If you find yourself with a frozen turkey on Thanksgiving morning, relax. You can still have a beautiful, flavorful, juicy bird for your holiday feast…really! We have the time and temperature tips you need for a picture-perfect turkey direct from frozen when you’re in a pinch.
Extra dinner guests show up unexpectedly? Forget to pull the turkey from the freezer? Whatever the reason why your turkey is still frozen solid, don’t fret. You should never cook a partially frozen turkey because the outer layers of turkey will become a desert while the frozen center thaws and comes to a safe temperature, but if thawing isn’t an option, a completely frozen turkey can still be the centerpiece of your holiday meal.
As Thanksgiving approaches, a common question arises – can you put a frozen turkey in the oven? The short answer is yes, you can absolutely cook a frozen turkey in the oven. With some extra time and the right technique, your feast can go on even if you forgot to thaw the bird.
Cooking a turkey straight from the freezer takes patience and monitoring, but with smart planning you’ll end up with a fully cooked, delicious holiday centerpiece. Here is a step-by-step guide to successfully roasting a frozen turkey in the oven.
Why You Might Need to Cook a Frozen Turkey
There are a few reasons you may find yourself needing to cook a frozen turkey
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You simply forgot to take the turkey out of the freezer to thaw in advance This is very common!
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Your fridge thawed turkey was left out too long so you had to re-freeze it to be safe.
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The store was out of thawed turkeys when you went shopping.
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You kept an extra turkey in the freezer as a backup.
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You lost power temporarily and your thawed turkey re-froze.
Whatever the reason, don’t panic! As long as you allow extra time, cook at a lower temperature, and monitor it carefully, you can absolutely still enjoy a delicious home-cooked turkey dinner.
Is It Safe to Cook a Frozen Turkey?
Cooking a raw frozen turkey in the oven is entirely safe. In fact, it poses less risk of salmonella contamination compared to thawing and handling a raw turkey in the fridge.
Just make sure the turkey is completely frozen. If it has begun to thaw, bacteria could start multiplying rapidly in the danger zone between 40°F and 140°F. Cook fully frozen or fully thawed turkey only.
How Long Does it Take to Roast a Frozen Turkey?
Cooking times will vary based on the size of your frozen turkey. Smaller birds may take 4 hours, while very large turkeys can take up to 8 hours to roast fully.
For estimate purposes, plan for your oven roasting time to be about 50% longer than it would be for a thawed turkey. Monitor with a meat thermometer and adjust accordingly.
Here are general frozen turkey cooking time guidelines:
- 8-12 lb turkey: About 4-5 hours at 325°F
- 12-15 lb turkey: About 5-6 hours at 325°F
- 15-18 lb turkey: About 6-7 hours at 325°F
- 18-20 lb turkey: About 7-8 hours at 325°F
- 20-24 lb turkey: About 8-9 hours at 325°F
The best way to determine true doneness is to use a food thermometer. Check in multiple places – the thickest part of the breast and innermost part of the thigh should reach 165°F.
Step-by-Step Guide to Roasting a Frozen Turkey
Follow these simple steps for roasting a delicious frozen turkey in the oven:
1. Prepare the Turkey
Remove any wrappers, giblet packets, metal trussing, or clamps from the frozen turkey. Do not thaw it or rinse it first. Thawing will increase cook time.
2. Line a Roasting Pan
Place a wire rack inside a sturdy roasting pan. Line the bottom with foil to catch drips. The rack allows air flow for even cooking.
3. Place Turkey Breast-Side Up
Carefully place the frozen turkey breast-side up on the prepared roasting rack. Manipulating a slippery frozen turkey can be tricky, so wear oven mitts.
4. Season the Turkey (Optional)
If desired, rub the outside of the frozen turkey with a small amount of oil or butter and season with salt and pepper. Seasoning will stick better once the turkey starts to thaw during cooking.
5. Cook at 325°F
Roast the frozen turkey at 325°F, about 50% longer than the recommended time for a thawed turkey of the same size. Use a meat thermometer to confirm doneness.
6. Baste and Tent with Foil
After a few hours, once the turkey surface has thawed, baste it periodically with melted butter or oil to prevent drying out. If the skin browns too quickly, loosely tent foil over the top.
7. Allow the Turkey to Rest
Once the turkey reaches 165°F in the breast and thigh, remove it from the oven, tent with foil, and allow to rest 30-45 minutes before carving. The temperature will rise a bit more as it rests.
Turkey Roasting Equipment Must-Haves
You just need a few essential pieces of equipment to successfully roast a frozen turkey:
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A good meat thermometer – Instant read or leave-in probe thermometers are best to check doneness in multiple spots.
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Roasting pan with a rack – Allows air flow under the turkey for even cooking. Line with foil for easy cleanup.
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Basting brush – Baste periodically once the turkey’s surface thaws to prevent drying out.
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Kitchen timer – Essential for tracking the extended cooking time.
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Oven mitts – For safely maneuvering the heavy, slippery frozen bird.
Handling a Frozen Turkey
A frozen turkey can be unwieldy and challenging to handle. Here are some tips:
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Wear insulated oven mitts to protect your hands and improve your grip. Consider gloves under the mitts for extra protection from the icy turkey.
