Can You Cook a Partially Frozen Turkey? Here’s How to Do It Safely

The holidays are almost here and you’ve got your turkey all ready to cook, but when you pull it out of the freezer you realize it’s only partially thawed! Now what? Can you actually cook a partially frozen turkey safely and make it taste delicious?

The short answer is yes, you can absolutely cook a partially frozen turkey if you take a few extra precautions. While it’s always best to thaw your turkey completely before cooking sometimes life gets busy and your bird doesn’t thaw on time. Don’t panic! With some simple adjustments you’ll still be able to serve up a perfectly cooked, moist and flavorful holiday turkey.

How to Safely Cook a Partially Frozen Turkey

Cooking a partially frozen turkey takes a bit more time, care and attention than a fully thawed one. Here are some tips to ensure your turkey comes out perfectly cooked from beak to bottom:

Give it more time to cook. A partially frozen turkey will take significantly longer to cook than a fully thawed one Plan for about 25% extra cooking time For example, if your recipe calls for a 15 lb turkey to cook for 3 hours, a partially frozen one may need up to 3 3⁄4 hours.
Thaw thoroughly before stuffing. Never stuff a partially frozen turkey! The stuffing won’t reach a safe temperature in time. Make and cook stuffing separately.
Use a meat thermometer. This is crucial to ensure the turkey reaches a safe internal temperature of 165°F throughout. Check temperature in several spots.
Tent with foil at first. Tenting the turkey loosely with foil for the first 2 hours prevents the skin from overbrowning before the inside thaws. Remove foil later for crispy skin.
Baste wisely. Basting adds moisture and flavor. But opening the oven repeatedly lengthens cooking time. Minimize this by brining the bird first.
Let it rest before carving. Never slice into a partially cooked turkey right away. Let it rest 20-30 minutes so juices redistribute evenly.

Handy Time and Temperature Tips

Wondering exactly how much extra time you’ll need or what oven temperature to use? Here are some handy benchmarks when cooking a partially frozen turkey:

Allow 24 hours thawing time in the fridge for every 4-5 pounds of turkey. A 20 lb bird needs 4-5 days to fully thaw.
With a 325°F oven temperature, expect around 50% extra cooking time for a completely frozen turkey.
For a partially frozen turkey, plan on 25% longer cooking time compared to thawed.
Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temp, not a timer. Cook to 165°F in the thickest part of the thigh.
Let the cooked turkey rest 30 minutes before carving so juices redistribute evenly.

Handy Substitution Tips

If you simply don’t have time to safely thaw and cook your frozen turkey, here are some handy substitutions to still save your holiday meal:

Cook a boneless turkey breast instead of a whole bird. Thaws faster and cooks more quickly.
Opt for roasted turkey breast deli meat. Heat slices in broth with veggies for an instant feast.
Make a turkey tenderloin with stuffing. Smaller size cooks fast from frozen state.
Serve slices of rotisserie turkey from the deli. Fast, fool-proof holiday option.
Shred turkey into dishes like chili, soup, casseroles. Great use for leftover frozen turkey.

Food Safety First

When working with frozen poultry, food safety should always be top priority. Keep these safety tips in mind:

Never thaw at room temperature or in hot water. Bacteria multiply rapidly above 40°F.
Cook from frozen state only. Partial thawing promotes bacterial growth in “danger zone” temperatures.
Use thawed turkey within 1-2 days. If brined, cook within 8-12 hours. Don’t refreeze a thawed turkey.
Discard any turkey that smells bad or reaches above 40°F for over 2 hours. Don’t risk it!

Let’s Talk Turkey!

Cooking a partially frozen turkey may seem intimidating, but have no fear! With proper thawing, extra cooking time, and temperature monitoring, you can still enjoy a picture-perfect holiday turkey, even if it’s not fully thawed.

What special tricks do you use when dealing with a partially frozen turkey? Share your best tips and recipes in the comments! From brining to roasting methods, let’s swap ideas to master the art of cooking a partially frozen bird. With some creativity and care in the kitchen, you’ll impress your guests and keep your holiday feast on track, frozen turkey and all.

can you cook partially frozen turkey

What to do if your turkey is still frozen

, – June 12, 2023

Updated from an original article written by Beth Waitrovich, Michigan State University Extension.

To avoid the frozen bird disaster, plan ahead. Here are some safe ways of quickly thawing and preparing a frozen turkey.

Photo: Pexels/Monstera.

The turkey is still frozen, and you have a big gathering. It is still possible to safely thaw and prepare the turkey for your event.

First and foremost, do not thaw the turkey at room temperature on the counter! As the frozen turkey begins to thaw, any bacteria present before freezing will still be present after thawing. In addition, thawing the turkey at room temperature allows the bacteria to grow and multiply. This creates an unsafe meal despite being cooked.

According to Michigan State University Extension, it takes 24 hours per four to five pounds of turkey to thaw in the refrigerator. A 20-pound turkey takes four to five days to completely thaw in the fridge.

There are other ways to thaw a turkey, though.

One way is to submerge the turkey in cold water. To do this, leave the turkey in the original package and put it in a properly sanitized sink or container full of cold water under 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Set the timer for 30 minutes. Next, change the water, replacing it with cold water. Changing the cold water every thirty minutes until the turkey is completely thawed. A 20-pound turkey will take up to 10 to 12 hours to thaw, while a four- to 12-pound turkey will take two to six hours.

Once the turkey is thawed, it must be cooked to prevent further bacterial growth.

Check and follow your microwave manufacturer’s instructions for thawing the turkey. Once defrosted, cook the turkey immediately to prevent further bacterial growth. Since microwave ovens do not heat evenly, you may have a partially cooked turkey in one area and still frozen in another.

It is safe to cook a turkey that is frozen. A solidly frozen turkey will take 50% longer to cook than a thawed turkey. If it is only partially frozen, it will still take longer to cook than a thawed one.

Michigan State University Extension recommends using a food thermometer to determine if the turkey has reached a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit in the innermost portion of the thigh and thickest part of the breast. Only when the turkey has reached that temperature is it ready to serve. The oven should be at a minimum temperature of 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

For more information on safely preparing poultry, check out this Michigan Fresh Poultry factsheet.

Can you really cook a turkey that’s still frozen?

FAQ

Can you cook a turkey if it is still partially frozen?

Is it OK to cook partially frozen ground turkey?

Raw or cooked meat, poultry or casseroles can be cooked or reheated from the frozen state. However, it will take approximately one and a half times as long to cook. For example, if fresh meat takes one hour to cook, the same meat cooked frozen would take 1 1/2 hours.

What if I forgot to thaw the turkey?

If you forgot to thaw the turkey, don’t panic. A faster thawing method is to submerge the frozen bird in cold water. You need to change the water every 30 minutes to be safe. While this method is faster, it still takes about 30 minutes per pound for complete thawing.