Turkey thawing question

[teacups]

So, I've cooked Thanksgiving dinner every year since I was 20. I always do this one thing wrong... I dont give the turkey enough time to thaw in the fridge and end up doing that water method the morning of. So this year I am SO ON IT! I bought my Butterball today (frozen 16 pounder) and stuck it in the fridge! HOORAY!!! Ooops. Wait a minute. I just read online that it should thaw NO MORE THAN 3 days in the fridge. CRUD! I just can not get this darned thing beat!!!!!!!!!!!! This is the smallest one I've ever cooked too, so I bet I need to pop it back in the freezer.

Any opinions on this three day thing?

 

[Lib E]

I've had to let a big bird thaw for 5 days and still rinse ice crystals out of it. As long as it's still hard and cold in the fridge, it's fine. Call The Butterball help line if you have more concerns.

 

[teacups]

Call The Butterball help line if you have more concerns.

Good idea! Thanks!

 

[airhead]

How big was it???

 

[trip]

I agree mine never thaw in 3 days. I put my 20 pounder in the frig tonight.

 

[Lib E]

How big was it???

It was 22 pounds. My fridge tends to run cool though. If you put milk in the very back, you get frosty milk.

 

[#1hockeymom]

I bet you'll still have some ice inside on Thanksgiving morning. I don't think you'll have a problem at all!

 

[JessicaR]

I bet you'll still have some ice inside on Thanksgiving morning. I don't think you'll have a problem at all!

Yep I agree! 4 days instead of 3 shouldnt be a problem.

 

[Poohbear123]

I agree mine never thaw in 3 days. I put my 20 pounder in the frig tonight.

I put my 15.5 pounder in the bottom of the fridge today...he has 4 days to de-frost! His name is: HERBIE!

 

[minniecarousel]

I put my 15.5 pounder in the bottom of the fridge today...he has 4 days to de-frost! His name is: HERBIE!

Oh, Lordy! You name your turkey?!

I bought two frozen 18 lb-ers today and they went right into the fridge. I'll cook one on Wednesday and the other on Thursday morning. I very often have had to cold-water thaw early on Thursday morning. I hate having to do that, so 4 to 5 days in the refrigerator works for me.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Are you sure the three days isn't for a fresh turkey? Anyway, here's butterball's website. They have a "thawing" calculator. http://www.butterball.com/tips-how-tos/how-tos/thaw

 

[Sukie]

Are you sure the three days isn't for a fresh turkey? Anyway, here's butterball's website. They have a "thawing" calculator. http://www.butterball.com/tips-how-tos/how-tos/thaw

Great info. My mom and I were just talking about that same thing today. "MOMS" do know best.

 

[tchrrx]

Mine's only 13 pounds & I put it in the fridge today. We will need to inject it on Tuesday evening & fry it on Wed (it's supposed to rain Thurs). I have a feeling I'll still have to do the cold water method on it.

Any ideas on how long a ham will take? I need to smoke it on Wed also.

 

[lovesmurfs]

I've done it "incorrectly" for years. The day before Thanksgiving, I put the frozen turkey (still in a wrapper) in the right hand side of my sink, fill it as high as possible with water, and cover it with a tea towel. I change the water frequently, and turn the turkey often. If it's thawed by the time I go to bed, I'll put it in the fridge. If not, I change the water once more and leave it in the sink.

I know that the wrapper says not to, but this is the way I've done it for almost 20 years, and my mom for 20 years before that. It works, and the family knows Thanksgiving is coming when they see Tom in the sink!

 

[bballmom56]

Sheesh, I was just patting myself on the back for remembering to take our frozen 12 1/2 lb turkey out of the freezer and put it in the fridge. I have always had to do emergency thawing on Thursday morning even when it was in the fridge since Sunday. So I thought I'd get a head start this year and put it in there on Saturday.

 

[We4mickey]

I guess I should have bought my turkey earlier. It says it will take 6 1/2 days to thaw in the fridge. I guess I will be putting it in the sink on Wednesday.