Before you start seasoning or roasting, you need to make sure your turkey is thawed safely. This post walks you through how to defrost a turkey with clear steps and includes a free turkey thawing chart to help you know exactly when to start.
Grab the FREE turkey thawing chart at the bottom of the post too!
Check out all the other Easy Recipes for Thanksgiving to create the perfect holiday meal for your family.
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At-a-Glance: Turkey Thawing Chart
Prep: 10 min | Defrost Time: Up to 4 days | Difficulty: Easy
Main Ingredients: whole turkey, refrigerator space, thawing chart
Best For: Planning ahead for holiday turkey meals
Make Ahead: Thawing can be scheduled several days in advance based on turkey size
Storage: Keep turkey refrigerated while thawing and until ready to bake.
After you've read this post, please read my post on How to Roast a Turkey.
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Table of Contents
- At-a-Glance: Turkey Thawing Chart
- How to Safely Defrost a Turkey
- Can you thaw a Turkey in Hot Water?
- How long can you keep a Thawed Turkey in the Refrigerator?
- Can you Roast a Partially Frozen Turkey?
- Turkey Thawing and Roasting Charts Printable
- Thanksgiving FAQ's
- More Thanksgiving Recipes:
- Indulge in Flavor, Not Ads - Get Your Ad-Free Digital Cookbook Today!
- LOVE this recipe? SAVE it for Later!
- 📖 Recipe Card
- 💬 Comments
How to Safely Defrost a Turkey
Before you can cook your turkey, you need to make sure it’s thawed safely. In this post, I’ll walk you through the two best methods for how to safely defrost a turkey: refrigerator thawing and cold water thawing.
Proper thawing is the key to a tender, juicy, and safe turkey your family will enjoy.
How long to Defrost a Turkey in the Refrigerator
You need to allow approximately 24 hours for every 5 pounds of turkey. Make sure you keep the turkey in the original wrapping. Place it on top of a baking tray to catch any drippings or juices that may leak out.
I like to defrost my turkey in a disposable aluminum roasting pan that I can just throw away once I start to prepare the turkey for roasting:
- 4 to 12 pound turkey - place the turkey in the refrigerator the Monday before Thanksgiving.
- 12 to 16 pound turkey - place in the refrigerator the Sunday before Thanksgiving.
- 16 to 20 pound turkey - place in the refrigerator the Saturday before Thanksgiving.
- 20 to 24 pound turkey - place in the refrigerator the Friday before Thanksgiving.
Defrosting Turkey in Water
Another way is defrosting a turkey in water or using a "water bath" with these easy steps:
- Again, you need to keep the turkey in its original wrapping.
- Find a bucket or tub large enough so the turkey fits and will be completely covered with the water.
- If your turkey is small enough, and you have a deep enough sink, you might be able to do it in the kitchen sink. But you need to make sure the entire turkey is submerged.
- I use a large storage container and place it in the shower stall of our downstairs bathroom.
- Fill the container with cold water.
- Add the turkey. Most likely you are going to need to place something on top of the turkey to keep it fully submerged under the water...because turkey's float! A large baking tray helps tremendously. Just make sure you put some water on top of the tray to keep it weighted down. Or you can place a few cans of soup on top as well.
- Change the water every 30 minutes. I always set a timer on my phone to help remind me. Preparing for Thanksgiving can be extremely time-consuming and you don't want to forget to change the water.
- You need to make sure the water stays cold. Use a Digital Meat Thermometer to make sure the water is at 40 degrees. You may need to add ice to get the water that cold as well.
Thaw Turkey in Sink Overnight
Another "water method" is to thaw the turkey in your sink. Thawing in this manner can take several hours, so be sure to plan ahead:
- First, make sure that your sink is clean and large enough to accommodate the turkey.
- Then, place the turkey in the sink and let cold water run over it, being careful not to let the water get warm...or hot.
- Change the water every 30 minutes. Again, set a timer to remind yourself.
- You need to make sure the water stays cold. Use a Digital Meat Thermometer to make sure the water is at 40 degrees. You may need to add ice to get the water that cold as well.
- Once the turkey is thawed, it's ready to be roasted.
Can you thaw a Turkey in Hot Water?
- You should never thaw a turkey using hot water. It poses a significant risk of salmonella contamination.
- You also should never thaw a turkey using a microwave. While it may seem like a convenient option, microwaving can cause uneven thawing and may even partially cook the turkey, creating hotspots where bacteria can thrive.
- Another method to avoid is thawing the turkey at room temperature. Leaving the turkey on the countertop or any warm area allows the outer layers to reach a temperature where bacteria can multiply rapidly, while the inner portion remains frozen. This creates an ideal breeding ground for harmful pathogens, increasing the risk of foodborne illnesses.
How long can you keep a Thawed Turkey in the Refrigerator?
