Its Thanksgiving Day and youre finally ready to get your cook on. With all the holiday spirit you can muster, you reach for the turkey in the fridge and find that it’s still a solid block of ice. Panic seizes you. You thought you had everything ready, but now you’re crying as you call your grandmother to ask how long the turkey needs to thaw and how to defrost it quickly.
Step away from the phone (and the hair dryer). Take a deep breath. Theres good news: the answer to how to defrost a turkey is actually pretty simple. If you put a frozen turkey in the fridge, it can take a few days to defrost. But you can still do the same thing with a cold water bath in your sink or a big tub. Of course, any time youre cooking poultry, safety is a top concern, nutrition expert Toby Amidor tells PS. By following these steps, you can quickly thaw the bird and get it ready for the oven. This will also give grandma a few extra hours to rest before the big meal.
Here are some tips on how to quickly defrost your turkey, how to tell when it’s fully defrosted, what to do if you don’t have time to thaw your bird, and most importantly, how to do it all safely.
Thawing a frozen turkey is an essential first step before cooking your bird. But it can sometimes be tricky to know exactly when your turkey is fully defrosted and ready to cook. Here are some simple ways to check and make sure your turkey is thawed through and through.
Look for Loosened Joints and Soft Flesh
One of the easiest ways to check doneness is to wiggle the turkey’s limbs and joints When a turkey is fully frozen, the legs and wings will be stiff and stuck in place. As it defrosts, the joints loosen up.
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Try gently wiggling a leg – it should move freely in the hip joint.
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Bend the knee and elbow joints – they should swing easily.
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Twist the wings at the shoulder joints – they should swivel loosely.
Also press gently on the breast and thigh meat. Frozen turkey flesh will be very firm and solid. As it thaws, the meat will start feeling soft and pliable. Poke the breast with your finger – it should feel springy when properly defrosted.
Check the Temperature
Using an instant-read thermometer is a foolproof way to assess doneness. Insert the probe into the thickest part of the breast or inner thigh.
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When frozen, the temperature will read below 30°F (-1°C).
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At 40°F (4°C) the turkey is still partially frozen.
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Above 40°F indicates thawing progress.
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For thorough defrosting, the inner temperature must reach at least 45-50°F (7-10°C).
Checking in a few different spots can confirm the entire turkey has reached an optimal thawed temperature throughout.
Look for Drip Loss and Wet Surfaces
As a frozen bird defrosts, the ice crystals melt into liquid which weeps from the turkey. Check the crevices where the wings and legs connect to the body. You should see accumulated drips and fluids:
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Pooling of pinkish liquid indicates thawing is underway.
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Clear dripping shows the turkey is nearing fully defrosted.
Also look for wet or glossy skin surfaces. Dry, dull skin means the turkey is still frozen beneath the surface. Shiny, slick skin means the thawed meat underneath is leaching moisture outward.
Press on the Cavity
You can also gauge thawing progress by pressing on the turkey’s cavity. When fully frozen, the cavity walls will be hard. As it defrosts, the cavity wall gets softer.
Gently press the cavity wall with your fingers. If it still feels icy hard, keep thawing. If the meat gives and flexes, the center is likely thawed.
You can also reach inside the neck and body cavities to feel if the inner flesh and bones are movable and soft throughout.
Perform the Float Test
A popular technique is the “float test” which works because frozen meat is more buoyant than thawed.
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Place the frozen turkey in water breast-side down. If it floats high, it’s completely frozen.
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As it defrosts, more of the bird will sink below the surface.
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When only a small section of the breast remains above water, it’s thawed.
However, this isn’t the most reliable test because trapped air pockets can cause partially frozen turkeys to float too. Use it in combination with other methods.
Estimating Thaw Time
If you are thawing your turkey in the fridge, you can estimate the time needed based on weight:
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Small birds under 8 lbs may need 1-2 days
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8 – 12 lb turkeys can take 2-3 days
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Large birds over 12 lbs may require 4-5 days
Regularly check a fridge-thawing turkey using the above techniques. With experience, you’ll learn how long your size bird takes to thaw.
