There are quite a few ways to thaw (or “dethaw”, depending on where you’re from) a turkey, except barely a couple I recommend:

  • Thaw in the refrigerator

  • Thaw in chilly wet

Let’s quickly discuss in cooperation methods.

Thawing a turkey in the refrigerator

Thawing a turkey in the refrigerator is the preferred method, except you’ll need to allow quite a few days for it to thaw. A well-deserved rule of thumb is 24 hours for every 5 pounds of turkey. As a result for a 15 pound bird, allow 3 days. A 20 pounder will take 4 days. Present yourself plenty of time. But it’s thawed a day early, it’s no big deal. A thawed turkey can be safely kept in the refrigerator for up to one complete day.

There’s no existent discipline here. Just leave it in a pan large adequate to seize the bird, plus cover up by plastic wrap or else a lid. You can along use the large Ziploc bags for this.

Thawing a turkey in chilly water

If you don’t have quite a few days to thaw your bird, you can use the chilly wet method. You can thaw your turkey in your kitchen sink, a large pot, or else yet a clean cooler. Be confident to use ice chilly water. Yet the coldest wet will thaw a turkey quickly, as a result keep it cold. Replace the wet by clean, chilly wet every 30 min or else so. You’ll need to plan for 30 min per pound of turkey, which means you can thaw a 12 pound turkey in 6 hours, or else a 20 pounder in barely 10 hours!

If thawing in chilly water, you ought to organize the turkey as quickly as it’s thawed.

Again, thawing in the refrigerator is preferred merely because it’s a controlled environment where the temperature is constant. However, but you don’t have the time or else the space in your fridge, that chilly wet means works fine too.

When you’re standing by to organize your turkey, merely rinse it by clean, chilly wet within plus out. Oh, plus don’t not remember to remove the giblets! (I have a story concerning that, except I’ll save that for a an alternative time.)

Jay Lotz is a blogger at http://www.drinkmowgrill.com a blog covering beer, lawn care, plus grilling.