A holiday spread isn’t complete without the star of the show: the turkey. It doesn’t matter how many other dishes you make. There are a lot of different ways to cook a turkey, whether you want to grill, fry, or roast it like everyone else. The only problem with making this holiday classic is that it takes a lot of time and planning. What is the best way to thaw a turkey? How long does it stay fresh in the fridge after being thawed? Then there are questions about cooking, like how to get the turkey ready to roast and how to get the skin crispy.
Some of the most important ones are how to thaw turkey and how long it can stay in the fridge after being thawed. Your cooking plan should take into account how long your bird needs to defrost so that it can go into the oven on time, but not so early that it stays in the fridge for too long. To plan your post-Thanksgiving leftover binge, you should also know how long cooked turkey can stay in the fridge.
To help you plan your timing, we got turkey tips from Butterballs and nutritionist Toby Amidor. Now you know how to handle your frozen, thawed, cooked, and leftover meat this year.
Cooking up a turkey dinner during the holidays or for a cozy Sunday supper is a great way to bring family and friends together. But preparing the star of the meal – the turkey – takes some advance planning. While frozen turkeys offer convenience, allowing you to buy ahead of time, they require thawing before roasting. This raises the important question – how long after defrosting a turkey should it be cooked for food safety?
Understanding the timeline for preparing a thawed turkey prevents harmful bacteria growth and possible food poisoning. Follow these turkey thawing and cooking guidelines to keep your meal safe as well as delicious.
How to Safely Thaw a Frozen Turkey
Proper thawing is the first step in ensuring turkey is safe to eat. Never defrost at room temperature or in hot water, both of which invite spoilage. Here are the best methods:
- Refrigerator: Allow 24 hours per 4-5 lbs turkey. Place in a container to catch drips.
- Cold Water: Fully submerge in cold water, changing water every 30 mins. About 30 mins per lb.
- Microwave: Follow appliance directions if turkey fits. Cook turkey immediately after thawing.
Ideally, move frozen turkey directly from freezer to the thawing method of choice. If the turkey has been left to partially thaw, complete defrosting in the refrigerator.
Wash hands, utensils, sink, and anything else the raw turkey touches to avoid cross-contamination Cook immediately upon complete thawing.
How Soon to Cook a Thawed Turkey?
A thawed turkey needs to go directly into the oven, grill or smoker Here are food safety time limits
- Cook within 1-2 days of refrigerator thawing
- Cook within 1-2 hours of cold water thawing
- Cook immediately after microwave defrosting
The reason for urgency is that dangerous bacteria can form once a turkey is thawed. Freezing halts microbial growth. Thawing allows bacteria to multiply rapidly at temperatures above 40°F.
Lingering thawed turkey provides ideal conditions for salmonella. This harmful pathogen causes diarrhea, vomiting, and other food poisoning symptoms. Prompt cooking kills bacteria and makes the meat safe.
Can You Refreeze a Thawed Turkey?
Refreezing previously frozen raw turkey can be done safely only if it remains continuously refrigerated.
Here are the rules for refreezing thawed turkey meat:
- May be refrozen within 1-2 days of refrigerator thawing
- Not safe to refreeze if left at room temperature when thawed
- Quality loss may occur with refreezing
Never refreeze turkey thawed by the cold water or microwave method. Cook these fully within the recommended time frames.
While technically safe if thawed in the refrigerator then immediately refrozen, quality declines slightly with each thaw. The texture may suffer a bit.
For best results, cook thawed turkeys within the food safety guidelines. However, if plans change after refrigerator thawing, promptly return the raw turkey to the freezer. Label with the new freeze date for use within the next 1-2 months.
What If a Turkey Exceeds the Time Limits?
If a thawed turkey is left in the refrigerator for over 2 days, it enters the danger zone for bacterial growth. Similarly, consuming turkey thawed at room temperature poses safety risks.
Do not take chances with suspect turkey. The results of foodborne illness can be serious, especially for high-risk groups like pregnant women, children, and the elderly.
Follow these guidelines if turkey has been left out too long:
- Cook thoroughly to 165°F internal temperature
- Discard meat if foul odor, sliminess or other signs of spoilage
- When in doubt, throw it out!
Prevention is the best solution. Properly thaw in the refrigerator and cook within 1-2 days. Discard turkey immediately if untreated refrigerator thawing exceeds this limit.
