CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) — You must start preparing days in advance if you are using a frozen turkey for Thanksgiving dinner.
Depending on the size, some turkeys can take days to thaw. The best day to take your frozen turkey out of the freezer to thaw in the fridge before cooking is the Friday before Thanksgiving if it weighs more than twenty pounds.
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Safely Thawing a Turkey
It is NOT a safe practice to simply take a frozen turkey out of the freezer and place it on the counter for Thanksgiving. The outside of the turkey will soon reach the “danger zone,” which is between 40 and 140 degrees, where foodborne bacteria can grow quickly even if the inside is still frozen. A turkey can enter this “danger zone” after sitting on the counter for just two hours.
There are three safe ways to defrost a turkey. The following are recommendations from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to thaw your Thanksgiving turkey and avoid foodborne illness.
Thawing in the Refrigerator
- For every five pounds, allow about a full day in a refrigerator that is kept at 40 degrees or lower.
- To stop the turkey’s juices from spilling over into other items in your refrigerator, place the turkey in a container.
- Before cooking, a thawed turkey can be kept in the refrigerator for up to two days.
Refrigerator Thawing Times
- 4 to 12 pounds — 1 to 3 days
- 12 to 16 pounds — 3 to 4 days
- 16 to 20 pounds — 4 to 5 days
- 20 to 24 pounds —5 to 6 days
*Make sure to calculate thawing time based on when you plan to start COOKING your turkey.
How Much Does That Turkey Weigh?
FAQ
Does a frozen turkey weigh more?
How much does a Butterball frozen turkey weigh?
What is an average size frozen turkey?
How heavy is a large frozen turkey?
Why does frozen turkey weigh so much?
When meat is frozen, it’s a bit heavier than it was before. That’s because the moisture that’s contained within the meat’s fibers has turned to ice, which increases the total weight. However, the weight that’s listed on the label should refer to how much the turkey weighed before it was frozen.
Can You Thaw a frozen turkey?
The **USDA** recommends three safe ways to defrost a turkey: in the refrigerator, in cold water, and in a microwave oven . Refrigerator thawing is the safest method because the turkey will thaw
Are frozen turkeys heavier than fresh?
Technically, frozen turkeys are heavier than fresh ones. This is because the moisture in a frozen turkey has been turned to ice, increasing the weight of the bird. However, you’re not being short-changed. The weight listed on a frozen turkey for sale is the weight of the bird was before it was frozen.
How much does a turkey weigh in a store?
When a turkey is slaughtered and prepared for sale, parts of the turkey are removed. This is why the live weights are so much higher than the average weight in the store. A turkey which was 41 lbs at slaughter, will be about 24 lbs. in the store. This means a turkey in the store is about 10-15 lbs. less of its live weight.