Finding yourself with a solid frozen turkey on Thanksgiving morning can be a stressful situation. Many wonder if it’s possible to cook a turkey straight from frozen and how long it actually takes.
The good news is that with some preparation and patience, you can absolutely cook a delicious frozen turkey in time for Thanksgiving dinner Follow this comprehensive guide for tips on safely thawing and roasting frozen turkeys, including accurate cook times based on turkey size.
Is It Safe to Cook a Frozen Turkey?
Cooking a frozen turkey is completely safe, as long as it reaches the proper minimum internal temperature. According to the USDA, whole turkeys need to reach 165°F at the thickest part of the breast and innermost part of the thigh and wing.
As long as the turkey cooks to this safe temperature throughout it doesn’t matter whether it started frozen or thawed. The only food safety concern would come from undercooking the turkey.
So a frozen turkey can be perfectly safe for Thanksgiving – you just need to allow significantly more time than a thawed turkey. Plan for at least 50% longer cook time compared to recipes for thawed turkeys.
Should You Thaw First or Cook Frozen?
You have two options when it comes to preparing a frozen turkey:
-
Thaw Before Cooking: This requires properly thawing in the refrigerator 1-2 days before cooking. Thawing unlocks more flavor and lets you brine or rub the turkey. But it takes lots of planning.
-
Cook Frozen: Skipping thawing saves time but prevents flavoring the turkey ahead. Cook times also increase substantially when starting with a frozen bird.
If you have time, thawing in the fridge 1-2 days before is ideal. But cooking from frozen works in a pinch! Just carefully monitor cook times and temperatures.
How to Safely Thaw a Frozen Turkey
If you decide to thaw your turkey first, follow these safe methods:
-
Refrigerator Thawing: Allow 24 hours for every 4-5 lbs. Place turkey in a container to catch drips.
-
Cold Water Thawing: Submerge sealed turkey in cold water, changing water every 30 mins. Allow 30 mins per lb.
-
Microwave Thawing: Check manufacturer guidelines. Cook immediately after thawing.
Never thaw at room temperature or in hot water, which allows bacterial growth. And do not refreeze a thawed turkey. Cook within 1-2 days.
How Long to Cook a Frozen Turkey
Cooking a frozen turkey in the oven takes much longer than a thawed one. Follow these approximate oven cook times:
- 8-12 lb turkey – Add 4 to 4 1⁄2 hours at 325°F
- 12-14 lb turkey – Add 4 1⁄2 to 5 3⁄4 hours at 325°F
- 14-18 lb turkey – Add 5 3⁄4 to 6 1⁄4 hours at 325°F
- 18-20 lb turkey – Add 6 1⁄4 to 6 3⁄4 hours at 325°F
- 20-24 lb turkey – Add 6 3⁄4 to 7 1⁄2 hours at 325°F
These times are general guidelines, but turkey ovens can vary. Always check the internal temperature and roast until the turkey reaches 165°F throughout. Let rest 30 minutes before carving.
Step-by-Step Guide to Cooking a Frozen Turkey
Follow these helpful tips for successfully roasting a frozen turkey:
-
Start with a completely frozen turkey still in packaging. Do not thaw or rinse.
-
Preheat oven to 325°F. Place turkey breast-side up on a shallow roasting pan lined with foil.
-
After 30 minutes, carefully remove giblet packet if possible. Season outside of turkey with oil, salt and pepper.
-
Insert meat thermometer into thickest part of thigh, without hitting bone. Monitor temperature.
-
Roast, adding time as needed, until thermometer reads 165°F. Baste with pan drippings every hour.
-
Allow turkey to rest 30 minutes before carving. This allows juices to absorb back into the meat.
-
Use pan drippings to make gravy. Enjoy your delicious feast!
What If Turkey Is Still Frozen After Cooking?
If you check the temperature and find that the turkey is still frozen in the center, don’t panic. Simply continue roasting until the thermometer reaches 165°F, covering the turkey with foil to prevent over-browning.
The most dangerous outcome would be serving undercooked turkey, so play it safe and keep cooking until fully thawed and cooked through, regardless of how long it takes.
Can You Stuff a Frozen Turkey?
It is not recommended to stuff and roast a raw frozen turkey. Only pre-stuffed frozen turkeys designed for cooking from frozen are safe, according to USDA guidelines.
If you want stuffing cooked inside the turkey, thaw the turkey completely first before stuffing and roasting. For food safety, it is ideal to cook stuffing in a casserole dish separately.
Cooking Frozen Turkey Breast & Pieces
Large whole turkeys aren’t the only option for a frozen turkey meal! You can also safely cook smaller cuts like turkey breasts and pieces from frozen.
Follow a similar method as whole turkey, roasting at 325°F until the turkey reaches 165°F internally. Approximate oven cook times:
- Boneless turkey breast (2-3 lbs) – 1 1⁄2 to 2 hours
- Bone-in turkey breast (4-6 lbs) – 3 to 4 hours
- Turkey drumsticks or thighs – 2 to 3 hours
Adjust times as needed to fully cook. Let rest 15 minutes before serving.
