Please help with my Turkey question!

[Tracey1974]

Good morning!

I bought my turkey for Easter last night (no ham this year) and it is a frozen one. I'll be cooking it on Easter morning so my question is when do I start to thaw it out? It is 21 pounds and solid as a rock. I'd like to thaw it in the fridge but when do I start? I've only made 1 other turkey a few years back and I can't remember!

Thanks for your help!

 

[mtdevine615]

Start right now, it will take at least 3 -4 days to thaw that bird out. The last thing you want to do is thaw it out too fast. That will force the moisture out of the bird and make it dry. Put it on a plate or in a bag so if it leaks it won't make a mess and thaw in the fridge. And if you're stuffing it make sure the stuffing is cooked all the way through. Happy Easter.

 

[kaylajr]

We have a brand new Cooking board here on the DIS
it is in the Creative community

why not try posting you question there too

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Now! I always buy one of those foil roaster pans and set it in that so if it leaks it doesn't go all over the fridge.

 

[ADisneygirl]

Yes, start now by leaving it in the fridge part. By no means should you leave it out on a counter to thaw -- bacteria will grow and make everyone eating it sick. A 21 pound turkey will take 4-5 days to thaw. Put it in a pan lined with paper towels because it will leak and you don't want that mess all over. Change the paper towels every day.

 

[Tink's Pixieduster]

I agree that you must start thawing your turkey now.

For information about how to thaw and then prepare your turkey, you can visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) website at:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Lets_Talk_Turkey/index.asp

 

[Tracey1974]

Thanks so much you guys- it is going in the fridge in a pan as soon as I get home from work.


Happy Easter everyone!