How to Safely Thaw a Frozen Turkey
Why you should know this: There’s no bigger disaster than carving a turkey at the table only to find it frozen in the center. Learn to safely thaw a bird, plus a quick method if you’re time-crunched.
Frozen turkeys are convenient and can cut down on last-minute shopping for Thanksgiving, but when it comes time to get it in the oven, your turkey needs to be fully thawed. Here’s how to thaw your bird safely.
Method 1: The Standard Way
Place the frozen turkey in a large disposable aluminum roasting pan supported by a baking sheet and let thaw in the refrigerator.
Plan on 1 day of defrosting for every 4 pounds of turkey; a 20-pound bird will take about 5 days.
Method 2: Emergency Quick Thaw
To thaw frozen turkey quickly, leave it wrapped in the original packaging, and place it in a large bucket of cold water.
Plan on 30 minutes of defrosting for every 1 pound of turkey; a 20-pound bird will take about 10 hours.
Important: Change cold water every half hour to guard against bacteria growth.