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Hold the wrapped turkey under warm running water for 30 seconds before unwrapping. This slightly thaws the outer layer and makes it easier to handle.
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Set the turkey on the roasting rack, then unwrap it. Trying to place an unwrapped frozen turkey on a rack can be nearly impossible without incident.
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To transfer the turkey, wrap your arms around the breast to grab firmly. Lift with your legs. You can also ask someone to help transfer the heavy frozen bird.
Should You Brine or Stuff a Frozen Turkey?
It’s best to avoid brining or stuffing a frozen turkey before roasting. A brine will not be able to penetrate and flavor a frozen bird. Stuffing it will dramatically increase the overall cook time required.
For the easiest and safest results, stick to a simple seasoned rub or basting. Cook stuffing in a casserole dish separately.
Can You Microwave a Frozen Turkey?
Microwaving a frozen turkey to thaw it faster is not recommended. The turkey will likely start to cook unevenly, leaving dangerous undercooked portions. Slow roasting is the only safe method for cooking turkey straight from frozen.
Troubleshooting Frozen Turkey Cooking Issues
Here are some common problems and solutions for cooking frozen turkey:
Turkey is still icy or pink inside when done: Return to the oven until the innermost area reaches 165°F as measured by a food thermometer. Watch closely to prevent burning the exterior.
Skin is over browning: Tent loosely with foil to shield areas from further browning. Try rotating the pan as well.
Cooking takes longer than expected: Check that you are using the temperature probe correctly to measure the thickest part of breast and thigh meat rather than near bones. Continue cooking until 165°F.
Turkey is too big for your pan: Use foil to create a ‘tent’ for the exposed breast and legs to avoid overcooking the protruding portions. Rotate periodically.
Be Prepared for a Long Wait
Cooking a frozen bird requires patience. Be prepared for it to occupy your oven for many hours. Have snacks, appetizers and beverages to keep your guests satisfied as they await the main event.
While it requires some extra work, you can absolutely still save Thanksgiving with a delicious home-cooked turkey, even if you forgot to thaw it. With smart planning, monitoring and flexible timing, you’ll enjoy a special meal in the end.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cooking Frozen Turkey
Here are answers to some common questions about roasting frozen turkey:
Is it safe to cook a frozen turkey in the oven?
Yes, it is entirely safe as long as you cook it fully until the meat reaches 165°F as measured by a food thermometer. Cooking slowly at 325°F prevents the outside from overcooking while the inside thaws.
Can I stuff a frozen turkey?
No, do not stuff a frozen turkey before roasting. It is unsafe and will greatly increase cook times. Cook stuffing separately.
What temperature should I cook a frozen turkey at?
Cook at 325°F, about 50°F lower than for a thawed turkey. The lower temp prevents the outside from overcooking before the inside thaws.
How long does it take to cook a frozen turkey?
Estimate about 50% longer cooking time than a thawed turkey. For example, cook a 15lb frozen turkey for about 6 hours instead of 4 hours. Check often with a meat thermometer.
What if the turkey is still icy when the recommended time is up?
If the innermost area is still icy or pink when the outer areas reach 165°F, continue roasting until the minimum
Benefits of Cooking a Frozen Turkey
- Won’t the white meat overcook? Actually, when you cook a fully frozen turkey, the breasts are the largest muscles on the turkey and will take the longest time to thaw, cook, and to come to their pull temperature. The relatively smaller legs and thighs will thaw and cook faster from their frozen state, giving them more time for connective tissue to dissolve. The white and dark meat will cook properly and you may find your turkey is less likely to have dry breast meat than when you cook a thawed turkey.
- Refrigerator Space: No thawing means no turkey taking up space in your fridge and no stressful thawing process.
Challenges and Considerations with Frozen Turkeys
A Longer Cook Time: Just as you would expect, a frozen turkey will take longer to cook than one that is thawed before being placed in the oven. Plan on it taking approximately 50% more time to cook completely—so be aware that your dinner may be served later than originally planned. For example, our 14-pound turkey cooked in 5-3/4 hours.- Oven Temp to Set? Set your oven temperature too low and the outer meat will overcook. Set it too high and you’ll end up with the same problem encountered when cooking a partially frozen turkey (dry, overcooked outer breast meat when the thermal center finally reaches your pull temp). A moderate oven temperature of 325°F (163°C) is the sweet spot.
Q: Can I smoke a frozen turkey?
A: No. Remember that the USDA recommends that turkey needs to be out of the danger zone within 4 hours of the turkey being taken out of the freezer or refrigerator. The temperatures of smoking (225-275°F [107-135°C]) are too low to cook a frozen turkey to a food safe temperature within 4 hours.
Q: Can I deep-fry a frozen turkey?
A: NO!! NEVER. The dramatic temperature difference between the hot oil and the frozen turkey will cause violent boil overs. Oil spilling over the top edge of the pot could ignite with the flame from the burner below. Trying to deep-fry a frozen turkey is what causes explosions. The turkey must be COMPLETELY thawed and patted dry before being deep-fried. Read our post, Deep Fried Turkey Made Safe and Delicious for more information on how to safely deep fry a turkey.
So here’s how to take a turkey from a block of ice to a picture-perfect centerpiece: