Learn to safely thaw a frozen turkey in time for Thanksgiving dinner. Use my step-by-step instructions and practical tips to get your frozen bird on the table in no time.
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The holidays are a busy time filled with lots of cooking and preparations You may be tempted to leave your frozen turkey out on the counter overnight to thaw it quickly before the big meal, But is this safe? Here’s what food experts say about leaving frozen turkey out at room temperature overnight and better ways to safely thaw your bird
The Dangers of Leaving Frozen Turkey Out Overnight
While it may seem convenient, leaving a frozen turkey out on the kitchen counter overnight is not recommended. Here’s why
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Bacteria growth: Between 40°F and 140°F is considered the “danger zone” for bacterial growth. A frozen turkey left out overnight will likely reach these unsafe temperatures.
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Can’t monitor temperature: When thawing on the counter, you can’t monitor the temperature or ensure it stays out of the danger zone.
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Foodborne illness Harmful bacteria like salmonella can grow rapidly at room temp, causing foodborne illness when eaten
So while nothing bad may seem to happen, the unseen bacterial growth makes eating a turkey thawed on the counter an unsafe risk.
USDA Recommendations Against Thawing on Counter
The USDA’s definitive guide to food safety, FoodSafety.gov, explicitly warns against leaving frozen meat, poultry or seafood out to thaw for more than 2 hours.
Thawing on the counter overnight would far exceed this 2-hour limit, keeping the turkey in the danger zone for much too long. The USDA says thawing in the refrigerator is the safest method.
Why Our Mothers and Grandmothers Did It
You may be wondering why we all grew up with turkeys thawing on the counter if it’s considered unsafe. Here’s the scoop:
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Lack of research: Less was known about foodborne illness risks back then.
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Lower standards: Food safety standards weren’t as stringent several decades ago.
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Change in turkey supply: Commercially frozen turkeys have longer supply chains now, increasing risks.
So it’s not that the old ways were safe, experts just didn’t fully realize the dangers yet. Standards and recommendations have evolved over time as more research becomes available.
Safer Ways to Thaw a Frozen Turkey
Now that leaving a frozen turkey out overnight is out, what are the safer ways to thaw your Thanksgiving or Christmas bird? Here are your best options:
In the Refrigerator
This is the USDA-recommended method. Place the frozen turkey in a tray or pan to catch drips. Allow 24 hours of thawing for every 4-5 pounds of turkey weight. A 16 lb turkey would need 4 days in the fridge.
In Cold Water
Submerge the still-wrapped turkey in cold tap water, changing water every 30 minutes. Allow 30 minutes thawing time per pound of turkey. The turkey will need to be cooked immediately after thawing.
Skip Thawing
For turkeys under 16 lbs, you can skip thawing altogether and cook directly from frozen. Just allow 50% more cooking time. Use a thermometer to ensure full cooking.
The Verdict: Don’t Leave Frozen Turkey Out Overnight
While we may have fond memories of leaving frozen turkeys on the counter growing up, food safety research clearly shows this is not the best practice. For minimal risk of foodborne illness, use the refrigerator or cold water method instead.
How To Thaw a Turkey Overnight
What you can do is the cold water method as many times as possible. Then you can remove the turkey from the packaging and wet brine your turkey or keep it as is in a pot of cool water in the fridge
It will continue to thaw out overnight. You can continue with the cold water method in the morning.
If you brined your bird and you need to switch out the cold water be very careful. As a general rule, we dont want to rinse raw turkey as it can splash bacteria around your kitchen.
⏲️Cold Water Thawing (Last Minute)
Use the cold water method only if you purchased your Thanksgiving turkey last minute. Or you wake up Thanksgiving morning to find your turkey is still partially frozen.
- Leave the turkey in its original packaging. It is easiest to do this process in a sink but you can also use a pot.
- Place the turkey in your kitchen sink, it should be breast side down. Fill the sink with cold tap water. It should be under 40 degrees, just like the fridge. The turkey needs to be submerged so hold it down with a pan if needed.
- Allow the turkey to sit in the water for 30 minutes. Change the cold water every 30 minutes until the turkey is thawed.
- Allow for 30 minutes per pound.
- Because of the time it takes, I recommend doing the process the night before and then soaking your turkey in a wet brine overnight.
When using this method you need to cook your turkey immediately. It can not be dry-brined.
If you want to brine your turkey and find it still frozen you can do the cold water method a few times and then brine it. You can brine partially frozen turkeys as long as you can remove the neck giblets and other parts stuffed in the turkeys cavity.
Can you leave a turkey out to thaw overnight?
FAQ
Can you leave a frozen turkey out for 12 hours?
Is it okay to leave a frozen turkey in the sink overnight?
How to thaw a turkey in 24 hours?
What if my turkey is still frozen the night before?
Can You Thaw a frozen turkey?
However, if you pre-order a frozen bird, here’s a safer way to thaw it (sorry, Mama): To thaw a turkey in the refrigerator, leave it in its packaging or wrapper, and put the turkey on a tray in the fridge, breast side up. Then, just leave it alone. While this method is easy, you do need to plan ahead.
Is it safe to freeze a Turkey?
While frozen, a turkey is safe indefinitely. As soon as it begins to thaw, bacteria that may have been present before freezing will begin to grow again. There are three safe ways to defrost a turkey: in the refrigerator, in cold water, and in a microwave oven. The USDA recommends thawing your turkey in the refrigerator.
How do you defrost a Turkey?
There are three safe ways to defrost a turkey: in the refrigerator, in cold water, and in a microwave oven. The USDA recommends thawing your turkey in the refrigerator. This is the safest method because the turkey will thaw at a consistent, safe temperature. This method takes some time, so allow one day for each 4 – 5 pounds of weight.
How long can you keep a frozen turkey in the fridge?
You want to allow 1 day in the fridge for every 4 pounds of turkey, so refrigerate a 12-pound bird for 3 days, a 20-pound bird for 5 days, and so on. Check out our turkey defrosting time calculator below for more estimates: Here’s our no-mess method for thawing a frozen-solid turkey in the refrigerator: