HELP!!!! Frozen Turkey - what to do???

[carogonza]

OKay,
I have a 17 pound frozen turkey I need to thaw before tomorrow. I can't do it in the frig becausethere is no time. I can't leave it out because of the bacteria issue. I read somewhere you can do the cold water method but if I do that, it willthaw but I also read I have to cook it right away.

People, I need help! Any tips would be great. I thought I might do the cold water method and not completely thaw it, then leave it in the frig overnight before I cook tomorrow but I am not sure if that is safe.

Thanks.
Carolyn

[ouroboro]

OKay,
I have a 17 pound frozen turkey I need to thaw before tomorrow. I can't do it in the frig becausethere is no time. I can't leave it out because of the bacteria issue. I read somewhere you can do the cold water method but if I do that, it willthaw but I also read I have to cook it right away.

People, I need help! Any tips would be great. I thought I might do the cold water method and not completely thaw it, then leave it in the frig overnight before I cook tomorrow but I am not sure if that is safe.

Thanks.
Carolyn

Is there instructions on it on how long to cook it if it is frozen? There is on ours. We've used the cold water method before but we did cook it immediately afterwards so I don't know on that, I think as long as you keep it cool it would be ok, doesn't bacteria grow in warm places?

Here's what ours says about frozen:
If roasting from frozen state allow approximately 45 minutes per pound. So for a 17 lbs it would take 12 hours 45 minutes to cook approximately.

[salymsmommy]

Go to www.butterball.com

You should be able to find some tips there, but what I do is take a large insulated cooler and fill with enough cool water to cover the turkey. Keep changing the water every hour or so until thawed. Oh and, from a lesson I learned, take the turkey out of the bag and remove the innards before thawing. Don't know what I was thinking when I did that one......

[noelleray]

i defrosted ours in the bathtub the day before Thanksgiving,it was 14 lbs. took all day,i did keep it in the wrapper.turned out fine and no one became sick..lol.just change the water every hour or two. good luck!

[SeaAngel]

Hi Carolyn! I have used the cold water thaw before and never had any problems either. However, I have also cooked a turkey that was still frozen before and it still came out tasting good, just took longer than a thawed one. Good luck and enjoy that bird! :gvibes: