How To Safely Thaw A Turkey

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and if you’re like most Americans, you’ve already got a bird in your freezer just waiting to make its delicious debut. Don’t wait to long to start defrosting that bird, it takes longer than you think.

While you may have picked out the perfect turkey recipe to cook your bird, have you made a plan for how to thaw it? If not, we’ve got you covered with three safe methods and practical tips for making your Thanksgiving turkey oven ready.

Why proper thawing matters

When gathering with family and friends to celebrate all the things you are grateful for in your life, the one thing nobody wants brought to the table is food poisoning. Also on that list is a turkey that isn’t fully cooked because it never thawed out. Talk about ways to ruin your Thanksgiving or Christmas Dinner!

Food safety should always be the most essential thing to consider when handling raw poultry. Your goal is to keep your turkey out of the danger zone of 40 F to 140 F as much as possible to prevent bacterial growth. Additionally, you must maintain clean surfaces by disinfecting everything that comes into contact with the raw meat or juices and washing your hands often.

Outside of food safety, how you thaw your turkey can have a considerable impact on the meat’s texture:

Uneven thawing can leave you with a bird that has perfectly crispy skin and an icy core.
Thawing the turkey too quickly can make your turkey tough and chewy instead of tender and juicy. Nobody wants to eat tough turkey.

How To Safely Thaw A Turkey

So, how do you safely and efficiently thaw your bird so you can present the most delectably delicious Thanksgiving centerpiece? Use one of these USDA-approved methods for thawing a turkey:

Refrigerator thawing

Hands down, the best way to thaw a turkey is in the refrigerator. Moving the turkey from the freezer’s bitter cold 0 F environment into a fridge set between 37 F and 39 F keeps the turkey out of the danger zone and allows it to break out of its icy shell at its own pace.

The biggest drawbacks of this method are the time and space required to get the job done. You can’t just plop your frozen turkey on the shelf. It needs to be in pan to contain any leaking juices.You don’t want your overnight breakfast casserole getting cross-contaminated with raw poultry juice.

This method requires 24 hours in the fridge for every 4-5 pounds of turkey. Considering an average Thanksgiving turkey weighs 12-14 pounds, it will take between two and a half to three and a half days for your turkey to thaw. Bigger birds could be thawing in the fridge for

If you plan on using a wet brine like this herbed buttermilk turkey, you’ll want to start thawing on Friday. That way you have time to thaw and then brine it.

Cold water thawing

If you find yourself reading this article on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving then you haven’t been planning ahead. And you’ve already realized you don’t have time for a low and slow refrigerator thaw.

Instead, the best method for you will be a cold water bath. Instead of taking days to thaw, the cold water method will thaw a 12-14 pound frozen turkey in six to seven hours, or 30 minutes per pound of turkey. If you use this method, you MUST cook the bird as soon as it’s thawed.

Microwave thawing

Yes, you read that correctly. You can safely thaw a turkey in your microwave — if it fits. Check your microwave’s owner’s manual for the specific details of which settings to use and how long it will take. Most manuals are available online if that’s an issue for you.

The first thing to do when opting for this thawing method is to ensure your turkey is small enough to fit in the microwave with room to rotate it and flip it over. Remove all packaging from the turkey, including metal clips and pop-up timers before using the microwave to thaw. Like the cold water method, a turkey defrosted in the microwave must be cooked immediately after thawing.

According To The USDA

You CAN safely cook a fully frozen turkey but it will take up to 50% LONGER to reach the desired final temperature of 165°F. And a partially frozen turkey can be cooked as well. Again it will take longer.

So plan for that if you didn’t quite get your turkey thawed in advance.