How to Defrost a Turkey

The holiday season is just around the corner. Follow these simple steps to defrost your turkey safely.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. There are two different methods of thawing a frozen turkey. I will cover both of them here.

2. REFRIGERATOR METHOD:
   Plan ahead to thaw your frozen bird in the refrigerator. Keeping the turkey in it's original packaging, place it in the refrigerator. Plan on this process taking 24 hours for every 5 pounds of bird (for example, a 15 pound bird will take 3 days to thaw in the refrigerator). You may wish to place the bird on an old towel to keep drips at bay. Once the turkey is thawed, cook it immediately.

3. SINK METHOD:
   This method is much faster than the refrigerator method. Place the frozen bird in a large container, or in the kitchen sink. Cover completely with cold water. Plan on this method taking 1/2 hour for each pound of turkey. Once the turkey is thawed, cook it immediately.