Don’t Get Left in a Turkey Bind: Make Sure Your Frozen Turkey Thaws in Time

If you have a frozen turkey that you plan to serve for Thanksgiving, you may be out of luck depending on the size of the turkey.

Frozen turkeys can be safely defrosted in the refrigerator, but ample time is needed.

The refrigerator thawing times that are recommended for a whole turkey are:

4 to 12 pounds – 1 to 3 days

12 to 16 pounds – 3 to 4 days

16 to 20 pounds – 4 to 5 days

20 to 24 pounds – 5 to 6 days

Once a turkey is thawed, it can remain in the refrigerator 1 to 2 days prior to cooking.

Other safe thawing methods can be found on the Ohio State University Extension- Hardin County Facebook page.