Can You Fry or Smoke a Frozen Turkey?
Deep frying or smoking a frozen turkey is dangerous and not recommended. The intense heat of oil could cause frozen turkey to explode.
And frozen turkey won’t absorb smoke flavors properly. Only thaw and cook smaller cuts like breasts, wings, thighs or legs using these methods.
Perfectly Cooked Frozen Turkey
While cooking a frozen turkey requires extra time and preparation, you can still achieve delicious results with patience and proper technique. Monitor the temperature carefully and roast the turkey until fully cooked.
Let your frozen turkey grace the Thanksgiving table with pride! With the help of this handy guide, you can relax and enjoy the holiday feast.
Don’t Forget the Bag of Giblets!
Obviously, with the turkey frozen solid, you wont be able to pull the bag of giblets out of the cavity. Dont worry about it right now. Set the turkey on the rack and put it in the oven. Do not open the door of the oven for two hours.
After two hours, you should be able to work your meat thermometer into the deepest part of the thigh. What works best is the digital kind that you can set to alert you when your meat or poultry reaches its target temperature. Ideally the thigh will make it to 175 to 180 F, but for now, itll probably read 90 to 95 F.
Once you have the probe into the thigh, brush the skin with melted butter, season with salt and pepper and return it to the oven for another hour. By then you should be able to get the bag of giblets out. Fortunately these days it seems like they come wrapped in paper rather than plastic, but either way, you definitely dont want to leave it in there.
At the three-hour mark, the thigh reading should be around 140 F, but it depends on whether you got the thermometer all the way in or not. It can be tricky when its frozen, and you may not realize if youve hit bone.
Under normal circumstances, making multiple holes in a turkey with thermometers would not be recommended. But these are not normal circumstances.
Therefore, ideally, in addition to your probe thermometer, you will also have an instant-read thermometer. That way you can leave the probe thermometer in the thigh while using the instant-read thermometer to take temperature readings elsewhere, like the breast, and within the body cavity.
Watch Now: How to Cook a Frozen Turkey Without Thawing It
If you want to skip to the part where we tell you what to do, scroll down to where it says “how to cook a frozen turkey.”
You can come back and read the rest later, once the bird is in the oven and youre drinking a glass of wine.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/cook-a-frozen-turkey-483280-FINAL-5bec9e95c9e77c00519c873a.png)
How to Cook a Frozen Turkey: Easy, Step-by-Step Guide!
FAQ
Do you cook a frozen turkey at 325 or 350?
Roasting Frozen Turkey Preheat your oven to 325F/165C. This will ensure that the turkey cooks evenly and thoroughly. Unwrap the turkey and place it in a roasting pan. Roast the turkey in the preheated oven for 2 1⁄2 hours. It’s important to resist the temptation to open the oven door during this time.
How long does a frozen turkey take to cook?
- 8–12 lbs: 4–4.5 hours
- 12–14 lbs: 4.5–5.75 hours
- 14–18 lbs: 5.75–6.25 hours
- 18–20 lbs: 6.25–6.75 hours
- 20–24 lbs: 6.75–7.5 hours
Can you cook a frozen turkey without thawing?
- Longer cooking time: Expect to cook a frozen turkey for roughly 50% longer than a thawed one.
- No need to brine: Some brands recommend not brining a frozen turkey before cooking.
- Use a meat thermometer: Always use a meat thermometer to ensure the turkey reaches a safe internal temperature of 165°F in the breast and thigh.
- Check for brand instructions: Some turkey brands specifically market “cook from frozen” options, so check the packaging for specific guidelines.
How long do you cook a frozen butterball turkey?
Roast until fully cooked. Roasting time will vary by oven. After 4 hours, loosely tent the breast with foil to avoid overcooking. Turkey is done when the internal temperature reaches 170°F in the breast and thigh.
How long does it take to cook a frozen turkey?
Epicurious recommends roasting your turkey for 13 minutes per pound at 350 F. That translates to about three hours for a 12- to 14-pound turkey and about four hours and 20 minutes for a 20-pounder. That means roasting a 20-pound frozen turkey will take 6.5 hours and a 12- to 14-pound frozen bird will take 4.5 hours.
Can you cook a frozen turkey in the oven?
It’s perfectly safe to cook a frozen or partially frozen turkey in the oven — you just need to allow some extra cooking time, according to the USDA. Estimate 50 percent longer cooking time for a completely frozen turkey and around 25 percent longer for a partially frozen turkey.
How do you cook a frozen turkey breast?
Sliced or chopped, leftover turkey breast is ideal for weekday lunches in salads and sandwiches. Prepare in a pre-heated oven by placing this frozen turkey roast in a pan lined with parchment paper, brushing the top with vegetable oil, and cooking uncovered at 350°F for 2 ¼ to 2 ¾ hours. See full details on packaging.