Brining a turkey not only ensures good flavor but helps to keep the meat of the turkey juicy and prevents it from drying in the oven when cooking. Fill your container. To thaw the turkey, submerge the bag in a … To use brine as a step in the water bath method, in the last hour or two of thawing, unwrap the turkey from its packaging, change the plain ice water for a brine that includes flavorings that you enjoy in a turkey. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Follow these steps as often as necessary throughout the thawing of the turkey. Place the turkey in … So unless you're planning on throwing out your frozen chicken, do not waste a plastic garbage bag in an attempt to thaw it. There are important but also creative ways to tackle this thawing process to work effectively with minimal effort. Never thaw a frozen turkey in warm or room temperature water. How to Thaw a Frozen Turkey It’s only a matter of time. The fastest method of all is labor intensive and involves stirring the turkey by hand. Shuttertock. To ensure even thawing, the turkey should be rotated and periodically flipped during the defrost cycle. References. Thaw breast side up, in an unopened wrapper on a tray in the fridge (40 degrees F or below). Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 37,029 times. Clear out a spot for the turkey on the bottom shelf of your refrigerator so that any juices that leak do not contaminate other items. Your email address will not be published. Because of the potential for bacterial growth, you should avoid certain thawing methods, including leaving the turkey breast at room temperature. It takes up to 6 minutes per pound to thaw … The water should be monitored every thirty minutes to an hour. Every 30 minutes, empty the water and refill it. The only problem: my godforsaken turkey has not thawed properly. If you bought a frozen turkey, you have to figure out how to thaw the thing. This technique will actually thaw turkey breast and cook it, but it will take an exceptionally long time. Mix 1/4 cup of butter with seasoning of your choice. The turkey is prepared to go from freezer to oven without any thawing." Allow 30 minutes of thawing time for each pound of turkey, which translates to two to six hours for a four to 12-pound turkey and six to eight hours for a 12- to 15-pound bird. Assuming you don't want to give your guests food poisoning, there are two safe ways to thaw a turkey, but there's one way to skip the thawing entirely if you need to.. That said, thawing out the turkey ahead of time is the best route to take. For fast thawing, you can use a basin of cool water. Plan on an extra day in the refrigerator because temperatures vary. How to quickly defrost a frozen turkey. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. You can check if the turkey is thawed by prodding the breast to see if it's soft, or making sure there's no ice in its cavity. The water bath method is the safest way to quickly thaw a turkey because it is a gradual process in a controlled situation. Once you fully thaw your turkey, you should cook it within two days. I'll be honest, since I discovered how to cook a frozen chicken, I don't even bother thawing my fowl before cooking it!That goes for the big turkey too! Last Updated: November 28, 2019 Instead, the optimal temperature for thawing a turkey is around 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius). Every thirty minutes, remove the drain stopper to allow the water to drain, secure the stopper back in place, then refill the sink with the correct water temperature to continue the thawing process. For the best results, follow one of these methods: Refrigerator Thawing. "If your turkey is only partially frozen, remember that it will take a bit longer to cook. You also should avoid using warm or hot water to thaw the turkey. This will prevent any cross-contamination and ensure that the bird won’t absorb any extra water during the thawing process. If you bought a frozen turkey, you have to figure out how to thaw the thing. You can still have a yummy dinner. Once the water reaches a higher temperature than the safe forty degrees, discard the water, and replace it with fresh water following the same requirements. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. While frozen, a turkey is safe indefinitely. There are three safe ways to defrost a turkey: in the refrigerator, in cold water, and in a microwave oven. Frozen Whole Turkeys and Frozen Whole Turkey Breasts need to be thawed before cooking. A turkey can also be safely defrosted using the microwave. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Thaw the turkey completely in the fridge: Total thawing time will depend on the size of your turkey; refer to the chart below. The fastest way to defrost a turkey breast is in the microwave, using its defrost setting. However, the thawing process will require a lot more attention on your behalf. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. Allow at least 1 day of thawing for every 4 lbs of turkey. The one right way to defrost chicken fast… Pour cool water into a clean pot, tub, or container large enough to completely hold and cover your turkey. But, it’s also a massive block of frozen meat that can be a bit daunting to deal with. So, while a 12-pound, fully thawed turkey would normally take about three hours to cook in a 325°F oven, it will take four and a half hours to cook if it’s frozen. The best way to thaw a frozen turkey is to submerge it into ice water in a sink, a large cooler, or a clean bucket. According to the USDA, it is safe to thaw a turkey in the microwave. The turkey is sitting in a water bath anyway for quick defrosting, so why not add some spectacular flavor to it without much extra work. Cooking a frozen turkey will take around 50 percent longer than cooking one that's already been thawed. We use salt, pepper, garlic, and parsley.Brush … The thawing process allows any bacteria that was already on the turkey to grow. If you have time, give yourself a day or two as a buffer just in case your turkey takes longer to thaw than expected. Some simple tricks and ideas can even help make this water bath method the choice method for thawing a turkey in the future. 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