turkey was taken out of original wrapping about 11pm. Is it ok or must I hunt down a fresh turkey first thing Thursday morning!?
Elsa: As I responded to Steve, as long as you kept it icy cold, it should be fine.
Peggy
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My first turkey and I did a no no. A 13lb turkey I let it thaw in the sink for 36 hours and then did the brine and stuck it in the fridge. THEN I looked up how to oven cook it and found I had done this wrong. Is it safe? I was going to leave it in the brine overnight and cook it.
Lindsay: Whoa…that’s definitely an iffy situation. Cannot guarantee the safety of that bird. That was a long time for a smaller turkey. Personally, I wouldn’t chance it.
Peggy
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Turkey thawed but is a little yellow in some places – is that ok? Was thawed by late last night and was in refridge overnight out of orig packaging but covered up.
Beth: It should be fine. The yellow spots are just concentrated pigments in the skin.
Peggy
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I purchased a 26 pound turkey. I plan to thaw it in refrigerator for 7 days. Is this too long?
For cooking purposes, I plan to cook the turkey for about 6 hours. Is this long enough? There are no additional charts for this large of a turkey. I am having 20 people over for Christmas dinner!
Andrea: You probably will need all of those 7 days to thaw such a large bird, especially considering our refrigerators are kept much colder these days. Be sure to check it the day before in case you need to finish the thaw with the cold-water method.
As for roasting time, it probably will take at least 6 to 7 hours at 325 F. for an unstuffed bird and even longer if the turkey is stuffed. Use a meat thermometer to be sure it reaches 165 F. when inserted into the thickest part of the thigh (not touching any bone). Do NOT trust those plastic pop-up thermometers that come implanted in many turkeys/chickens these days.
And don’t forget about your resting time, which should be at least 30 minutes, if not 1 hour, for that size of a bird.
Peggy
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Hiya i have a 12lb turkey in the freezer for christmas day and im not sure when i should take it out?
Thanks
After turkey is completely thawed how many days can it stayed thawed before cooking.
Sam: I would put it in the bottom of the refrigerator right now to thaw.
Rosemarie: You should ideally cook it within 24 hours.
Peggy
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Hello, I bought a 21 pound frozen turkey Monday afternoon and want to start cooking on Sunday. Should it be okay?
I purchased a frozen 21 pound turkey and placed in the fridge on Sunday – my dinner is on Saturday. Is 7 days too long to leave in the fridge?
Wayne: It should be in the bottom of your refrigerator now to thaw. Check it the day before in case you need to switch to the cold water method.
Dawn: If your refrigerator temperature is proper, it should be just fine.
Peggy
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I have an 18 lb turkey I bought today, frozen. I need to cook it Christmas morning. My NEW fridge is stuck on 32 degrees–I don’t think this thing will ever thaw. When should I start the cold water method–tomorrow? Thanks and Merry Christmas!
Liz: Yes, I would begin the cold water method tomorrow.
Peggy
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Hello. I have a frozen 21 pound turkey. I put it in a sink full of HOT water for about 1-1/2 hours. I then read I should not do that so I drained the water and it’s now in COLD water. Is it too late? Will my turkey be okay for tomorrow?
Thank you.
Sonja: I would not eat it. Sorry.
Peggy
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Hi, We bought a frozen 10 lb turkey last Sunday. We had it in our fridge (runs cold) all week and pulled it out to cook today. There were still little ice crystals inside of it. It smells fine but looks a little strange, the skin is pulled away from the meat in the breast area. Is this ok? Happy Holidays!
Dani: It’s hard to say without looking at it. I’m not quite sure what you mean about the skin being pulled away from the breast area.
Peggy
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I have a Turkey that (17lbs.) I took out on Dec. 21 to thaw (completely frozen). It’s still slightly frozen. Is it still good? And if so, what can I do to have it ready for tomorrow?
Sonya: As long as it was refrigerated the entire time, it should be fine. If it is not thawed by tomorrow, finish with the cold water method.
Peggy
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If I took a 20 pound turkey out of the freezer on Friday afternoon and plan to cook it on the following Friday will that be okay?
Terri: It should be fine. Check it the day before to see if you need to switch to the cold water method. Make sure it is refrigerated at all times before that.
Peggy
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HI Peggy-
I took a deep frozen 13lb turkey out on Sat. afternoon and put in the fridge to thaw, on Monday when I was planning to cook it, my parents saw it was still forzen. Decided to do a short water bath, and then put it in the fridge until today (Tuesday). I’m concerned about its safety.. Your thoughts?
Theresa: How long was the (cold, I hope) water bath? Is it completely thawed?
Peggy
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i have a problem i took my turkey out of the freezer put it on the counter……….forgot about it
it sat out for almost 24 hours its still cold. i havent opened the wrapper it may still have ice in the cavity its a 14lber
Lillian: I certainly would not take a chance on eating that turkey after it had been sitting at room temperature for 24 hours. Sorry…
Peggy
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