Tips for Defrosting Your Thanksgiving Turkey
by Susan Davis on 11/09/09 at 11:31 am
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Making the perfect turkey starts at the defrost
If you’re planning to cook a turkey this Thanksgiving, this is the week for big sales. Whether the turkey you buy is fresh, frozen, free range, organic or heritage, you will likely be storing it in the freezer until it gets closer to Thanksgiving, at which point you will need to figure how much time it takes to defrost.
According to the National Turkey Federation, there are three safe methods for defrosting turkeys. Their recommended way is the refrigerator. You should allow 24 hours of defrosting time for every five pounds of bird weight.
|
8 to 12 Pounds |
1 to 2 Days |
|
12 to 16 Pounds |
2 to 3 Days |
|
16 to 20 Pounds |
3 to 4 Days |
|
20 to 24 Pounds |
4 to 5 Days |
The second recommended method is to thaw the bird in cold water in its original packaging. Change the water every 30 minutes and never let the turkey get warm. Figure about 30 minutes for each pound of turkey, so a 14-pound turkey will take about 7 hours to thaw using this method.
|
8 to 12 Pounds |
4 to 6 Hours |
|
12 to 16 Pounds |
6 to 8 Hours |
|
16 to 20 Pounds |
8 to 10 Hours |
|
20 to 24 Pounds |
10 to 12 Hours |
The last, but least recommended method is using the microwave. Check your owner’s manual for the correct settings, based on turkey weight and microwave oven power.
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