Storing Thawed Turkey Safely Before Cooking
Once defrosted, keep turkey refrigerated at 40°F or below until ready to cook. Use these tips for secure short-term storage:
- Place turkey in a shallow dish to contain leaks and oozing juices
- Surround with ice packs or freeze re-chilled juice bottles for cooling
- Keep raw turkey on bottom shelf so juices don’t drip onto other food
- Never let raw turkey touch cooked items or foods that will be eaten raw
- Wash hands after handling to prevent cross-contamination
Avoid leaving thawed turkey at room temperature. Bacteria multiply rapidly above 40°F. Prep and cook turkey as close to serving time as possible.
Cook Thawed Turkey Promptly
Follow the recommended timeline for cooking thawed turkey:
- Within 1-2 days of refrigerator thawing
- Within 1-2 hours after cold water thaw
- Immediately when microwave defrosted
Roasting is the most common and foolproof cooking method. Turkey is safe when the thigh meat reaches 175°F. Let rest 20 minutes before carving to allow juices to be reabsorbed.
For optimum safety and quality, thaw turkey in the refrigerator then cook within 48 hours. Avoid consumption of turkey left at room temperature for more than 2 hours total time. Strictly follow food safety guidelines to enjoy your holiday bird without worry.
Experts Featured in This Article
For several days before you plan to cook the turkey, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) says to let it defrost in the fridge at 40°F or below. Amidor says that it takes about one day for every four pounds of turkey to thaw. This means that a 12-pound turkey will take three days to thaw, while a 20- to 24-pound turkey can take up to six days. (Butterball has a handy calculator that can tell you exactly how long youll need to thaw your bird.
Amidor says that the turkey can stay in the fridge for two more days after it has been thawed before it needs to be cooked. Let’s say you want to cook a 20- to 24-pound bird. You should put it in the fridge to thaw at least six days before you want to eat it so it has time to fully thaw, but no more than eight days before you want to eat it so you stay within that two-day window. You should put a 12-pound turkey in the fridge for at least three days and no more than five.
Put the turkey on a rimmed sheet tray or roasting pan when you’re ready to thaw it. This will keep any juices from making a mess in the fridge. It needs to defrost in the coldest part of your fridge. Even better, keep it in a spare fridge that you don’t open very often. “You can refreeze the turkey without cooking it if you thaw it in the fridge and decide not to cook it,” Amidor says. “But there will be some loss of quality.”
How long after defrosting turkey should it be cooked?
FAQ
How soon do you have to cook a turkey after thawing?
Is it safe to thaw a turkey in the fridge for a week?
How long can ground turkey stay in the fridge after thawing?
What happens if turkey is thawed too early?
How long can a thawed Turkey stay in the fridge?
A completely thawed turkey can remain in the refrigerator for one or two days before cooking. To thaw in cold water, submerge the bird in its original wrapper in cold tap water, changing the water every 30 minutes. Cook the turkey immediately after thawing.
Should Turkey be thawed before cooking?
The turkey should be completely thawed before cooking. * Thaw turkey in cold water. This method is faster than thawing in the refrigerator, but it is not as safe. To thaw a turkey in cold water, place it in a large sink or container filled with cold water. Change the water every 30 minutes to ensure that the turkey stays cold.
How long does it take to thaw a Turkey?
The water should cover the turkey by at least 1 inch. Change the water every 30 minutes to keep it cold. Allow 5-6 hours of thawing time for every 4 pounds of turkey. For example, a 12-pound turkey will take 20-24 hours to thaw.
How long do you keep a thawed Turkey in a wrapper?
Keep turkey in original wrapper and place on tray. Use turkey within four days after thawing. Thaw turkey breast side down, in an unopened wrapper, with enough cold water to cover your turkey completely. Change water every 30 minutes and if turkey cannot be completely covered, rotate every 30 minutes to keep the turkey chilled.
Should I defrost my Thanksgiving turkey?
Plan ahead. Unlike a whole chicken, Thanksgiving turkey is generally sold frozen solid. It basically comes as a giant block of ice, and it takes much longer to thaw than a smaller roast. So our best advice when it comes to defrosting your bird is to plan ahead — way ahead of the big meal.
What is the Turkey defrost time calculator?
The turkey defrost time calculator helps compute the precise time needed to safely thaw a frozen turkey based on its weight and the chosen defrosting method.