Best way to thaw a turkey?

[RambleOn]

I bought a frozen 12 pound turkey this morning. I'd like to defrost it as soon as possible. Right now it's sitting in cold water in the biggest pot I have, which isn't quite deep enough for the bird, so it's only about 1/4 immersed. Should I keep it in the water all day until it thaws, or should I leave it in the fridge, which will probably add to the defrosting time? I've never cooked a turkey before, so I don't really know what I'm doing. Thanks

 

[ChrichtonsGirl]

My mom just thaws hers in the refrigerator. It's safer (bacteria-wise) than leaving it out at room temperature. I think her usual 18-lb. bird takes a couple of days to thaw in the refrigerator.

 

[dude]

Send on orbit to the sun!

 

[StageLeft]

Yeah a big turkey can take 2+ days in fridge I think. I'm considering cooking my first turkey this week

 

[Shudder]

Buy those turkey bags! It really keeps the moisture in. If someone doesn't use it it's too dry for me and I end up feasting on mashed potatoes and other stuff instead

 

[EagleKeeper]

Take a bath with it since it can not fit in the pot .
j/k

However, if it can not fit in your largest pot, either let it sit in the bathtub filled with cool water, or go buy a large cheap pot for it. Three days should just about thaw it for cooking. Thurs AM when you get moving and it is not fully thawed (ice crystals inside the cavity), fill the cavity with warm water while you are preparing the rest of the stuffing.

The little amount that is not thawed at this point will not make a difference in the cooking. Just be sure that you build a foil tent over the bird to protect it from sun-stroke and baste it often.

If you do not have a popup timer built into the bird, go get yourself a meat therometer. This will guarentee a proper cooked bird.

 

[RambleOn]

Thanks for all the tips everyone! I'm gonna throw the bird in the tub right now.....

 

[vi edit]

Just get one of those turkey friers and flash fry that bastard from freezing to fully cooked in 20 mintues flat

 

[swayinOtis]

put the turkey still in it's protective plastic wrapper in the sink.

have a bunch of your friends over for a beer bash. give everyone lots and lots of beer.

let them urinate in the sink on top of the turkey. that will slowing thaw your bird.

lol

 

[PsychoAndy]

there are several ways of doing it, leaving it in the fridge and putting it under running water for a while are some of the most sanitary, if not popular methods......

whatever you do, dont leave it out all night tho

 

[ChrichtonsGirl]

I've heard (never tried it) that if you soak your turkey in a brine solution while it's thawing, it will be especially moist when you cook it.

If you're going to thaw it in the bathtub, for heaven's sake, clean it (the tub) first.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Most of those turkey fryers/roaster are fairly small.
8-10lb max

Also as long as the turkey is in the plastic wrapper, the brine solution will have no effect on the moisture content.

Using running water will just waste water/and money and have no measurable effect.
Thawing a turkey in the fridge should take about 4-5 lbs per day.

 

[Karsten]

I don't understand quite what your rush is. Ours is just sitting in the fridge and unthaws there. If you already have it just let it sit in there. It will be all thawed out in time!

 

[Carbo]

First tip: do not buy a frozen turkey. The taste difference between it and a fresh one is noticeable to all except the criminally insane. Now that you have, though, thaw in the yard, in the sun. Hopefully a pack of dogs will devour it. Then, you can go out and buy a fresh bird.

 

[bozo1]

Running cold water is the key. Saw it on the Food channel the other day.

 

[Draco]

You want to thaw it quickly? No problem, just put it in yer can.

 

[Nefrodite]

fridge if you don't want food poisoning.