When I first started hosting Thanksgiving, I had NO IDEA that it took a turkey basically half a year to thaw. Seriously, it never occurred to me. I’ve gotten wiser {at a much slower pace than I care to admit}, but that first Thanksgiving has always stuck with me. If you find yourself in a similar boat–or for whatever reason, you need to thaw your turkey in a flash, here’s a couple of tips for getting it thawed and in the oven before your mother-in-law ever realizes you’ve blundered:
- Cook it while it is still frozen. Yes, it can be done. It will take quite a bit longer, but, still the job will get done. Lower your roasting temperature a bit and get the internal temperature to 165-185 degrees.
- If you have a couple of days, the best method is to throw the bird into the refrigerator and forget about it. It will take 2-5 days {at least} to thaw, so this is one of those pre-planning methods.
- Thaw it in ice-water. Leaving your bird to thaw on the counter will get the job done quicker, but it will also potentially provide your guests with the opportunity to visit the emergency room with a case of food poisoning. Immerse your turkey in ice-water that you change every 30 minutes or so until the bird has thawed will protect the bird from bacteria by keeping it just cold enough. You can use a big cooler to do the thawing, so that you don’t take up valuable sink space. Plan on this to take anywhere from 4 to 12 hours depending on the size of your bird.
- Pop out and buy a fresh turkey. It’s going to cost you, seriously cost you, but Thanksgiving and your pride will remain intact.
Have you ever forgotten to thaw your turkey in time for the big day? How did you make sure the show went on?
~Mavis
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Cecily says
I don’t observe any holidays but I do cook several turkeys a year and I never defrost mine. I place them frozen into a clean 5 gallon bucket with a lid that contains an iced brine. I place the bucket in a cool place (an unheated garage works) and the next day its ready to go, no need to season and it turns out super moist.
Mavis Butterfield says
Great tip Cecily, I’ve never tried that before. 🙂
Natasha says
It takes one day per 4 lbs of turkey to thaw in the fridge. And if you keep your fridge colder than most (apparently I do) it takes longer. So a 12lb turkey takes a min of 3 days, a 16lb a min of 4 days… and a 20lb a min of 5 days. My 13lb bird has been thawing since Friday and its still not quite completely thawed yet. When in doubt, get it in the fridge earlier than you think.
Karen says
A few years ago we had thanksgiving planned with the in-laws, but the day before thanksgiving my kids woke up with pink eye (They picked it up at school, and I had never even seen it before! Gross!). After a very informative doctors appointment, I dropped kids off at home with dad and had to shop for the ENTIRE meal, last minute, to avoid spreading the gunk to the rest of the family. All the store had was frozen birds, so in a pinch I grabbed a turkey breast, since it was the smallest. I don’t know if it was the smartest idea, but I popped that bird in the crock pot with some seasonings and such and cooked it all night. I have got to admit it was the BEST turkey I have had.
Mavis Butterfield says
Gotta love the crock pot! 🙂
Mrs. Mac says
I took out my frozen turkey on Monday night. Stuck it the cold basement’s laundry sink .. then popped it in the fridge Tue. morning. I’m monitoring it today and will prep it (clean it) to make sure it’s completely thawed before slow roasting it beginning at midnight tonight (Wednesday). Our turkey came from a farmer friend and I got it the day it was (ahem) wrapped. Birds that live and freely roam need a slow cook time (think 12 hours) or they’re tough.
Beckybeq says
Well, it’s just the four of us here. Last year, we had our Thanksgiving dinner on Friday since the turkey was only partially thawed. Thank goodness for an understanding hubby & kids! :o)
Mary P says
The year my first child was born we got a huge turkey (22-24 lbs) using a big sale at the grocery store. It was frozen, of course, and wouldn’t fit in the kitchen sink, so I put it in the bathtub. I started feeling ill during the morning and ended up in the emergency room with mastitis. The ER doctor wanted to keep me overnight for a course of IV antibiotics. I looked at him and said, “I have to go home! I have a 22-pound turkey in the bathtub!” I am sure the doctor and nurses thought I was delirious, but they did let me go home to my turkey — and my baby! And they’ve had a story to tell for years!