Have you purchased a frozen Thanksgiving turkey and have it sitting in the freezer? Depending on the size of the turkey, now might be time for you to begin thawing your bird.
Here is a general rule of thumb on when to move your turkey from the freezer to the refrigerator, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture:
- 4 to 12 pounds — 1 to 3 days
- 12 to 16 pounds — 3 to 4 days
- 16 to 20 pounds — 4 to 5 days
- 20 to 24 pounds —5 to 6 days
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But what if you miss the deadline? Now what? You can thaw the turkey using water, but it does require some labor.
According to the USDA, after placing the turkey in a water-tight bag, submerge the wrapped turkey in cold tap water. Then, change the water every 30 minutes until thawed.
Here is how long it takes to thaw a turkey using water:
- 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
Once a turkey is thawed, the USDA says a turkey must be cooked within one to two days before becoming contaminated.
The USDA also says it is safe to cook a turkey from a frozen state, but it generally takes about 50% longer.
As a reminder, turkeys need to be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
