By: Becky Hardin
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How long does it really take to thaw a turkey? If you’re prepping for Thanksgiving, you’re probably wondering when to move your frozen turkey to the refrigerator, to make sure it’s fully defrosted for the big day. Well I’m sharing a full turkey thawing chart so you know how many hours (or days) it will take to thaw, pound by pound. Plus, I’ll give you a step by step for each turkey defrosting method: in the fridge or in cold water.
Table of Contents
When to Thaw the Turkey for Thanksgiving
Cooking the turkey for Thanksgiving (or Christmas or any special holiday) is a major part of the holiday dinner, and the process for a frozen turkey actually starts days before. You want to be sure you do it the right way (for food safety purposes), so follow along to learn how to thaw a turkey, and exactly how long it takes to defrost.
Thawing the turkey can take days, depending on the size, so making sure it has plenty of time to defrost before cooking is an important step.
Since fresh/unfrozen turkeys can only sit in the refrigerator for 2 days, buying a frozen one is usually the best option (unless you don’t mind doing your shopping last minute). It will keep in the freezer long-term, up to a year or more.
Turkey Thawing Chart
Wondering how long it takes to defrost that turkey? It depends on which method you’re using: the fridge or the cold water method.
Use these turkey thawing charts to figure out how many days before Thanksgiving you should start thawing the frozen turkey (based on size). Then you can read below for step by step instructions on how to do it.
Note: These thawing charts and how-tos apply to both whole turkeys and turkey breasts.
How long does it take to defrost turkey in the fridge?
Time Estimate: Plan for a full 24 hours of thawing time for every 5 pounds of turkey.
| Turkey Weight (pounds) | Thawing Time (hours) | Thawing Time (Days) |
|---|---|---|
| 4-6 lbs | 24 hours | 1 day |
| 6-12 lbs | 24-48 hours | 1-2 days |
| 12-16 lbs | 48-72 hours | 2-3 days |
| 16-20 lbs | 72-96 hours | 3-4 days |
| 20-24 lbs | 96-120 hours | 4-5 days |
How long does it take to defrost a turkey in water?
Time Estimate: Allow 30 minutes of thawing time for every 1 pound of turkey.
| Turkey Weight (pounds) | Thawing Time (Hours) |
|---|---|
| 4-6 lbs | 2-3 hours |
| 6-12 lbs | 3-6 hours |
| 12-16 lbs | 6-8 hours |
| 16-20 lbs | 8-10 hours |
| 20-24 lbs | 10-12 hours |
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How to Defrost a Turkey
The easiest and safest way to do this is to set it in the refrigerator. This does take significantly more time though, so you need to plan ahead (that’s where the turkey thawing time charts above come in handy).
I’m also including the step by step for thawing it in cold water, which will only take hours (up to half a day). This method should be used on the day of, right before cooking. I don’t recommend this because it is just tedious, but if you need to defrost your turkey quickly, this is the best way to go.
How to Thaw a Turkey in the Refrigerator
- Take the turkey out of the freezer. Place it on a large rimmed tray or in a roasting pan or container that can catch any liquid as it defrosts. Leave the turkey wrapped.
- Clear out a space in the fridge (I recommend placing it on the bottom shelf so nothing leaks onto foods below it) and place the tray/container inside.
- Simply let it sit for a few days, according to the turkey thaw time chart above. You can add a day to the time before cooking just to be sure.
- On the day of cooking, take the turkey out of the fridge, unwrap it, remove the giblets, and you’ll be ready to cook.
How to Thaw a Turkey in Cold Water
- Take the turkey out of the freezer and leave it wrapped.
- Fill a large bowl, pot, or container with cold water (about 40°F, same temperature as the recommended fridge temp.). You need a large enough container, and enough water, that you can submerge the whole turkey or turkey breast.
- Place the turkey in the cold water, and then change the water every 30 minutes. This is an important step.
- Keep refreshing the water, making sure it’s cold, until it’s fully thawed (use the chart above to time it).
- When it’s done, unwrap it, remove the giblets, and cook immediately (you don’t want to let it sit thawed for too long).
Note: If you are defrosting the turkey in water, the water needs to be changed regularly to make sure it stays cold enough (about 40°F). This ensures you are thawing the turkey at a safe rate. You don’t want the water to get too warm.
Can you refreeze a thawed turkey?
If you defrost the turkey in the refrigerator, then YES, you can refreeze the turkey without cooking it. It will refreeze, and then you can follow the steps to defrost and cook another time.
However, if you defrost it in cold water, you CANNOT refreeze it. It needs to be cooked immediately upon thawing, and then you can refrigerate or freeze the cooked meat. If you don’t end up cooking it, it would simply need to be thrown away.
How long can a thawed turkey stay in the fridge?
Similar to storing a fresh turkey, a thawed turkey can sit in the fridge for up to 2 days. It’s a pretty short time period, so it is important to time the defrosting correctly. However, 2 days is a perfect leeway leading up to Thanksgiving!
How long can you keep a frozen turkey?
You can safely buy and freeze your turkey for Thanksgiving up to a year ahead of time. For best results, cook frozen turkey within one year
How long does it take to defrost a whole turkey?
This depends on the size of the turkey, and the defrosting method you use. Check the turkey thawing chart above for specific time frames. It can take anywhere from 1-5 days.
How long does it take to thaw turkey breast?
The process of thawing turkey breast, and the time that it takes, is basically the same as a whole turkey. Since most turkey breasts are on the smaller side, they won’t take long to defrost. 24 hours is a good estimate in the fridge, or a few hours if defrosting in water.
Can you cook a fully frozen turkey?
You can cook the turkey straight from the freezer if needed (or partially thawed). So if you run out of time to thaw it, or maybe just forget to move it to the refrigerator, don’t worry. You’ll need to add a bit more cook time when roasting. I still recommend thawing it for the best results, but it is completely safe either way.
Can you leave a turkey out to thaw overnight?
No! Setting it on the counter top or in the sink at room temperature is not a safe way to defrost turkey. Either defrost in the refrigerator, or use cold water, changing it every 30 minutes.
Can you defrost using warm water?
No. Only defrost a turkey in COLD water (as outlined above). Using warm water can cause bacteria to start growing on the surface if left out for more than 2 hours.
Now that you know how long to thaw your turkey, and exactly how to defrost it, you’ll be prepped and ready for Thanksgiving! Choose from from any of my favorite turkey recipes, grab this chart of turkey cooking times, and you’ll be ready to cook.
Turkey Recipes
- Roast Thanksgiving Turkey
- Deep-fried Turkey
- Smoked Turkey Breast
- Spatchco*ck Turkey
