Turkeys: Safe Thawing

• “The Big Thaw”
• Safe Methods for Thawing
• Refrigerator Thawing
• Refrigerator Thawing Times
• Cold Water Thawing
• Cold Water Thawing Times
• Microwave Thawing

“The Big Thaw”
Turkeys must be kept at a safe temperature during “the big thaw.” While frozen, a turkey is safe indefinitely. However, as soon as it begins to thaw, any bacteria that may have been present before freezing can begin to grow again.

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.

There are three safe ways to thaw food: in the refrigerator, in cold water, and in the microwave oven.

[Top of Page]

Safe Methods for Thawing
Immediately after grocery store checkout, take the frozen turkey home and store it in the freezer.

Frozen turkeys should not be left on the back porch, in the car trunk, in the basement, or any place else where temperatures cannot be constantly monitored.

[Top of Page]

Refrigerator Thawing
When thawing a turkey in the refrigerator:

• Plan ahead: allow approximately 24 hours for each 4 to 5 pounds in a refrigerator set at 40 °F or below.
• Place the turkey in a container to prevent the juices from dripping on other foods.

[Top of Page]

Refrigerator Thawing Times
Whole turkey:

•  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

A thawed turkey can remain in the refrigerator for 1 or 2 days before cooking. Foods thawed in the refrigerator can be refrozen without cooking but there may be some loss of quality.

[Top of Page]

Cold Water Thawing
Allow about 30 minutes per pound.

First be sure the turkey is in a leak-proof plastic bag to prevent cross-contamination and to prevent the turkey from absorbing water, resulting in a watery product.

Submerge the wrapped turkey in cold tap water. Change the water every 30 minutes until the turkey is thawed. Cook the turkey immediately after it is thawed.

[Top of Page]
Continued below…

Product listing

APW Wyott 12" x 27" CW-3A Countertop Food Cooker 120V

Current price:

416.61

'Buy now' item

Ends in:

0d 0h 15m

Precise Heat 12" Stainless Steel Deep Electric Skillet /Slow Cooker Deep Fryer

Current price:

74.29

'Buy now' item

Ends in:

0d 0h 16m

 

NOTE: to keep the site running smoothly, product data is only refreshed once every 10 minutes, approximately. Click on a product to see the most up-to-date data on the seller's page.

•  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

A turkey thawed by the cold water method should be cooked immediately. After cooking, meat from the turkey can be refrozen.

[Top of Page]

Microwave Thawing
Follow the microwave oven manufacturer’s instruction when defrosting a turkey. Plan to cook it immediately after thawing because some areas of the food may become warm and begin to cook during microwaving. Holding partially cooked food is not recommended because any bacteria present wouldn’t have been destroyed.

A turkey thawed in the microwave must be cooked immediately.

[Top of Page]