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.
What If Your Turkey Is Still Partially Frozen On Thanksgiving Day? A Complete Guide
As Thanksgiving approaches, prepping the perfect turkey is at the top of everyone’s list. However, even the most prepared cooks can run into an issue – a partially frozen bird on the big day! Don’t panic yet if your feathered friend is still a bit icy. With some simple tweaks, you can absolutely roast a turkey that’s not fully thawed. Follow this complete guide to learn how to safely prep, cook, and serve a partially frozen turkey for Thanksgiving dinner.
Causes of a Partially Frozen Turkey
Before jumping into solutions, let’s look at some common reasons your turkey might not be fully thawed:
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Forgot to move the turkey from freezer to fridge early enough Allow 24 hours per 4-5 pounds So a 16 lb bird needs about 4 days to thaw,
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Fridge was overcrowded or set too cold slowing thaw time. Keep temp at or below 40°F.
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Thawed in fridge then re-frozen when plans changed. This damages texture.
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Bought a frozen turkey at the last minute. Fresh turkeys thaw faster.
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Turkey was too large to thaw fully in time. Stick to 12-16 lbs for easier thawing.
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Thawed incorrectly at room temperature. Always thaw in fridge to prevent bacteria.
Assess the Turkey
First things first, assess the situation. Carefully check the turkey cavity as well as thick parts of the breast and thighs for any ice crystals. Press areas with your fingers to test for frozen spots. If it’s only partially frozen, with minor icy patches, you can simply extend the cooking time. A fully frozen bird will require quicker thawing before roasting.
Refrigerator Thawing
If your turkey is only partially frozen 2-3 days before Thanksgiving, let it continue thawing in the fridge. Ensure temperature is consistently 40°F or below. Allow plenty of space for cold air circulation to maximize thawing. Monitor it daily and re-assess on Thanksgiving morning. The microwave or cold water methods below can help thaw any remaining frozen portions.
Cold Water Thawing
Submerging your turkey in cold water is an effective thawing method when pressed for time. Here’s how to safely thaw a partially frozen turkey in cold water:
- Keep the turkey in its original wrapper to prevent cross-contamination.
- Place in sink and cover completely with cold tap water below 70°F.
- Change water every 30 minutes to ensure it stays cold.
- Estimate 30 minutes thawing time per pound. So a 16 lb turkey will need about 8 hours submerged.
Once thawed, pat turkey dry, remove giblets, prep, and cook immediately. Don’t let it sit and reach unsafe temperatures.
Microwave Thawing
A microwave can rapidly but unevenly thaw a large frozen turkey. However, this method does quickly thaw any remaining icy spots on a partially frozen bird.
- Follow microwave manufacturer guidelines for power level and timing.
- Microwave in 6 minute bursts, flipping occasionally until thawed. This may take 1-2 hours.
- Use an instant read thermometer to check for icy areas.
- Cook immediately after microwaving to prevent bacterial growth in warm areas.
Cook a Partially Frozen Turkey
Once your turkey is free of ice crystals, it’s ready to prep and roast! Season the outside only and stuff aromatics into the main cavity rather than the neck and giblet cavities to promote even cooking. Tuck wings under and tie legs together with twine.
Calculate 15-20 minutes per pound cooking time at 325°F for a partially frozen bird. Use a meat thermometer to verify temperature reaches 165°F at the thickest part of the breast and 180°F in the innermost thigh. Let rest 30 minutes before carving for juicy, tender meat.
Deep Fried Turkey
My personal favorite cooking method for a partially frozen turkey is deep frying. The hot oil rapidly and evenly thaws then cooks the turkey to golden, crispy perfection in just over 3 minutes per pound!
- Thaw cavity sufficiently to remove giblets. Keep turkey wrapped otherwise.
- Fry turkey 3-4 minutes per lb at 350°F.
- Oil temperature will drop while thawing then rebound while cooking.
- Use thermometer to verify 165°F breast and 180°F thigh temp.
This is a quick and foolproof way to cook a partially frozen turkey to perfection with amazing flavor.
Other Cooking Methods
Besides traditional roasting or deep frying, here are a few other ways to cook a partially frozen turkey:
- Pressure Cooker – Cook frozen turkey in 1/3 time.
- Sous Vide – Thaw then cook in vacuum sealed bags for tender turkey.
- Butterfly – Slice turkey open, press flat, pan fry or grill. Thaws quickly.
- Turkey Parts – Cut turkey into parts to thaw and cook faster.
- Smoker – Produces tender, smoky turkeys up to 20 lbs.
Get Creative with the Feast Menu
If your turkey simply won’t thaw or cook fully in time, get creative! Adapt your menu to what’s possible time-wise but still delicious. Here are some alternative Thanksgiving feast options with a partially frozen or uncooked turkey:
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Cook Turkey Pieces – Remove legs, wings, thighs, breasts and cook separately.
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Make Turkey Stew – Chop turkey and quick braise with veggies into hearty stew.
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Stuff and Roast Breast – Cook stuffing in oven with turkey crown.
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Deep Fry Parts – Quickly deep fry thighs, legs, wings for amazing flavor.
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Do Potluck Style – Ask guests to bring dishes, cook small turkey for yourself.
