Thawing your frozen Butterball turkey is one of the most important prep steps for a delicious holiday meal, Properly thawing ensures the turkey cooks evenly and absorbs flavors properly, Follow this guide to learn the best practices for thawing a whole Butterball turkey
Refrigerator Thawing
Refrigerator thawing is the safest, easiest method recommended by Butterball
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Place the frozen turkey on a tray or pan breast side up. Keep it in its original wrapper.
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Allow at least 1 day of fridge thawing for every 4 pounds of turkey.
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A 20 lb turkey will need 5 days to thaw. Thaw in 40°F or below.
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Once thawed, use within 1-2 days. Don’t refreeze a thawed turkey.
Cold Water Thawing
The cold water method thaws a turkey faster but requires more effort.
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Keep turkey sealed in wrapper and submerge in cold tap water in a large container.
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Allow 30 minutes of thawing time per pound, changing water every 30 minutes.
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A 20 lb turkey will need 10 hours, changing water 20 times.
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Cook immediately after thawing, don’t refreeze.
Tips for Faster Thawing
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Thaw smaller turkey breasts quicker than a whole bird.
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Break up the ice to speed thawing when changing water.
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Use ice water to keep temperature cold if needed.
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Rotate and massage the turkey to hasten thawing.
Don’t Thaw at Room Temperature
Never leave a turkey to thaw on the counter at room temperature. Bacteria can grow rapidly between 40-140°F. Stick to the fridge or cold water methods only.
Preparing a Thawed Turkey
Once thawed, dry the turkey well and prepare it for roasting:
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Remove giblets and neck from cavities. Discard or use for gravy.
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Truss legs together with string to hold shape. Tuck wing tips under.
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Rub skin with oil or butter to help crisp and brown. Season all over.
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Stuff cavity or cook stuffing separately. Insert probe thermometer.
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Let sit 20-30 mins to room temp before roasting for even cooking.
Thawing Timeline for 20 lb Turkey
To thaw a 20 lb frozen Butterball turkey for Thanksgiving:
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Buy turkey at least 5 days before Thanksgiving.
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Keep frozen until Saturday morning before Thanksgiving.
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Move to fridge Saturday morning to thaw 5 days.
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Turkey will be thawed by Wednesday evening before Thanksgiving.
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Remove giblets, prep turkey Wednesday night.
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Roast turkey fresh on Thanksgiving, serve hot!
Thawing a Partially Frozen Turkey
If you’re short on time, it’s safer to cook a partially frozen turkey than thaw at room temperature.
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Calculate thawing time remaining based on frozen weight.
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Add 50% more cooking time for a partially frozen turkey.
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Check temperature frequently and anticipate longer cooking.
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Allow the turkey to rest 45-60 minutes before carving.
Thawing Pre-Brined Turkeys
Butterball offers pre-brined turkeys injected with a salt solution to keep them moist.
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Thaw brined turkeys the same as unbrined using fridge or cold water.
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Some brine may leak during thawing, but enough remains to flavor the meat.
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Avoid brining again before roasting a pre-brined turkey.
FAQs on Thawing Frozen Turkeys
How long does it take to thaw a turkey in the fridge?
Allow 1 day of fridge thawing for every 4 to 5 lbs of frozen turkey. A 20 lb turkey takes about 5 days in the fridge.
Can you thaw a turkey at room temperature?
Never thaw a turkey at room temperature or warm water. Only use the fridge or cold water method.
What is the fastest way to thaw a frozen turkey?
The cold water method will thaw a turkey the quickest, with 30 minutes per lb changing water every 30 mins.
Can I cook a frozen turkey without thawing?
It’s not recommended, but you can cook a partially frozen or semi-thawed turkey adding 50% more cook time.
How do I know when my turkey is thawed?
Check that the turkey cavity is no longer icy and the meat is soft. The skin will be cold and pliable when fully thawed.
