Turkey Tips: Your Guide to Safely Thawing and Cooking your Thanksgiving Turkey

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and it can be complicated knowing how to purchase, thaw, and cook a turkey while practicing food safety! There are many things you need to look out for, like giving your turkey enough time to thaw if you purchase a frozen one, knowing how long to cook your turkey based on the size of it, and knowing what temperature to cook the turkey to. Let’s get into everything you should know about cooking your Thanksgiving turkey!

If you are purchasing a frozen turkey, one thing to note is that you can either thaw it in the refrigerator or submerged in cold water. If you choose to thaw it in the refrigerator, it takes 24 hours for every four to five pounds of weight. For example, if your turkey is 15 pounds, it should take around 3 days for the turkey to thaw in the refrigerator. Once the turkey is completely thawed, it can stay in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days. 

If you choose to thaw it in cold water, the turkey should remain in its original wrapper and should be placed in cold tap water. To ensure the water remains cold, the water should be changed every 30 minutes. With this thawing method, it is important to cook the turkey immediately after thawing. It is not safe to thaw the turkey by leaving it on the kitchen counter or in the garage because the outer layer of the turkey can enter the “temperature danger zone” where bacteria thrives. The temperature danger zone is between 40 degrees F to 140 degrees F. If you are buying a fresh turkey, a simple rule of thumb is to allow around 1 pound of turkey per person, and purchase your turkey 1 to 2 days before you plan to cook it. The turkey should remain in the refrigerator until you are ready to cook it. 

Now for the hardest part, cooking the turkey! To start, your oven temperature should be set to 325 degrees F or higher. Again, cooking times vary based on the size of the turkey, and specific cooking times can be found on the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) website. You’ll know that your turkey is done once it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F or higher. To check the temperature, insert the food thermometer in the innermost part of the thigh and wing, as well as the thickest part of the breast.

If you have more questions or would like a more in depth review of how to properly cook a turkey, be sure to check the USDA website. We hope everything has a healthy and safe Thanksgiving!