It’s time to take that turkey out of the freezer and get it in the fridge. If you are cooking the Thanksgiving Turkey it is going to take a bit to thaw it in time for cooking.
Thawing time depends on the size of the bird… Meredith Carothers with the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline says thaw in the fridge.
Thawing takes 24 hours for every 4 – 5 ponds.
- 4 to 12 pounds — 1 to 3 days
- 12 to 16 pounds — 3 to 4 days
- 16 to 20 pounds — 4 to 5 days
- 20 to 24 pounds —5 to 6 days
Once the turkey is thawed, you can keep it in the refrigerator for one to two additional days before cooking.