The short answer
- In the refrigerator: about 24 hours for every 4 to 5 pounds. A 16-pound turkey needs about 4 days.
- In cold water: about 30 minutes per pound, changing the water every 30 minutes. A 16-pound turkey needs about 8 hours.
- Never on the counter. The outside warms into the danger zone (40 to 140 °F) long before the middle thaws.
The turkey calculator works out the thawing day and the whole roasting timeline for your turkey's exact weight.
Refrigerator thawing chart
This is the method the USDA recommends. Keep the turkey in its original wrapper, on a tray or in a pan to catch drips, at 40 °F or colder.
| Turkey weight | Thawing time | For Thanksgiving (Thu, Nov 26), start by |
|---|---|---|
| 4 to 12 lb | 1 to 3 days | Monday, Nov 23 |
| 12 to 16 lb | 3 to 4 days | Sunday, Nov 22 |
| 16 to 20 lb | 4 to 5 days | Saturday, Nov 21 |
| 20 to 24 lb | 5 to 6 days | Friday, Nov 20 |
Thawing times: USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, "Let's Talk Turkey." Start dates assume you'll roast on Thursday morning.
Starting a day early is the safe mistake to make. Once thawed, a turkey keeps in the refrigerator for another 1 to 2 days, and a turkey thawed in the refrigerator can even be refrozen if plans change.
Cold-water thawing: the backup plan
Forgot to move the turkey to the fridge? Cold water is much faster, but it needs attention.
| Turkey weight | Cold-water thawing time |
|---|---|
| 4 to 12 lb | 2 to 6 hours |
| 12 to 16 lb | 6 to 8 hours |
| 16 to 20 lb | 8 to 10 hours |
| 20 to 24 lb | 10 to 12 hours |
- Make sure the turkey is in a leak-proof wrapper. If the original packaging is torn, put it in a large sealed bag.
- Submerge it breast-side down in a clean sink, cooler or large pot of cold tap water.
- Change the water every 30 minutes so it stays cold.
- Cook the turkey as soon as it's thawed. Don't refreeze it, and don't put it back in the fridge for later.
Microwave thawing
Only practical for small turkeys and turkey breasts. Check your microwave's manual for the largest size it can handle and the minutes per pound and power level to use. Remove all the wrapping first, and cook the turkey immediately afterward, because parts of it may have started to cook.
Out of time? Roast it frozen
It's safe to cook a turkey straight from the freezer. It takes at least 50% longer than a thawed bird, so a turkey that would take 4 hours needs about 6. Pull out the giblet packet with tongs partway through, once it loosens, and check the temperature in several places: 165 °F in the thickest part of the breast, the innermost thigh and the wing.
How to tell it's fully thawed
- The breast and thighs feel soft when pressed, with no hard, icy spots.
- You can reach into the cavity and pull out the neck and giblet bag. If they're frozen in, give it more time (a few more hours in the fridge, or a cold-water bath).
- A few ice crystals deep in the cavity are fine. Run cold water through the cavity to loosen them.
Mistakes to avoid
- Thawing on the counter, in the garage or on the porch. Temperatures swing too much to be safe.
- Using warm or hot water. It speeds up bacteria on the outside while the inside is still frozen.
- Letting it drip onto other food. Always thaw on the lowest shelf, in a pan.
- Buying a fresh turkey too early. Fresh turkeys should be bought only 1 to 2 days before cooking.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a 20-pound turkey take to thaw?
4 to 5 days in the refrigerator, or about 10 hours in cold water (changing the water every 30 minutes). For Thanksgiving, move it to the fridge by Saturday morning.
Can I thaw a turkey in the refrigerator for a week?
Up to a point. Plan on the thawing time plus 1 to 2 days. A 12-pound turkey that thaws in 3 days is good for about 5 days in total, so a full week is too long for a small bird.
Can I brine a turkey that's still partly frozen?
It's better to brine a fully thawed turkey so the salt penetrates evenly. A turkey can finish thawing in a wet brine as long as everything stays at 40 °F or below. The turkey brine calculator gives exact amounts.
Can I refreeze a thawed turkey?
Only if it was thawed in the refrigerator. Turkeys thawed in cold water or the microwave must be cooked right away. Refreezing can make the meat a little drier, but it's safe.