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Learn how to thaw a turkey and how long to a thaw a turkey safely. Need to thaw and cook your turkey fast? There is a safe, easy solution for that too!
Table of Contents
- Thawing Methods
- 1. Refrigerator Thawing (Recommended)
- 2. Cold Water Thawing
- 3. Microwave Method
- 4. Cooking a Frozen Turkey
- Tips for Thawing and Cooking a Turkey
- How NOT to Thaw a Turkey
- How to Cook A Turkey
- Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas
- Frequently Asked Questions About Thawing a Turkey
- How to Thaw a Turkey Recipe
Thawing Methods
We’ve all been there… Thanksgiving day is approaching, your frozen turkey is in the freezer, and you’re not sure when to take it out. And, what do you do if it’s the day before Thanksgiving, and you forgot to thaw it in the fridge? Not to worry. Whether you are ahead of the game or procrastinated a bit too long, we’ve go you covered.
There are several thawing methods you can use to thaw a whole turkey from thawing in the refrigerator to quick thawing in cold water. We will go into each method in detail below. When thawing turkey, or any poultry, food safety is the #1 priority. We follow the USDA guidelines for each of these methods.
1. Refrigerator Thawing (Recommended)
The best way to thaw a frozen turkey safely is thawing in the refrigerator. This allows for the frozen, wrapped turkey to thaw at a slow rate. It is also the easiest way to thaw a turkey. You simply just put it in the fridge on a tray (keep it in all the original packaging or outside wrapping) and allow it to thaw slowly.
How Long to Thaw a Turkey in the Refrigerator (Easy Chart)
Thawing turkeys is the most common around Thanksgiving, for obvious reasons. For those of you looking to thaw your Thanksgiving turkey, we have created this handy chart as a guide for when to start thawing that turkey. This chart is current for the year 2024:
Refrigerator Turkey Thawing Time
8 to 12 pounds: 2-3 days
12 to 16 pounds: 3-4 days
16 to 20 pounds: 4-5 days
20 to 24 pounds: 5-6 days
2. Cold Water Thawing
The main objection to thawing a turkey using the refrigerator is sacrificing the fridge space. Sometimes having a 20-pound turkey in your fridge for a week isn’t the most convenient, especially on the days leading up to Thanksgiving. In this case, your next best bet is to cold-water thaw.
Steps for Cold Water Thawing
- Place the frozen turkey, breast side down, in a sink filled with cold tap water. Keep the turkey in the original wrapper. It will take 30 minutes per pound to thaw the turkey with this method.
- Change the water every 30 minutes. This is a must! Drain the water and replace with fresh, cold water. Set an alarm or timer so you don’t forget.
- This method can take up to 10 hours depending on the size of your turkey so plan accordingly for the day. This method is faster but requires attentiveness.
Cold Water Thawing Times
A general rule of thumb for thawing turkey in cold water is 30 minutes of thawing per pound of turkey. Here is a quick guide:
4 to 12 pounds: 2 to 6 hours
12 to 16 pounds: 6 to 8 hours
16 to 20 pounds: 8 to 10 hours
20 to 24 pounds: 10 to 12 hours
3. Microwave Method
Microwave thawing really only works for smaller turkeys that can actually fit in a microwave. This method works best for turkey breasts. Place the turkey breast on a microwave-safe dish and use the thaw/defrost function on your microwave. Thaw according to microwave instructions. Be sure to rotate and turn often throughout the process. Though this method is possible, it isn’t one we recommend. Your turkey is more likely to end up dry using this method.
4. Cooking a Frozen Turkey
Ok, so what if you REALLY waited until the last minute and you are only hours away from your Thanksgiving feast? What if it is Thanksgiving morning and you just realized you have a frozen solid turkey on your hands? Don’t worry! All is not lost!
Did you know that you can cook your frozen bird in the oven? That’s right. You can put the turkey straight into that roasting pan from frozen. This is how you do it:
How to Cook a Frozen Turkey in the Oven
- Remove the gravy packet or gizzards from inside the turkey before cooking.
