How do you thaw a turkey in a few hours?

By submerging it in ice water, even a 24-pound bird can be defrosted in just 12 hours (Thermoworks says to count on about 8 hours for a 15-pounder).

Can you thaw a turkey in 3 hours?

Per the USDA, “A package of frozen meat or poultry left thawing on the counter more than 2 hours is not at a safe temperature.” And definitely ignore Uncle Ron's advice about leaving it in the basement to defrost—you want a controlled temperature, not food poisoning.

What is the fastest safest way to thaw a turkey?

Cold Water Thawing

Submerge the wrapped turkey in cold tap water. Change the water every 30 minutes until the turkey is thawed. Cook the turkey immediately after it is thawed.

Can you leave a turkey out to thaw for a few hours?

turkey, which, if left out, will take hours to thaw completely. If you thaw raw meat at room temperature for two hours or more, it will be subject to rapid bacteria growth. Is thawing a turkey at room temperature a good idea? Nope.

How do you thaw a turkey in hours?

Thaw time in the fridge requires about 24 hours for every 5 pounds in a refrigerator set at about 40 degrees F (5 degrees C). Thaw time in cold water requires about 30 minutes per pound in cold water, refreshed every 30 minutes.

How to Quickly Thaw a Frozen Turkey

What happens if you thaw turkey on the counter overnight?

The Bacteria of It All

In the food safety "danger zone" (that is, anything about 40°F), potentially dangerous bacteria can grow rapidly. Unfortunately, you cannot see, smell, or taste that bad bacteria. You'll only know it was there after everyone who eats the turkey is experiencing an upset stomach, or worse.

What happens if turkey isn't completely thawed?

No problem. Taking food safety into account, it is safe to roast a turkey from frozen, according to the USDA. If it's frozen solid, it will take 50 percent longer to cook than starting with a thawed turkey (which is still preferable).

How long can you leave a turkey in cold water to thaw?

Thaw It in Cold Water

It's possible to safely thaw a frozen turkey in a sink full of cold water, but it won't be easy. The problem is, you need to allow 30 minutes of thawing time for every pound of frozen bird, and you MUST keep the water 40 F or colder the entire time.

What to do if your turkey is still frozen?

Cold water method

Put the turkey into a water proof plastic bag to prevent cross contamination and keep the turkey from getting water logged. Immerse the turkey in the sink under cold water. Change the water every 30 minutes. Cook the turkey immediately after it is thawed.

Can I cook a partially frozen turkey?

It's perfectly safe to cook a frozen or partially frozen turkey — you just need to allow some extra cooking time. Estimate 50 percent longer cooking time for a completely frozen turkey and around 25 percent longer for a partially frozen turkey.

Will a frozen turkey thaw faster in cold water?

Thawing turkey in a sink of cold water is faster than thawing in the refrigerator, but it's not safe to leave it in the sink to thaw overnight. To thaw your turkey in the sink: Keep the wrapper on your turkey and put it in a large, leakproof plastic bag.

Can you put a turkey in cold water to thaw?

Cold Water Thawing

Thaw turkey breast side down, in an unopened wrapper, with enough cold water to cover your turkey completely. Change water every 30 minutes and if turkey cannot be completely covered, rotate every 30 minutes to keep the turkey chilled. You can expect 30 minutes of thawing per pound of turkey.

Why does a turkey thaw faster in cold water?

If you're asking yourself how a turkey thaws faster in 41°F water when the fridge is only a few degrees lower (37°F), consider that water has a molecular density much greater than air.

What happens if you thaw a turkey at room temperature?

At room temperature, the turkey will thaw on the outside and rise well above the “danger zone” of 40°F, FoodSafety.gov explains. Bacteria in the turkey can multiply quickly when it's at room temperature for more than two hours. You may serve up salmonella poisoning along with your famous candied yams.

Can you put turkey back in fridge after thawing in cold water?

It is safe to cook turkey thawed in cold water then put back in the fridge.

How do you defrost a Butterball turkey quickly?

To thaw more quickly, place unopened turkey breast down in sink filled with cold tap water. Allow 30 minutes per pound. Change water every 30 minutes to keep surface of turkey cold. When thawed, keep in refrigerator up to 4 days until ready to cook.

Why do you have to change the water every 30 minutes when thawing a turkey?

Submerge the wrapped turkey in it and change the water every half hour. Changing the water will help to ward off any contaminating bacteria. Allow 30 minutes of thawing time for each pound of turkey, which translates to two to six hours for a 4- to 12-pound turkey.

Can you cook a turkey that is almost thawed?

Can You Cook a Partially Thawed Turkey? Yes, if you started the thawing process but the inside portions of the turkey remains icy and solid, you can still roast the turkey. You'll just need to reduce the total cook time from frozen, depending on how thawed the turkey is when it goes into the oven.

Can you force thaw a turkey?

If you forgot to thaw the turkey, don't panic. A faster thawing method is to submerge the frozen bird in cold water. You need to change the water every 30 minutes to be safe. While this method is faster, it still takes about 30 minutes per pound for complete thawing.

Should turkey be unwrapped to thaw?

Remove all outside wrapping and place the turkey on a microwave-safe dish to catch any juices that may leak. Use the defrost function based on weight. As a general rule, allow 6 minutes per pound when thawing a turkey in the microwave.

How can you tell if turkey is thawed?

Determining Thaw with a Thermometer

Use a probe thermometer to test both the breast and the thighs; they should be at least 32°F to 40°F, or about the same temperature as your fridge. Be sure to clean your probe thermometer after inserting it in the raw turkey!

How do you thaw a turkey in 30 minutes?

How to Thaw a Turkey in Cold Water. If you're running short on time, you can speed up the thawing process with the cold water method: Simply submerge the frozen turkey, still in its packaging, in cold tap water, allowing about 30 minutes for every pound of turkey.

Is it better to cook a turkey at 325 or 350?

Turkey weighing 12-14 lbs should be cooked at 350 degrees in the oven. It will cook your meat faster and make for crispy skin. It will also make the meat taste meatier. For smaller birds, cooking them at 325 degrees cooking temperature in the oven is best.

Do you put water in bottom of roasting pan for turkey?

"Often, consumers will inquire about adding water to the bottom of their roasting pans. We do not recommend adding water to the bottom of the pan. Cooking a turkey with steam is a moist heat-cook method and is acceptable, sure, but is not the preferred method for cooking your turkey."

How do you keep turkey moist?

Cover and chill the turkey or carve it and chill in an airtight container no more than 2 hrs after eating for safety, and to help keep it at its juiciest.