What to Do If Your Turkey's Still Frozen

Get the Full StoryIf it's crunch time and you've reached for the turkey in the fridge only to realize it's still a frigid solid mass, don't freeze: we've got some methods for quick thawing, pointers for how to know when your turkey's completely defrosted, and what to do if you don't have time to thaw your bird.

For our favorite quick-thaw method, try submerging the turkey breast-side down with its wrapping still on in a sink or a cooler full of cold water, changing out the water every half hour. Allow 30 minutes to thaw for each pound of turkey. FYI, a 16-pound turkey will take eight hours. If math's not your thing, then simply plug the weight of your turkey into this defrost calculator.

Once you've allowed your turkey to thaw, perform two tests on the bird to confirm that it's completely defrosted: reach your hand into the bird's cavity to make sure there aren't any ice crystals, and poke the thicker parts of the turkey with a fork. If you get icicles doing either one of these, then your turkey needs more time to warm up.

Hours of thawing time may not be an option, in which case you can simply cook the bird in its frozen state: Allow four-and-a-half to six hours, as opposed to the usual three-and-a-half hours, to cook a 12- to 13-pound thawed turkey. Don't stuff it; this will up the cooking time even more. When ready, the turkey should reach at least 165 F at the thickest part of the inner thigh.

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