If you find yourself with a frozen turkey on Thanksgiving morning, relax. You can still have a beautiful, flavorful, juicy bird for your holiday feast…really! We have the time and temperature tips you need for a picture-perfect turkey direct from frozen when you’re in a pinch.
Extra dinner guests show up unexpectedly? Forget to pull the turkey from the freezer? Whatever the reason why your turkey is still frozen solid, don’t fret. 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 temperature, but if thawing isn’t an option, a completely frozen turkey can still be the centerpiece of your holiday meal.
As Thanksgiving approaches many of us find ourselves scrambling to prepare the perfect turkey for the big feast. But what if you realize too late that your turkey is still frozen solid? Don’t panic! With some planning and care, you can absolutely cook a delicious frozen turkey in time for Thanksgiving dinner.
Cooking a frozen turkey takes more time but is entirely doable if you follow a few simple steps. Here is a step-by-step guide to successfully cooking a frozen turkey and saving your Thanksgiving meal.
How Long Does It Take to Cook a Frozen Turkey?
The most important factor in cooking a frozen turkey is allowing enough time. A frozen bird will take significantly longer to cook than a thawed one. The general rule of thumb is to allot 1.5 times as long as you would for a thawed turkey.
Here are some estimates for cooking times for various turkey sizes:
- 8 to 12 lbs: 4 to 5 hours
- 12 to 14 lbs: 5 to 5.5 hours
- 14 to 18 lbs: 5.5 to 6.5 hours
- 18 to 20 lbs: 6.5 to 7 hours
- 20 to 24 lbs: 7 to 8 hours
Be sure to use a meat thermometer to check that the turkey reaches 165°F at the thickest part of the breast and thigh before removing it from the oven. If your turkey is still partially frozen when the initial recommended cooking time is up, simply continue roasting until it reaches 165°F throughout.
Step-by-Step Guide to Cooking a Frozen Turkey
Follow these simple steps for juicy, delicious results:
1. Prepare the Turkey
Remove any giblets or neck from the turkey cavity. Rinse the turkey under cold water and pat dry with paper towels.
2. Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 325°F. This low temperature will allow the turkey to cook slowly and prevent the outside from burning.
3. Place Turkey Breast-Side Up on a Roasting Pan
Use a shallow roasting pan and rack so the turkey isn’t sitting in drippings. You can place strips of foil loosely across the breast if it starts to get too brown.
4. Baste the Turkey and Add Seasoning
Once the turkey has roasted for about 30 minutes baste it with melted butter or olive oil. You can also sprinkle on some salt pepper, poultry seasoning or other spices of your choice.
5. Insert a Meat Thermometer
About halfway through the estimated cooking time, insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh, taking care that it doesn’t touch bone.
6. Continue Roasting
Baste the turkey every 30 minutes or so until the thermometer reads 165°F. Once it reaches this temperature, the turkey is fully cooked and safe to eat.
7. Let the Turkey Rest
Remove the turkey from the oven, loosely cover with foil, and allow it to rest for 30 minutes before carving. This resting time allows the juices to re-absorb back into the meat.
8. Carve and Serve
Once rested, carve the turkey and serve immediately. Pour the drippings from the pan into a fat separator to make an easy turkey gravy.
Turkey Roasting Tips
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If the breast starts to get too brown, tent it loosely with foil.
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For extra moisture, you can place broth or water in the bottom of the pan.
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Resist opening the oven door too frequently to prevent heat loss.
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Use a remote probe thermometer so you can monitor the temp without opening the oven.
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Letting the turkey rest before carving is crucial for juicy meat.
Can You Stuff a Frozen Turkey?
It’s not recommended to stuff a turkey that hasn’t been thawed first. Bacteria from raw stuffing left in the center of a frozen turkey may not reach a safe temperature.
For a delicious stuffed turkey, thaw your bird completely in the fridge before stuffing and roasting. If using a frozen pre-stuffed turkey, be sure to follow package instructions carefully.
Handling Leftovers Safely
When serving leftovers after Thanksgiving, take care to handle and store them properly:
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Discard any turkey, stuffing or gravy left out at room temperature for longer than 2 hours.
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Store leftovers in shallow containers and refrigerate promptly.
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Use refrigerated turkey and gravy within 3-4 days, and stuffing within 1-2 days.
