When Should I Start Thawing My Turkey for Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving Day is coming up fast, but let’s face it: Hosting Thanksgiving dinner is no easy feat. From knowing when to start thawing a turkey to how much turkey to make and the perennial question of will I have enough food for my guests, there’s a lot of pressure to make this delicious holiday perfect.

Beyond the chaos involved in preparing a dinner of epic proportions, food safety should be the top priority.

After all, friends and family should end the day with leftover pumpkin pie — not food poisoning.

That’s why the researchers at Eat This, Not That! compiled a few must-follow tips for how to thaw a frozen turkey: a process that, if done incorrectly, has the potential to bring a ton of illness-causing bacteria to the holiday table.

While there are a few different ways to thaw a bird, nearly all of them require starting the process a few days prior to turkey day, so its important to prep accordingly and start the process early.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, which means it’s time to start thinking about thawing the star of the show – the turkey! As the centerpiece of the Thanksgiving meal, getting your turkey safely thawed and ready to cook is one of the most important steps for a successful holiday. But when exactly should you start the thawing process? Here’s a complete guide to help you figure out the best time to start thawing your turkey.

How Far in Advance Should I Thaw My Turkey?

The short answer is it depends on the size of your turkey! Here are some general guidelines

Allow 24 hours of refrigerator thawing time for every 4-5 pounds of turkey.
So for a 16 pound turkey, start thawing in the refrigerator 4 days before Thanksgiving.
12 pound turkey – 3 days before
20 pound turkey – 5 days before
24 pound turkey – 6 days before

The typical recommendation is to start thawing your turkey in the refrigerator the Friday or Saturday before Thanksgiving. This allows enough time for even large birds to thaw completely by Thursday morning.

If you have a smaller turkey (10 pounds or under), you can likely get away with putting it in the fridge on Sunday or Monday. But it’s always better to give yourself more lead time if possible.

Thawing Timelines Based on Turkey Size

Here’s a handy table with recommended thaw start days based on turkey size:

Turkey Weight	Days to Thaw in Fridge
8 – 12 lbs	3 – 4 days before Thanksgiving
12 – 16 lbs	4 – 5 days before Thanksgiving
16 – 20 lbs	5 – 6 days before Thanksgiving
20 – 24 lbs	6 – 7 days before Thanksgiving

So for example, if you have an 18 pound turkey, you’ll want to start thawing in the refrigerator around 5-6 days before the big day.

Why Thaw in the Refrigerator?

Thawing in the refrigerator is the safest method recommended by the USDA. At fridge temperatures around 40°F or below, your turkey will thaw slowly at a controlled pace, inhibiting bacterial growth.

Leaving a turkey to thaw on the counter at room temperature is risky, as the outer areas could begin to reach unsafe temperatures while the inner areas are still frozen.

The fridge method keeps the entire turkey chilled at all times during the defrosting process.

Thawing Methods to Avoid

Along with room temperature thawing, here are some other thawing methods to avoid:

Thawing in hot water – can lead to bacterial growth
Thawing in the garage, basement, or porch – uncontrolled temperatures
Thawing in the dishwasher – doesn’t allow for even thawing

Cold water thawing and microwave thawing are acceptable methods, but you’ll need to cook the turkey immediately after thawing completes with these accelerated methods.

Should I Brine My Turkey After Thawing?

Yes, absolutely! Brining is highly recommended to keep your turkey juicy, moist, and flavorful, especially if you thawed in the refrigerator.

Once your turkey is fully thawed:

Rinse it under cold water and pat dry
Apply a salt-based brine solution overnight in the refrigerator
Or rub a salt-herb mixture over the meat and under the skin

Brining for 12-24 hours after thawing gives time for the salt, aromatics, and moisture to fully penetrate deep into the turkey meat before roasting.

Handling a Fully Thawed Turkey

Once your turkey has thawed completely in the refrigerator, it can safely be kept for 1-2 more days max before cooking.

Leave it in the fridge until you are ready to prep, brine, and roast. Cook within 1-2 days for the best quality.

If you end up thawing earlier than expected, you can re-freeze your turkey. However, the texture may suffer a bit after being thawed and refrozen. It’s best to cook thawed turkey within the 1-2 day recommended window.