Can you refreeze a thawed turkey?
Once thawed, a turkey must be cooked and should not be refrozen. The moisture and texture will degrade with refreezing.
According to Butterball, safely thawing your turkey is “one of the most important steps in your meal prep” for Thanksgiving NBCUniversal Media, LLC
If youre hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year, youve got a big job. But if youre the one in charge of cooking the turkey — your duties might just be a bit more critical, especially if youre going with a frozen bird.
Half of Americans plan to buy their turkeys in frozen form, according to a survey from 2021. Additionally, 49 percent of the surveys respondents said they they felt “intimidated” to cook a turkey, citing fears that it will turn out dry and overcooked.
Add in the job of correctly thawing a turkey, and the pressure is on.
“Safely thawing your frozen turkey is one of the most important steps in your meal prep,” Butterball says. Thats because, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, thawing a frozen bird correctly can help to prevent food poisoning.
But there isnt just one way to thaw a turkey — there are multiple schools of thought, depending on how much time and space you have. Whichever way you choose Butterball has a warning.
“Regardless of which turkey thawing method you choose, never thaw a turkey at room temperature,” Butterballs website said. “You’re running low on time, try a Fresh Whole Turkey—they’re just as delicious and require little prep.”
According to Butterball, a thawed turkey may be kept in the refrigerator — at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below — up to four days before cooking. Butterball reports that a thawed turkey — whether its whole bird or just whole turkey breasts — must be kept in the refrigerator at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below for up to four days before cooking. Additionally, the CDC notes that when a turkey stays out at room temperature for more than two hours, “Its temperature becomes unsafe even if the center is still frozen.”
“Germs can grow rapidly in the danger zone between 40°F and 140°F,” the CDC said.
Here are the two different ways Butterball recommends on how to thaw a turkey, and what to know as Thanksgiving approaches.
How to Safely Thaw a Frozen Turkey
FAQ
Can you leave a frozen turkey out overnight to thaw?
- Danger zone: Leaving a turkey out at room temperature for more than 2 hours can put it in the “danger zone” (between 40°F and 140°F) where bacteria can rapidly multiply.
- Proper thawing methods: The best ways to thaw a turkey are in the refrigerator (allowing about 1 day per 4 pounds) or by submerging it in cold water, changing the water every 30 minutes.
- Never thaw on the counter: Do not thaw a turkey on the kitchen counter overnight.
Can you cook Butterball turkey from frozen?
You Can Cook This One Directly From Frozen. Butterball’s new cook-from-frozen turkey goes directly from the freezer to the table, no thawing needed.
How long does it take for a 20 pound turkey to thaw in the refrigerator?
| Turkey Weight | Refrigerator | Microwave |
|---|---|---|
| 12 lbs | 3 days | 1 hour 12 minutes |
| 16 lbs | 4 days | 1 hours 36 minutes |
| 20 lbs | 5 days | 2 hours |
| 24 lbs | 6 days | 2 hours 24 minutes |
How do you Thaw a whole turkey?
First, thaw your turkey per our directions in the Thawing section (Whole Turkey How-To’s). Place the bird breast side down on a cutting board that won’t shift around. Using a very sharp knife or better yet, heavy kitchen shears, cut along both sides of the backbone through the rib cage to remove a strip about 2 inches (5 cm) wide.
Can You Thaw a Butterball turkey?
Place the turkey in the refrigerator and let it defrost for 1-2 days, depending on the size of the turkey. Butterball turkeys are a popular choice for Thanksgiving dinner, and for good reason. They’re large, juicy, and flavorful. But before you can enjoy your Butterball turkey, you need to thaw it.
How long do you Thaw a turkey breast?
Allow at least one day of thawing for every 4 pounds of turkey. Keep turkey in original wrapper and place on tray. Use turkey within four days after thawing. Thaw turkey breast side down, in an unopened wrapper, with enough cold water to cover your turkey completely.