Safety First: The Rules of Defrosting
According to the USDA, you must keep turkeys at a safe temperature while thawing. Our calculator uses these safety standards:
Fridge Method (Safe & Easy)
Time: ~24 hours for every 5 lbs.
This is the best method. Simply move the bird from freezer to fridge. It requires no effort but lots of time.
Cold Water Method (Faster)
Time: ~30 minutes per lb.
Submerge the wrapped turkey in cold water. You MUST change the water every 30 minutes to keep it safe. Requires active monitoring.