How to Thaw a Turkey: 3 Tips for Defrosting Turkey

It’s important to properly defrost a whole raw turkey before cooking it to eliminate any lingering bacteria that may grow on your raw meat if it is not kept at the proper temperature. You don’t want to cook a whole frozen turkey without thawing it first, which can result in an unevenly cooked bird that takes a long time to reach doneness.

Like chicken, raw turkey can contain harmful bacteria such as Salmonella that can lead to food poisoning. Leaving a turkey on your kitchen counter to defrost at room temperature makes your meat much more vulnerable to contamination. This is why it is important to thaw turkey fully before cooking. Thawed turkey will last for a day or two in the refrigerator after defrosting.

Properly and thoroughly defrosting your turkey is an important food safety step in your prep process that sets your bird up to be properly roasted in the oven. Here are three methods for defrosting a turkey safely.

1. 1. Refrigerator method: Defrosting your turkey in the refrigerator is as simple as removing your turkey from the freezer and placing it in the fridge to gradually defrost. This is also the safest way to defrost a turkey. Defrosting it in the fridge ensures that your turkey never enters the "danger zone" by reaching any temperature above 40 degrees Fahrenheit. According to the USDA, this is when raw meat can develop harmful bacteria that cause foodborne illness. Safely store your turkey in the fridge as it thaws by keeping it wrapped in its packaging and placing it on a plate to catch any leaking juices that may contaminate your other food. The turkey should be kept in the fridge for up to two days. Using this method, you can also refreeze your turkey.
2. 2. Cold water method: A turkey will thaw faster in a cold water bath than it will in the refrigerator. To do this, fill a large bowl, basin, or pot with cold water. Submerge your frozen turkey in cold water, still in its original wrapping or in a leak-proof bag. Change the water in the bath every half hour to prevent the turkey from sitting in any potentially contaminating juices. Cook the turkey that you’ve thawed in your cold water bath immediately.
3. 3. Microwave: Thawing turkey in the microwave should be a last-minute resort, as the thawing process can be uneven. Restrict this method to thawing pieces of boneless turkey breast, rather than the entire bird. The outside of your meat may begin to cook while the inside remains frozen. Cook the turkey that you thaw in the microwave immediately after you defrost it.

The amount of time your turkey will take to thaw depends on how large it is and how you’re defrosting it. Here is a breakdown of how long it should take to defrost a turkey, depending on the water bath method or the refrigerator method.

• Refrigerator: If you're defrosting your turkey in the refrigerator, it will take one day for every four pounds of turkey. If you have a twelve-pound bird, it should take three days to defrost in the fridge.
• Cold water method: If you're using the cold water bath method to defrost your turkey, you should plan for two hours of soaking time for every four pounds of turkey. If your turkey weighs twelve pounds, it will need six hours of defrosting time.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when you’re defrosting a turkey.

1. 1. Mind the temperature of your turkey. Make sure to mind the temperature of your turkey as it defrosts. Any temperatures above 40 degrees Fahrenheit put your meat in the danger zone for bacterial growth. Never use hot water when you’re defrosting your turkey in a water bath. Only use cold tap water.
2. 2. Properly seal your turkey as it thaws. Whether you’re defrosting a turkey in the refrigerator or in a cold water bath, make sure that your chicken is properly sealed in a leak-proof plastic bag or container. As your bird defrosts, it will sweat water and juices that can cause cross-contamination with other foods in your fridge.
3. 3. Choose the right thawing method for your turkey. The size and form of your frozen turkey can determine the defrosting method you choose to use. Avoid microwave thawing any kind of turkey other than frozen turkey breast. If you’re working with an entire turkey, prioritize the refrigerator thawing method.

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