When you bring a frozen turkey home from the supermarket, store it in the freezer until you can safely thaw it. Here are three safe ways to thaw a Thanksgiving turkey:
In the Refrigerator:
Plan ahead: With the refrigerator temperature set at 40° or below, allow approximately 24 hours of thawing time for each 4 to 5 pounds of turkey.
Place the turkey in a container to prevent the juices from dripping on other foods.
Once thawed, the turkey can remain in the refrigerator for 1 or 2 days before cooking.
In Cold Water:
Allow about 30 minutes thawing time for each pound of turkey.
Place the turkey in a leakproof plastic bag to avoid cross contamination and to prevent the turkey from absorbing water.
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.
In the Microwave Oven:
If your microwave oven is large enough to handle the task, you can defrost a turkey in the microwave. Just follow the manufacturer's instructions.
A turkey thawed in the microwave must be cooked immediately.
