how would you defrost a 19.5lb turkey?

[imgoingtodisney]

DH took him out of the freezer yesterday and kept him in the fridge. Today he wants to soak him in the kitchen sink. How long would it take to defrost? And when can he go back in the fridge? Any idea how long to cook?
We usually dont get a turkey this large, but heck he was free!

 

[newmousecateer]

My Thanksgiving turkey was 19 lbs. I defrosted it for 3 days in the fridge. I didn't wash it until Thanksgiving morning.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I wouldn't soak it in the sink unless it was the day before and it was totally frozen.
If you do soak it, you are supposed to leave it in the package and change the water every 30 mins., I think. Maybe someone else can help on that one.
Speaking of which I need to get my own turkey. I am making it on C.Day. I need to get out there and buy one today.
3 days is a good number of defrosting. Just make sure you check it the day before.

 

[cuterlt]

Butterball has a great website which I always use when I'm getting ready for Thanksgiving. Check them out - they can help with defrosting, and time for cooking, and other great suggestions. If you're not cooking it until Xmas, you should be fine defrosting it in the fridge until then.
www.butterball.com

 

[helenabear]

Three days is about all we do as well (and we usually have turkeys that big too). If it is still a little frozen the morning you go to cook it, that's when we would soak it in water. Otherwise I'd just let it sit in the fridge for now.

 

[Kermit]

If you can normally defrost meat in your fridge, I'd just leave it there for now. Mine is too cold (when I make it warmer, it's too hot, so I settle for too cold), and meat doesn't start defrosting in my fridge. I always soak everything in a sink full of water to get the defrosting process started and then put the meat back in the fridge. That works for me. If you do it, clean the sink (or use a large container), and then fill it with very cold water. If it's not really cold, add ice. Put the turkey wrapped in the water.

I don't change the water every 30 minutes when I do it that way. I check on it about every 30 minutes and change the water if the water isn't cold any more. If you put an ice cube in the water and it doesn't stay frozen, you need to change the water.