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Reheat thoroughly to an internal temperature of 165°F before serving again.
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Frozen leftovers are safe indefinitely but lose quality after 2-3 months.
Enjoy Your Successfully Cooked Frozen Turkey!
With some simple planning and preparation, you can absolutely roast a delicious frozen turkey in time for Thanksgiving or any special meal. Just be sure to allow significantly more cooking time for a frozen bird. Monitor the temperature and continue roasting until the turkey reaches 165°F in the thickest parts. Resting it afterwards helps ensure a tender, juicy meal that your family will love.
Challenges and Considerations with Frozen Turkeys
A Longer Cook Time: Just as you would expect, a frozen turkey will take longer to cook than one that is thawed before being placed in the oven. Plan on it taking approximately 50% more time to cook completely—so be aware that your dinner may be served later than originally planned. For example, our 14-pound turkey cooked in 5-3/4 hours.- Oven Temp to Set? Set your oven temperature too low and the outer meat will overcook. Set it too high and you’ll end up with the same problem encountered when cooking a partially frozen turkey (dry, overcooked outer breast meat when the thermal center finally reaches your pull temp). A moderate oven temperature of 325°F (163°C) is the sweet spot.
Q: Can I smoke a frozen turkey?
A: No. Remember that the USDA recommends that turkey needs to be out of the danger zone within 4 hours of the turkey being taken out of the freezer or refrigerator. The temperatures of smoking (225-275°F [107-135°C]) are too low to cook a frozen turkey to a food safe temperature within 4 hours.
Q: Can I deep-fry a frozen turkey?
A: NO!! NEVER. The dramatic temperature difference between the hot oil and the frozen turkey will cause violent boil overs. Oil spilling over the top edge of the pot could ignite with the flame from the burner below. Trying to deep-fry a frozen turkey is what causes explosions. The turkey must be COMPLETELY thawed and patted dry before being deep-fried. Read our post, Deep Fried Turkey Made Safe and Delicious for more information on how to safely deep fry a turkey.
So here’s how to take a turkey from a block of ice to a picture-perfect centerpiece:
Benefits of Cooking a Frozen Turkey
- Won’t the white meat overcook? Actually, when you cook a fully frozen turkey, the breasts are the largest muscles on the turkey and will take the longest time to thaw, cook, and to come to their pull temperature. The relatively smaller legs and thighs will thaw and cook faster from their frozen state, giving them more time for connective tissue to dissolve. The white and dark meat will cook properly and you may find your turkey is less likely to have dry breast meat than when you cook a thawed turkey.
- Refrigerator Space: No thawing means no turkey taking up space in your fridge and no stressful thawing process.
How to Cook a Frozen Turkey: Easy, Step-by-Step Guide!
FAQ
Is it better to thaw turkey or cook from frozen?
Turkey Tips
Frozen Whole Turkeys and Frozen Whole Turkey Breasts need to be thawed before cooking. Thaw Fully Cooked Baked and Smoked Turkeys via the refrigerator method. Refrigerator thawing is preferred and the least labor-intensive but requires more time.
How do you cook a fully cooked frozen turkey?
- Heat oven to 325oF.
- Remove all packaging from the outside of the turkey, leaving the bag of giblets in the cavity of the frozen turkey.
- Place the turkey on the baking rack and place in the oven with the oven rack in the center position.
- Set a timer for 2 1/2 hours.
How long to cook a frozen 3lb turkey breast?
- Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C).
- Before removing plastic bag place roast under warm, running water for 1 minute. …
- Place turkey on rack in shallow roasting pan. …
- Cook until meat thermometer reads 165°F (74°C) – approximately 3 – 3 ½ hours.
Can you cook a Turkey from frozen?
While you can theoretically cook a turkey from frozen, doing so can be a slightly risky move, as you risk the meat not cooking through properly. But frozen turkey can be dangerous when deep frying it for entirely different reasons. “If you try to put any part of a frozen turkey into hot frying oil, it’s going to create a turkey bomb.
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.
How long does a frozen turkey take to cook?
Now, time for recovery At around 6 p.m., anywhere from four to 10 25-pound frozen turkeys are placed onto large pans and slid into a pizza oven. They are then slow-cooked overnight for 14 hours with employees coming in early the next morning to pull the turkey by hand.