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Order Takeout Turkey – Many restaurants offer fully cooked turkeys for pickup.
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Make Other Mains – Chicken, ham, beef roasts, or plant-based roasts.
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Just Skip It! – Make the delicious sides the star of your meal.
Safety Tips for Partially Frozen Turkey
Here are some key food safety considerations when dealing with a partially frozen turkey:
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Handle raw turkey carefully to avoid cross-contamination with foods that won’t be cooked.
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Use a food safe thermometer to verify safe minimum internal temperature (165°F breast, 180°F thigh).
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Never freeze or re-freeze raw turkey once thawed or cooked.
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Refrigerate all leftovers within 2 hours and use within 3-4 days. Discard any turkey meat if left out too long.
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Wash any dishes, cutting boards, utensils, sinks and counters that have touched raw turkey juices.
3 Ways to Thaw a Turkey
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. If your turkey weighs 16 pounds, it will take about four days to thaw. Once thawed, the turkey is safe for another two days, so you can start thawing it six days before thanksgiving (the Friday before Thanksgiving).
The other two methods (cold water and microwave) must be done immediately before you start cooking the turkey, so you’ll have to wait until Thanksgiving morning.
For the cold water method, leave the turkey in its original wrapping and submerge it in a sink (or container) full of cold water. It is important that the water be cold so that the turkey stays at a safe temperature. You should change the water every 30 minutes. Empty out the water and replace it with fresh cold water. With this method, allow 30 minutes of defrosting time per pound, so a 16 pound turkey will take 8 hours to thaw using this method (so you might need to start around 4 a.m. if you want to eat in the afternoon!). Once the turkey has thawed, cook it immediately
Before you commit to thawing your turkey in the microwave, check your owner’s manual for the size turkey that will fit in your microwave oven, the minutes per pound and the power level to use when thawing a turkey. Remove all outside wrapping and place the turkey on a microwave-safe dish to catch any juices that may leak. Use the defrost function based on weight. As a general rule, allow 6 minutes per pound when thawing a turkey in the microwave. Be sure to rotate it several times, and even flip it, during the thawing process.
If the turkey starts to actually cook instead of just defrost, let it rest for 5 minutes or so before you resume thawing. Partway through thawing you may wish to cover the tips of the wings and drumsticks with a small piece of foil to shield them from the microwaves and keep them from cooking. Once the turkey has thawed you should cook it immediately.
How NOT to Thaw a Turkey
In case you are wondering, here are some thawing methods that are not recommended:
- thawing a turkey on the counter, in the garage or on the back porch
- thawing a turkey in a brown paper grocery bag or plastic garbage bag
- using the dishwasher to thaw a turkey (with or without water)
- any method that is not the refrigerator, cold water, or the microwave
What if turkey is still partially frozen?
FAQ
What do I do if my turkey isn’t fully defrosted?
You can try soaking in a brine put in a 5 gallon bucket the salt helps a lot as long as it isn’t over 65 degrees you can finish it in the microwave defrost, if it fits.
Can I cook my turkey if it’s still partially frozen?
You should never cook a partially frozen turkey because the outer layers of turkey will become a desert while the frozen center thaws and comes to a safe …Nov 27, 2024
Can I refreeze a partially thawed turkey?
A thawed turkey can remain in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days. If necessary, a turkey that has been properly thawed in the refrigerator may be refrozen.
Can you cook a partially frozen turkey?
Cooking a partially frozen turkey is possible, but it requires taking some extra precautions. The main risk with a partially frozen turkey is that the inside could still be frozen while the outside cooks. This means the inside won’t get cooked through properly. Undercooked poultry can potentially harbor dangerous bacteria like salmonella.
Is it safe to cook a frozen turkey on Thanksgiving?
If your turkey is still icy on Thanksgiving morning, don’t panic! It is perfectly safe to cook a turkey from the frozen state; it will just take longer to cook. A solidly frozen turkey will take at least 50 percent longer to cook than a thawed turkey.
How long does it take to thaw a frozen turkey?
Cold water thawing takes a few hours, so make sure you’ve got enough time to finish the process and cook the turkey as soon as it’s thawed. If you don’t have a ton of time to thaw your bird, you can cook a partially frozen turkey. When cooking a turkey that is partially frozen, it’s important to add an extra 50% of time to the preparation process.
Can You refreeze a frozen turkey?
If your turkey was previously frozen but has thawed somewhat quicker than anticipated, you’ll need to act fast to keep it safe: Cook the turkey right away, or refreeze it if there is still ice crystallization present. Do not refreeze if thawed completely. Avoid letting it sit at room temperature longer than 2 hours total.
Can a frozen turkey be left out overnight?
This can cause bacteria to grow even if the bird is still partially frozen. The turkey should not be left out overnight since bacteria can form on the raw poultry, and it would no longer be edible. Transferring to a cooler environment, such as a refrigerator, after two hours at room temperature will ensure that the thawing process is successful.
Is it safe to roast a frozen turkey?
Taking food safety into account, it is safe to roast a turkey that’s still frozen, according to the USDA. If it’s frozen solid, it will take 50% longer to cook than starting with a thawed turkey (which is still preferable).