Thawing and Food Safety

Proper thawing is crucial for food safety when handling a frozen turkey:

Always thaw in the refrigerator, never at room temperature
Cook immediately after microwave or cold water thawing
Cook within 1-2 days after fridge thawing
Don’t refreeze a thawed turkey more than once

Turkey must reach an internal temperature of 165°F before serving. Use a meat thermometer to verify doneness after cooking.

Thoroughly cleaning surfaces, utensils, and your hands before and after handling raw turkey can help prevent cross contamination and foodborne illness as well.

Still Frozen on Thanksgiving Morning?

If you took your turkey out a little too late and it’s still partially or fully frozen on Thanksgiving morning, don’t panic!

You can still roast a frozen turkey – it will just take significantly longer to cook. Plan for at least 50% extra roasting time compared to a thawed turkey.

Use your meat thermometer and cook until it reaches the safe internal temp of 165°F in the breast and thighs. Let it rest 20 minutes before carving.

While not ideal, roasting a frozen turkey can absolutely still result in a delicious Thanksgiving meal when you account for the extra time needed.

Takeaways for Thawing Your Turkey

Start thawing in the refrigerator 4-6 days before Thanksgiving depending on size
Allow 24 hours fridge thaw time per 4-5 pounds of turkey
12-16 pound turkeys should go in the fridge 3-4 days before Thanksgiving
Avoid thawing at room temperature or in hot water
Brine your turkey after thawing for maximum moisture and flavor
Cook within 1-2 days of refrigerator thawing for food safety and quality
A frozen turkey will require significantly more roast time on Thanksgiving Day

By properly planning ahead and allowing enough thawing time, you’ll avoid any frozen turkey surprises on the big day. Applying these refrigerator thawing guidelines will set you up for Thanksgiving success!

when should i start thawing my turkey

Consider thawing the turkey using a microwave

Believe it or not, you can thaw a turkey in the microwave, but proceed with caution. Before deciding whether to thaw the Thanksgiving centerpiece in the microwave, make sure it actually fits in there … and has some extra space to spin. If the bird is small enough, remove the plastic wrap and place it in a microwave-safe dish or baking dish. Push the defrost button, punch in the weight of the bird and let the microwave work its magic.

If your microwave lacks a proper defrosting function, determine how long the bird needs to thaw in there based on its weight. Six minutes per pound is a good rule of thumb. Since microwaves tend to heat things unevenly, make sure to rotate and flip the meat throughout the thawing process.

10-pound turkey: 1 hour of thawing in the microwave
12-pound turkey: 1 hour, 12 minutes of thawing in the microwave
14-pound turkey: 1 hour, 24 minutes of thawing in the microwave
16-pound turkey: 1 hour, 36 minutes of thawing in the microwave
18-pound turkey: 1 hour, 48 minutes of thawing in the microwave
20-pound turkey: 2 hours of thawing in the microwave

How to thaw a frozen turkey for Thanksgiving

Dont thaw a turkey on the kitchen countertop where it can become a nesting area for nasty bacteria — or your cat’s midnight snack. Instead, use the fridge.

Before you place the bird directly in the refrigerator, lay it on a deep rimmed tray or or a roasting pan lined with a wire rack, which will catch any leaks. Place it breast side up (the plumpest area in between the wings) and wrap it tightly with plastic wrap. Place the tray or pan on the lowest shelf in your refrigerator to prevent the risk of foodborne illness. The lowest shelf in your refrigerator should house the food that needs to cook at the highest temperature, like poultry.

When thawing a turkey in the refrigerator, allow 24 hours of defrosting time for every 4 to 5 pounds of bird, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. So, if the turkey weighs 12 pounds, plan for it to defrost in the fridge for about three days. If 16 pounds or more, make sure its placed in the fridge four to five days before the holiday arrives. As a rule of thumb, thawing your turkey the weekend before Thanksgiving will ensure that its fully defrosted by the time you need to cook it on Thursday. Plus, this gives you plenty of time to brine it either with a wet brine or dry spice rub.

10-pound turkey: 2 days of thawing in the refrigerator
12-pound turkey: 2 to 3 days of thawing in the refrigerator
14-pound turkey: 2 to 3 days of thawing in the refrigerator
16-pound turkey: 3 to 4 days of thawing in the refrigerator
18-pound turkey: 3 to 4 days of thawing in the refrigerator
20-pound turkey: 4 to 5 days of thawing in the refrigerator