You'll need to thaw that large bird before you can transform a rock-hard frozen turkey into the star of your Thanksgiving meal. You can defrost a frozen turkey in three ways: slowly, moderately, and quickly. Check out the instructions on how to thaw a turkey below and decide which procedure and timeframe suit your needs the most, whether you're a planner or require a quick fix.
Slowly: in the fridge to defrost
How long it takes: For every 5 pounds of turkey, allow around 24 hours. It will take roughly 3 days for a 15-pound chicken to completely defrost.
In-fridge turkey thawing suggestions
While the
turkey is thawing, keep it wrapped in its original packaging.
Place breast-side-up in a baking pan to prevent any drips from contaminating other items and refrigerator surfaces.
The thawed
turkey can be kept in the refrigerator for up to two days before cooking.
 |
| how to Thaw a Frozen Turkey safely |
Medium: In Cold Water, Thaw
Approximately
30 minutes should be allotted for every pound of turkey. It will take between
712 and 8 hours for a 15-pound bird to thaw completely.
Keep the
turkey in its original packaging and place it in a bigger, leak-proof plastic
bag before placing it in cold water to defrost. Remove any surplus air from the
bag and shut it.
In a sink or
bucket big enough so the turkey will be completely submerged, place the wrapped
bag breast-side down. Use cold water to fill. To keep the turkey completely
submerged, you might need to cover it with a plate and stack some heavy cans on
top of it. Every 30 minutes, change the cold water. As soon as the turkey is thawed, cook
it.
It is also
feasible to combine the two approaches: thaw the food in the refrigerator for
the first two days, then finish in the sink early on Thanksgiving morning.
Fast: Thaw quickly in a microwave
How long it takes: To find out how to thaw a frozen turkey, consult your oven's user handbook. From model to model, times and power settings will differ. Generally speaking, depending on the size of the turkey, the defrost setting could take an hour or longer.
How to
Microwave Thaw a Turkey?
- Take the turkey out of the packaging and remove any metal tags or clips.
- To collect any drips, place the turkey breast side up in a microwave-safe pan.
- To avoid cross-contamination, clean the interior of your microwave once the turkey has defrosted.
- As soon as the turkey is thawed, cook it.
Times of Turkey Thawing
- The times indicated are based on thawing a complete frozen turkey and are approximate.
- For every 5 pounds of food, thawing in the refrigerator takes around 24 hours at a temperature of 40 degrees F. (5 degrees C).
- It takes around 30 minutes per pound of body weight to completely thaw in cold water, replenished every 30 minutes.
How Long Does It Take a Turkey to Thaw?
- Turkey Size How Long Does It Take to Thaw in the Fridge?
- How Long Does It Take to Thaw in Cold Water 10 to 18 Pounds 5 to 9 hours 2 to 312 days
- 18 to 22 kg
- 312 to 412 days
- 9–11 hours, 22–24 pounds
- 412–5 days 11–12 hours
- between 24 and 29 pounds
- five to six days
- between 12 and 15 hours
How Long to Thaw a Frozen Turkey?
|
Turkey Weight |
How Long to Thaw In the Fridge |
How Long to Thaw In Cold Water |
|
10 - 18 pounds |
2 - 3½ days |
5 - 9 hours |
|
18 -22 pounds |
3½ - 4½ days |
9 - 11 hours |
|
22 -24 pounds |
4½ t 5 days |
11 -12 hours |
|
24 -29 pounds |
5 - 6 days |
12 - 15 hours |
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