NATIONWIDE - Preparing your holiday meal can be ruined instantly if you don't properly prepare your turkey and that starts days before the meal is even served.
Frozen whole turkeys and frozen whole turkey breasts need to be thawed before cooking. According to Butterball, the best ways to thaw your bird are either in the refrigerator or using the cold water method.
Refrigerator Thawing:
- Thaw breast side up
- Keep the turkey in the original wrapper and place on a tray in the fridge
- Allow at least 1 day of thawing for every 4 lbs.
- Use the turkey within 4 days of thawing
Cold Water Thawing:
- Thaw breast side down
- Keep the turkey in the original wrapper and cover with enough cold water to cover the turkey completely
- Change water every 30 minutes
- If turkey cannot be completely covered, rotate every 30 minutes to keep the turkey chilled
- Estimate a minimum thawing time of 30 minutes per lb.
Thawed turkeys can be kept in a refrigerator up to 4 days before cooking if the refrigerator is kept at 40 degrees F or below.
If you need more help with your bird, check out some of the Turkey Trouble Hotlines we have posted on our Holiday Headquarters section.