- The USDA recommends that you cook a turkey within three to four days of thawing it in the refrigerator. If you're not planning to cook it within that timeframe, you can keep it frozen.
- A whole turkey will stay fresh in the freezer for up to one year, while Thanksgiving dinner leftovers can be stored in the freezer for up to four months.
Storage Tips
- If you plan to cook the turkey within 1-2 days, once the turkey is defrosted, you can store it in the refrigerator at or below 40°F.
- Keep the turkey in its original packaging and place it on a tray to catch any juices that may leak.
- To avoid cross-contamination, store the turkey separately from other foods in the refrigerator or freezer. This prevents any potential bacteria from spreading to other items.
No matter how you choose to store your turkey, be sure to follow food safety guidelines to avoid making your guests sick.
Can you Roast a Partially Frozen Turkey?
- You can roast a partially frozen turkey. You'll need to adjust cooking time.
- Keep in mind that a partially frozen turkey will require extra cooking time. Estimate about 50% longer cooking time than if the turkey was fully thawed.
- Check out my step-by-step instructions for How to Roast a Turkey here.
Turkey Thawing and Roasting Charts Printable
Keep these two helpful charts in your kitchen while planning your Thanksgiving meal. One shows turkey thawing times and the other covers roasting times.
Fill out the form below and confirm your email. The printable will be sent straight to your inbox.
Thanksgiving FAQ's
To view the answers, simply click on the down arrow (⬇) next to each question. If you have any other questions not answered here, please leave a comment!
No, you should never thaw a frozen turkey on the counter at room temperature. You risk the chance of the outer layer of the turkey being exposed to bacteria for far too long to be safe to cook and consume.
It's perfectly safe to cook a partially frozen turkey in the oven. You need to adjust the cooking time because it will take longer for a partially frozen turkey to cook than a fully defrosted one.
To keep a turkey from floating while thawing or brining, place something heavy on top such as a plate, bowl, or a water-filled zip-top bag to hold it underwater. You can also remove any trapped air in the packaging, which helps reduce buoyancy.
An uncooked turkey can stay in the refrigerator for up to 2 days after it has fully thawed. If it’s still partially frozen, the clock doesn’t start until it’s completely thawed. A fresh (never frozen) turkey should also be cooked within 1–2 days of bringing it home.
More Thanksgiving Recipes:
- Maybe you're family doesn't like turkey! Try this Instant Pot Honey Ham for Thanksgiving!
- Classic Thanksgiving Stuffing or Candied Sweet Potatoes are two of my favorite side dishes for Thanksgiving!
- Prepare your mashed potatoes the day before with this delicious recipe for creamy Company Mashed Potatoes.
- I always cook an additional Turkey Breast cooked in the crock pot so we have extra white meat. That way you can send home leftovers with family members and have enough on hand the next day to make turkey sandwiches.
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How to Thaw a Turkey
Ingredients
- 14 pound frozen turkey
Method
- Keep the turkey in its original packaging.
- Place the turkey on a tray or shallow pan to catch any dripping juices during thawing.
- Store the turkey at the bottom or near the bottom of your refrigerator to prevent any potential contamination of food below.
- Allow approximately 24 hours for every 4-5 pounds of frozen turkey to fully thaw.
- Keep the turkey in its original wrapping.
- Find a bucket or storage container large enough so the turkey fits and will be completely covered with the water.
- If your turkey is small enough, and you have a deep enough sink, you might be able to do it in the kitchen sink. But you need to make sure the entire turkey is submerged. Keep in mind, you may need your sink for other preparations.
- I use a large storage container and place it in the shower stall of our downstairs bathroom.
- Fill the container with cold water.
- Add the turkey. Most likely you are going to need to place something on top of the turkey to keep it fully submerged under the water...because turkey's float! A large baking tray helps tremendously. Just make sure you put some water on top of the tray to keep it weighted down. Or you can place a few cans of soup on top as well.
- Change the water every 30 minutes. I always set a timer on my phone to help remind me. Preparing for Thanksgiving can be extremely time-consuming and you don't want to forget to change the water.
- You need to make sure the water stays cold. Use a Digital Meat Thermometer to make sure the water is at 40 degrees. You may need to add ice to get the water that cold as well.
Nutrition
Notes
- 4 to 12 pound turkey - place the turkey in the refrigerator the Monday before Thanksgiving.
- 12 to 16 pound turkey - place in the refrigerator the Sunday before Thanksgiving.
- 16 to 20 pound turkey - place in the refrigerator the Saturday before Thanksgiving.
- 20 to 24 pound turkey - place in the refrigerator the Friday before Thanksgiving.
Mother of 3 says
We always defrost our turkey in the fridge; but it is always hard to find the room for it. I wish we had a second fridge.
Lois says
The only way we were able to get a "second fridge" was when we moved into our current home 16 years ago, the refrigerator we had in our previous house didn't fit in the spot in the new house. It really does help when we're hosting family parties. Thank you for visiting!