- Cook the turkey according to the steps in our How to Cook a Turkey post. Allow for 50% more cooking time. So if your turkey takes 4 hours to cook when thawed, allow up to 2 more hours of additional cooking time.
- This method works great in a pinch but it does have its disadvantages. Seasoning a turkey from frozen can be difficult and may have to be done part-way through the cooking process so the spices and seasonings stick.
Tips for Thawing and Cooking a Turkey
- Always use a food thermometer to determine doneness when cooking a turkey. Insert the thermometer in the thickest part of the breast and also the thigh before serving. Fully cooked is 165-degrees F for the breast meat and 175-degrees F for the thigh.
- If using the cold water method in the sink, be sure to sanitize the sink with bleach or soap afterwards. Some of the juices may have leaked out into the sink so you will want to stop any bacterial growth or cross contamination.
- Pat your thawed turkey dry with paper towels before seasoning. This will help the oils and seasonings stick to the turkey when cooking.
- You can always start thawing your turkey earlier than the dates suggested above. Once thawed, you can continue to keep your turkey in the fridge for up to 4 days.
How NOT to Thaw a Turkey
Do not place your turkey outside or on the counter to thaw. Thawing at room temperature allows bacteria to grow and is not safe. The turkey will be in the danger zone for too long. Some say that you can thaw your turkey in a brine but we have not tested this method nor has it been given the green light with the USDA. We have checked the methods above with the USDA website and with FoodSafety.gov and they are the only methods we have found to be completely safe. Always err on the side of caution. Thawing in the dishwasher, on the back porch, in the garage, or any method besides the methods mentioned above are not safe. If you question if a different method is safe, it probably isn’t. It’s not worth the risk of food poisoning.
How to Cook A Turkey
Now that you have a freshly thawed turkey, it’s time to cook it! We have an entire post on how to cook a turkey, including step-by-step directions, seasoning instructions, and even an easy video to show you how. You can’t go wrong! We will help you every step of the way.
Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas
We are happy to be your source for all things Thanksgiving! We have absolutely everything you need to have the best Thanksgiving EVER!
Frequently Asked Questions About Thawing a Turkey
NO. Leaving a turkey out overnight or even more than an hour is not safe.
The very quickest way to thaw AND cook a turkey is to just cook it from frozen. If you are wanting to make sure the turkey is completely thawed before cooking, the cold water method is the best. See directions for both methods above to decide which is best for your situation.
If you have thawed the turkey in the refrigerator it can be stored for up to 2 more days in the refrigerator. If you thaw a turkey in cold water it needs to be cooked immediately. It should not be stored in the fridge after thawing.
How to Thaw a Turkey
Ingredients
- 1 frozen turkey
- cold water (option 2)
Instructions
Refrigerator Method:
- Keeping the turkey in its original wrapping, place the frozen turkey on a tray and place on the lowest shelf in the refrigerator.
- Allow 24 hours for every 4-5 pounds of frozen turkey.
Cold Water Method:
- Thaw the turkey breast side down in cold tap water for 30 minutes per pound. You MUST change the water every 30 minutes. Drain the water and replace with fresh, cold water.
Fastest Method:
- No need to thaw at all! Just cook your turkey from frozen! Just add 50% more cooking time to your recipe. Remember to remove any gravy packets or giblets before cooking.
Notes
- The cold water method can take up to 10 hours depending on the size of your turkey so plan accordingly for the day. This method is faster but requires attentiveness.
- If using the cold water method, clean your sink well with soap or bleach after thawing to kill any possible bacteria.
- Do NOT thaw your turkey on a counter top at room temperature. Only use the methods above for a safe thaw.
I stopped thawing in water and put back in the fridge , as we are going to cook it on Christmas day, it is still pretty frozen.
Excellent advice. We use to thaw out our turkey on the counter, thank the Lord, no one ever got sick from that. Now we unthaw it in the fridge for at least 5 or 6 days.