Buying a frozen turkey in advance is a great way to spread the cost of Christmas. Frozen turkeys are often cheaper too, meaning you can usually bag a higher-welfare bird for a lower price. But how do you safely defrost a turkey in time for the Big Day?
Whatever you do, please don’t defrost your turkey by letting it sit on the kitchen counter – that’s a sure-fire way to increase the risk of getting food poisoning! Defrosting your turkey at the bottom of the fridge is the safest and easiest method.
HOW TO DEFROST YOUR TURKEY IN THE FRIDGE
- Always defrost your turkey in the fridge, in a bowl or large container to catch any juices.
- Always place your turkey at the bottom of the fridge to defrost – this will prevent any raw turkey juices dripping onto other food and contaminating them with potential food-poisoning bacteria.
- Whole turkeys take a long time to defrost, and a large bird can take up to 4 days. The packaging should specify how long to defrost the product for, but as a guide you should allow 10 hours per kilo. So if you have a 6-8kg turkey, it’ll need 2-3 days to defrost – pop it in the fridge on 22 December, so it’s ready for you to prep on Christmas Eve.
- Remember: always thoroughly wash your hands after handling raw meat and clean down kitchen surfaces properly.
HOW TO COOK YOUR TURKEY
Make a note of the weight of your turkey and the suggested cooking time if you buy your bird online or from a butcher – you’re going to need it to calculate the cooking time! Supermarket turkeys should be clearly labelled, which is super-handy.
Calculate your cooking time using the weight as a guide, and don’t forget: your turkey will need to rest after it’s come out of the oven, before carving. Turkeys between 4-6kg should be rested for 1½ hours, and ones from 6-10kg can rest for up to 2 hours.
On the day you want to cook your turkey, get it out of the fridge 30 minutes before it needs to go in the oven – you’ll get less shrinkage when it goes into a hot oven. Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/gas 4, then follow the timings below:
4-5kg – cook 2¼ to 2½ hours
5-6kg – cook 2½ to 3 hours
6-7kg – cook 3 hours to 3½ hours
7-8kg – cook 3½ to 4 hours
8-9kg – cook 4 to 4¼ hours
9-10kg – cook 4¼ to 4½ hours
Roast the turkey for the required time, or until the juices run clear from the thickest part of the thigh if you pierce it with a knife or a skewer. Using a meat thermometer, check the internal temperature of the turkey. A supermarket high-welfare bird should be cooked to at least 70ºC. If you have a dry-plucked, dry-aged, excellent quality bird, you can cook it to 65ºC to be safe to eat.
Remember, if you’ve frozen cooked food, don’t freeze it again after reheating it. Use up the cold leftovers in lovely festive sandwiches and salads, instead.
Cooking on a budget this Christmas? A turkey crown is a fantastic alternative to a traditional whole bird. Learn how to cook a turkey crown here.
FAQs
Always defrost your turkey in the fridge, in a bowl or large container to catch any juices. Always place your turkey at the bottom of the fridge to defrost – this will prevent any raw turkey juices dripping onto other food and contaminating them with potential food-poisoning bacteria.
What is the safest way to thaw a frozen turkey? ›
The USDA recommends thawing your turkey in the refrigerator. This is the safest method because the turkey will thaw at a consistent, safe temperature. This method takes some time, so allow one day for each 4 - 5 pounds of weight. If your turkey weighs 16 pounds, it will take about four days to thaw.
Where is the best place to thaw a turkey in the fridge? ›
The Best Place to Thaw Your Thanksgiving Turkey In Your Refrigerator Is On the Bottom Shelf | Rachael Ray Show.
How do you make sure the turkey is completely thawed? ›
Check your turkey thaw with an instant-read thermometer
Use an instant-read thermometer, like our Thermapen® ONE, to verify your turkey's internal temperature in multiple locations before putting it in the oven. It should be above 32°F (0°C) That's right, you measure the temperature of your turkey before you cook it!
Is it safe to defrost a turkey in cold water overnight? ›
Thawing turkey in a sink of cold water is faster than thawing in the refrigerator, but it's not safe to leave it in the sink to thaw overnight. To thaw your turkey in the sink: Keep the wrapper on your turkey and put it in a large, leakproof plastic bag.
