topic Re: How far ahead do you thaw your turkey? in Community Chat

How far ahead do you thaw your turkey?

Shorty2U — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 04:48:17 GMT

It has been a while since I made a big turkey. (We usually go out T giving or make turkey pieces for DH and I). And we usually have ham for Christmas (at my daughters)

We are making a turkey dinner and hosting this year on Christmas Eve day (around 1) with my family. So that's our Christmas dinner with my side of the family.

The turkey is a womping 21 lbs.

Its not a Butterball but I went to their website and it says for a 21 lb turkey to thaw in fridge 6 days? If doing it in cold water 10 hours (with changing the water every so often while thawing).

I am starting to make the turkey Tuesday afternoon/evening and finishing it Wednesday since we are having an early dinner.

I would prefer to thaw in the fridge and not set it out in water (due to our cats -in case and we wont be home the entire thaw time), but perhaps I have to thaw it in water, because according to Butterball the turkey should have been in the fridge already days ago. That seems early to me!

How far ahead and how do you thaw yours?

Re: How far ahead do you thaw your turkey?

croemer — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 04:51:33 GMT

21 pounds...yikes...I have no clue how long that will take. My refridge is so cold it would take forever. lol

Re: How far ahead do you thaw your turkey?

Irshgrl31201 — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 04:52:00 GMT

I thaw mine in cold water in a cooler and then I empty it out and disinfect it and use the same cooler to brine the turkey. I don't have time to let my turkey thaw for days in the fridge nor do I have the space.

Re: How far ahead do you thaw your turkey?

betteb — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 04:54:06 GMT

I would put it in the refrigerator now for Tuesday cooking.

O/T Shorty, thanks for your comments on the My Granddaughter thread

Re: How far ahead do you thaw your turkey?

sophiamarie — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 04:54:56 GMT

You don't have to thaw a turkey. You can roast it frozen or partially frozen. You can google it and find many, many sites to choose from.

http://blog.williams-sonoma.com/yes-you-can-roast-a-frozen-turkey/

Re: How far ahead do you thaw your turkey?

HonnyBrown — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 05:03:20 GMT

I had a 10 pound turkey for Thanksgiving. The Butterball website said to thaw it for 2.5 days. Mom said to thaw it for 4 days.

Mom trumped. I put the turkey in the fridge that Saturday and it was thawed by Thursday.

For a 21 pound turkey, I would do more than 6 days.

Re: How far ahead do you thaw your turkey?

Qwackertoo — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 05:10:09 GMT

I buy ""fresh"" not frozen.

Re: How far ahead do you thaw your turkey?

AnikaBrodie — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 05:26:59 GMT

I thaw a 15 lb. turkey in the refrigerator for three days. 21 lbs. would probably be four days.

Re: How far ahead do you thaw your turkey?

bikerbabe — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 05:30:36 GMT

My experience is it always takes longer than the guidelines!

Re: How far ahead do you thaw your turkey?

croemer — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 05:35:24 GMT

On 12/19/2014 santaslittlehelper said: My experience is it always takes longer than the guidelines!

Mine too...every time it takes longer then advised.

Re: How far ahead do you thaw your turkey?

sunshine45 — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 06:02:09 GMT

take it out tonight....

how can you ""start"" it on tuesday afternoon and finish/ serve it on wednesday though?

Re: How far ahead do you thaw your turkey?

GCR18 — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 06:18:55 GMT

For thanksgiving I had a 12lb Turkey. I put it in the fridge Sunday 9pm and took it out to cook Thursday 9am. It had a tiny bit of ice. 6 days sounds reasonable.

Re: How far ahead do you thaw your turkey?

KYToby — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 06:26:20 GMT

The rule of thumb is one day for every four pounds. Also, take out of the fridge at least two hours before going into the oven. Room temperature meat cooks more evenly.

Re: How far ahead do you thaw your turkey?

bikerbabe — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 06:28:28 GMT

I wish I could figure out how to quote on a tablet. Anyway, I'm also curious how you plan to start the turkey on Tuesday and finish it on Wednesday? Maybe you meant start the side dishes on Tuesday and cook the turkey Wednesday?

Re: How far ahead do you thaw your turkey?

ShowMe — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 06:47:13 GMT

I would never ever bake a turkey that big....... It is much smarter to do two (2) smaller ones...... That way you can be sure they are nice and done, and not dried out, and you will have some left over for sandwiches, or whatever....... I prefer Butterball turkeys over any other brand. They are always nice and moist......

But since you already have a 21 pounder, you better calculate with a calculator as to how long it is going to take to bake. I suggest you not put any stuffing in that bird, because it would take much longer than you anticipate it would take.....

There is nothing worse than serving turkey that is not done.......you will have a lot of leftover turkey on your hands. But then, you could always make turkey soup......lol.......

Re: How far ahead do you thaw your turkey?

sophiamarie — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 06:52:52 GMT

On 12/19/2014 sophiamarie said:
You don't have to thaw a turkey. You can roast it frozen or partially frozen. You can google it and find many, many sites to choose from.

http://blog.williams-sonoma.com/yes-you-can-roast-a-frozen-turkey/

Sometimes I wonder if it's all worth it.......

Re: How far ahead do you thaw your turkey?

Shorty2U — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 07:41:37 GMT

Youre welcome BetteB.

And thank you everyone! I appreciate it.

I am going to have my husband put it in the fridge in the morning since he gets up at 4AM. (I literally cant lift over a gallon jug of milk so he will be lifting the turkey!).

I will keep checking it till Monday. If I see its not thawing I will do the water thing to finish thawing it I guess.

Why is it frozen not fresh? Because we got the frozen turkey from my husbands job (they give them out every Christmas but we usually give ours away, but this time we kept it).

Why I said it was 21 lbs is, his friend weighed his and said that (Since you all sound like that's really heavy maybe its a bit lighter and his friend was mistaken? but just looking at it, it is BIG).

About cooking it Tues and Wed----We put the turkey in a turkey bag and then a roasting pan. (It saves all the juices being in the bag and the turkey is never dry). Then it goes in the oven and I cook it in the oven until its all but finished (Tuesday). PS. I do not stuff the turkey. I make my own stuffing on top of the stove.

Anyway then I let it cool down, then it gets put in the refrigerator. Then Wed morning we get it out and put in the oven and finish it. (Thus our dinner is at 1 PM)

(My friend gave me this idea with the bag years ago to keep the turkey moist).

I also do this (except theres no bag) with our pork roast and sauerkraut on New Years Day. (Cook most of it the night before, let it cool, refrigerate it, and finish it the next day).

Anyway, getting back to the turkey. When I did make the turkeys yrs back, I received many compliments and people said my turkey is so good. Because people said every time they eat other peoples turkey (specifically white meat) its always dry. So I have recommended the bag to many. Trust me, it wont be undercooked or overcooked. It will be good (once I get past the thawing..lol).

PS I will send most of the leftovers with my children.

Re: How far ahead do you thaw your turkey?

fourpawsforme — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 08:46:19 GMT

I was suppose to thaw it???

Re: How far ahead do you thaw your turkey?

qualitygal — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 12:56:28 GMT

In the frig, for every 5 lbs. it gets a day (sometimes and extra day) to thaw out.

Re: How far ahead do you thaw your turkey?

muttmom — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 19:46:33 GMT

There is no way you have time to thaw it in the fridge. It will take all day Monday to thaw it in cold water.

You partially cook the turkey one day then finish it the next? Where do you keep it after you take the partially cooked turkey out of the oven? You waste a lot of time, bringing the partially cooked turkey back to room temperature before finishing the process.