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how do you thaw out a turkey?

it weighs 24 lbs and i need it thawed by thursday morning...

13 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Never thaw a frozen turkey at room temperature!! Thawing a turkey in the microwave is not recommended! Use one of the following methods instead:

    REFRIGERATOR

    This is the best way! Leave the turkey in its original bag, set it in a pan, and put it in the refrigerator. It takes about 4 hours per pound -- two or three days for an average size turkey.

    COLD WATER

    If you're in a hurry you can use this method. Leave the turkey in its original bag, put it in the sink, and cover it completely with COLD water. Either leave the water running slowly or change it every half hour. This method takes about 30 minutes per pound, or 6-9 hours for an average size turkey.

    Once thawed, the turkey must be used within seven days. Keep it cold in the refrigerator until ready to roast.

  • miss m
    Lv 4
    1 decade ago

    You should put it on the bottom shelf of the fridge. It takes 3-4 days to thaw a whole turkey. So if you get it in the fridge now you should be fine.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Put it in a sink full of COLD water Wednesday morning & it will be thawed by Thursday morning

    Source(s): My Husband Ex- Professional Fine Dining Chef
  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Let it thaw mostly in the fridge, then put it in a pig container full of COLD water, change the water frequently until it's fully thawed. I'd put it in the fridge tomorrow at the latest.

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  • eehco
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago

    Put it in a shallow baking dish in the frig until early Thur. morning about 3-4 am. Set it on the counter for a few hours if still frozen before cooking time.

  • 1 decade ago

    put it in the refrigerator now! i bought one on saturday, that was frozen when i bought it, and put it in the refrigerator when i got home. it takes days. you can thaw stuff in cold water too. this CAN be faster. you have to have a constant little stream of water running into it. like, put the turkey in a container (big bowl or something) put the whole thing in the sink and fill it with cold water. turn the faucet on a small stream so it runs into the bowl of water and turkey, letting the bowl overflow to drain into the sink so there's a constant flow of water.

  • 1 decade ago

    Today is Monday, so place in fridge today - not tonight & it will be thawed by late Wed night or Thurs morning....

  • lou
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    place it in the refrigerator now. if it is still frozen then place it in a sink of cold water on Tuesday night. when thawed place it back in the frig until ready to cook!

  • 1 decade ago

    it needed to be in your frig on sat other wise I will not thaw all the way. good luck

  • 1 decade ago

    place bird in cold water on the bottom shelf of refrigerator during the daytime in the evening while you are at home place it in a sink of cold water and let stand for a while like that -- Do not unwrap bird until you are ready to start preparations.

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