Why do you have to change the water every 30 minutes when thawing a turkey? ›
Submerge the wrapped turkey in the water and change the water every 30 minutes in order to help to ward off any contaminating bacteria. Allow 30 minutes of thawing time for each pound of turkey, which translates to about six hours for a 12-pound turkey.
How long does it take to thaw a 10 lb turkey? ›
How Long to Thaw a Turkey
| Turkey Weight | How Long to Thaw in the Fridge | How Long to Thaw in Cold Water |
|---|
| 10 to 18 pounds | 2 to 3½ days | 5 to 9 hours |
| 18 to 22 pounds | 3½ to 4½ days | 9 to 11 hours |
| 22 to 24 pounds | 4½ to 5 days | 11 to 12 hours |
| 24 to 29 pounds | 5 to 6 days | 12 to 15 hours |
Oct 12, 2023
A package of frozen meat or poultry left thawing on the counter more than 2 hours is not at a safe temperature. Even though the center of the package may still be frozen, the outer layer of the food is in the "Danger Zone" between 40 and 140 °F — at a temperature where foodborne bacteria multiply rapidly.
Is it OK to defrost turkey out of fridge? ›
Always defrost in a fridge, not at room temperature.
All Waitrose turkeys that have been frozen at home, or bought frozen, must be defrosted before they are cooked.
What to do if my turkey is still frozen? ›
If your turkey is still frozen solid:
Try a safe quick-thawing method. Cold water: Keep the bird in its airtight packaging or a leak-proof bag, submerge it in cold water, and change the water every 30 minutes. Microwave: Use your manufacturer guidelines to thaw for about 6 minutes per pound.
Place unopened turkey, breast side up, on a tray in refrigerator and follow our refrigerator thawing instructions. Allow at least 24 hours for every 4 pounds. To thaw more quickly, place unopened turkey breast down in sink filled with cold tap water. Allow 30 minutes per pound.
Do you rinse a thawed turkey before cooking? ›
It doesn't matter if you're roasting, frying, or smoking your turkey, there's no need to give it a rinse unless you've brined it (more on that below). Cooking the turkey kills any bacteria, but washing a turkey before you cook it opens the door to dangerous cross contamination.
Can you thaw a turkey in a cooler without water? ›
Just get a cooler large enough to hold your turkey, make sure it's clean and put it in. That's all. The frozen turkey will provide its own refrigeration while it thaws. Depending on weight this can take three or four days.
Is it better to cook a turkey at 325 or 350? ›
We recommend roasting turkey at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 13 minutes per pound for an unstuffed turkey. We've done the math for you — check out the chart below to determine both turkey cook times and estimated servings (with leftovers!).
Should I unwrap turkey to thaw? ›
Thaw turkey breast side up, in an unopened wrapper on a tray in the fridge (40 degrees F or below). Allow at least one day of thawing for every 4 lbs of turkey. Keep turkey in original wrapper and place on tray. Use turkey within four days after thawing.
How to safely thaw a turkey quickly? ›
In cold water
A faster thawing method is to submerge the frozen bird in cold water. You need to change the water every 30 minutes to be safe. While this method is faster, it still takes about 30 minutes per pound for complete thawing. Cook the turkey immediately after thawing.
Will a frozen turkey contain bacteria if you thaw it completely? ›
Any foods that can go bad -- like raw or cooked meat, poultry, and eggs -- must thaw at safe temperatures. When frozen food gets warmer than 40 degrees or is at room temperature for more than 2 hours, it's in the danger zone where bacteria multiply quickly.
What's the best way to thaw a frozen turkey ServSafe? ›
Thawing temperature has to be controlled, and there are only four correct ways to thaw frozen foods: In the cooler at 41° F or lower. In a microwave (if the food is to be cooked immediately) Submerged under 70° F or lower running water.
What to do if frozen turkey is not thawing? ›
One way is to submerge the turkey in cold water. To do this, leave the turkey in the original package and put it in a properly sanitized sink or container full of cold water under 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Set the timer for 30 minutes. Next, change the water, replacing it with cold water.
When should I take the turkey out of the freezer? ›
Refrigerator thawing times for a frozen whole turkey:
- 4 to 12 pounds: 1 to 3 days ahead.
- 12 to 16 pounds: 3 to 4 days ahead.
- 16 to 20 pounds: 4 to 5 days ahead.
- 20 to 24 pounds: 5 to 6 days ahead.
