How To Safely Thaw The Big Bird

So you've snagged a great deal at one of our stores for a turkey or two...and now the crunch is on.  It's time to prep the big bird, and it's frozen solid.  What to do, and what to do quickly, before your guests arrive?

There are three ways recommended by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to thaw a frozen turkey.  The best is to plan ahead for slow thawing in the frig.  Allow one day for every five pounds of turkey to thaw safely in the refrigerator.

But if you didn't plan ahead, you can quick defrost a turkey by submerging it in cold water in its original airtight packaging or in a leak-proof bag.  Submerge the entire bird, and change the water at least every 30 minutes or sooner if the water starts to warm up.

Third choice is defrosting in the trusty microwave.  However, if you do this, you need to immediately begin cooking the turkey, because as it thaws in the microwave, some areas become warm and begin to cook during the process.  This partially cooked part of the turkey can still contain bacteria that hasn't been destroyed by immediate cooking.

Now, as to the turkey's favored companion, stuffing (or dressing if you're from a different part of the country)...don't prepare it ahead of cooking.  If you cook it, then  you must refrigerate it immediately.  Never stuff an uncooked turkey with cooked stuffing.

For the safest stuffing, cook it separately from the turkey.  But if you choose to cook it inside the bird, it is essential to use a food thermometer to determine the internal temperature of the bird and stuffing.  Even if the turkey reaches the safe minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees F., the stuffing may not have reached a temeprature high enough to destroy the bacteria that may be present. and cause foodborne illness. 

Finally, refrigerate or freeze the cooked turkey and stuffing within two hours after cooking.  You can eat the leftovers up to four days after cooking, and frozen leftovers should be used within four months. 

Questions?  Call the USDA toll-free Meat and Poultry Hotline:  1-888-674-6854, weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (EST).