Why It Matters
It’s critical to fully thaw and properly gauge turkey doneness before cooking. Cooking from frozen can result in underdone, dangerous meat. And putting a partially frozen bird in hot oil or high heat can cause uneven cooking.
Taking a few simple checks using the methods above will ensure your turkey is completely thawed and ready to cook safely. Now you can feel confident your beautiful bird will defrost perfectly and be ready for a delicious holiday meal.
How to Defrost a Turkey Fast
If youve missed the fridge-thawing window, your best bet is to defrost your turkey in cold water. You should put the turkey in a sink or a large container full of cold water breast-side down and with its original wrap still on. “You want the water to be cold so that the turkey stays at a safe temperature and no harmful bacteria can grow,” says Amidor. You should change the water every 30 minutes with all new water.
“Using this method, it takes 30 minutes to defrost one pound,” Amidor says. So a 16-pound turkey, for example, will take eight hours to defrost. (If the math isnt mathing, simply plug the weight of your turkey into Butterballs turkey defrost time calculator. ) “Once the turkey has thawed, cook it immediately,” Amidor says.
Experts Featured in This Article
The best thing you can do is let your bird defrost in the fridge, which will take a few days. The turkey should be put in a fridge that is 40 degrees or less, breast-side up, and should not be opened. For every four pounds of turkey, itll need about a day in the fridge to defrost completely. (For example, if your turkey weighs 16 pounds, it will take about four days to thaw. You can also use this handy calculator from Butterball to do the math for you. Amidor says that the turkey can stay in the fridge for up to two more days after it has been fully defrosted before it is cooked.
How to Tell If a Frozen Turkey is Thawed Completely
FAQ
What happens if turkey isn’t fully thawed?
How long does it take to thaw out a turkey?
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Turkey Size
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Thaw In Refrigerator (set to 40 F or below)
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Thaw In Cold Water (change water every 30 min.)
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4 to 12 lbs.
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1 to 3 days
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2 to 6 hours
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12 to 16 lbs.
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3 to 4 days
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6 to 8 hours
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16 to 20 lbs.
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4 to 5 days
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8 to 10 hours
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20 to 24 lbs.
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5 to 6 days
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10 to 12 hours
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What color is defrosted turkey?
How do you know if a Turkey is thawed?
To test if your bird is completely thawed, gently press on the turkey’s breast and thigh. The turkey is likely to be thawed if they feel soft and give a little when you press on them. You also can feel inside the body cavity and see if there are still ice crystals. CLICK TO DOWNLOAD: Elevate Your Meat Game with 3 Exclusive Guides → 2. Movement
How long does it take a Turkey to thaw?
Check your refrigerator’s temperature gauge to make sure. At this temp, the turkey will thaw at a rate of 5 pounds of bird every 24 hours. Let’s say you have a 10-pound turkey. It would take 2 days of thawing to defrost completely. If you choose this method, it is always better to leave the turkey in its original packaging.
Can you test thawing doneness of a Turkey?
The turkey’s legs and wings should move freely and the breasts should give to pressure when thawed completely. Yes, the same technique we use to determine roasting doneness can also be used to test thawing doneness.
How do you know if a Turkey is fully defrosted?
Touch, movement, and temperature are all ways to determine if a turkey is fully defrosted. Three safe thawing methods include the fridge, cold water bath, and microwave. You can cook a turkey that is not entirely thawed; it just will take longer.
How do you know if a bird is thawed?
When the bird is completely thawed, its legs and wings should move freely when you attempt to adjust them. The breasts should feel soft to the touch, the flesh yielding to slight pressure. If you aren’t sure whether the meat is thawed, use your probe thermometer to test its temperature.
What temperature should a Turkey be thawed?
And it is always better to start with a thawed turkey. Overall, a turkey is thawed when it reaches the same temperature as your fridge, something between 32°F and 39°F. If that’s not the temp your turkey is at, don’t be afraid to use the cold water method to get you there.