Thanksgiving turkey 101: How to safely thaw a frozen turkey
We're just a few days out from Thanksgiving, and it's time to talk turkey.
Anyone gearing up to cook the centerpiece poultry for the moveable feast has likely already ordered or is planning to pick up their turkey soon, so if you're starting from frozen, here's what you need to know to properly thaw out your bird.
How to thaw a Thanksgiving turkey safely
There are three methods to safely thaw a turkey: in the refrigerator, in cold water and in a microwave oven.
Thawing it out in the fridge is the recommended option by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, because the turkey can defrost at a consistent temperature, which prevents the possible growth of harmful bacteria.
The fridge method can take a bit longer -- a full 24 hours for every 4 to 5 pounds.
On average, a Thanksgiving bird that feeds four to six people is about 11 pounds or more, so consider working backwards on the timing for your prep and recipe when using this method, because based on the size, it could take a few days before the turkey is ready to cook.
How to thaw a turkey in the fridge
When thawing in the fridge, leave the turkey in its wrapping and place it on the bottom shelf on a large sheet tray or pan that can catch any excess liquid.
How to thaw a turkey in a cold water bath
If you are more pressed for time, the USDA suggests this method, which entails leaving the bird in its original wrapping and submerging it in a sink or large container full of water.
The water needs to be cold enough so the turkey stays at a food safe temperature, meaning it must be changed and replaced every 30 minutes.
Allow 30 minutes of defrosting time per pound.
Once a turkey is thawed completely this way, it must be cooked immediately.
How to thaw turkey in a microwave
Before attempting this method, check that the size of your turkey will properly fit in the microwave first.
Also check the owner's manual to determine how many minutes per pound and what power level to use for thawing poultry using the "defrost by weight" function.
Remove the wrapping and place the turkey on a microwave-safe dish to catch any juices.
In general, the USDA says to allow 6 minutes per pound to thaw a turkey in the microwave.
Rotate the turkey and flip it multiple times throughout the thawing process.
How NOT to thaw a turkey
There are a few inadvisable ways to thaw a turkey that may seem like they would work, but ultimately none of them should be used.
According to the USDA, these include thawing the turkey on the counter, in the garage or on the back porch; in a brown paper grocery bag or plastic garbage bag; using the dishwasher to thaw a turkey (with or without water); or any method that is not the refrigerator, cold water or the microwave.
