Thawing an almost 13 pound turkey?

Question

I have an almost 13 pound turkey that I had instructed my mother to take out of the freezer Sunday. Unfortunately she didn't so when I returned from a trip Monday night I found it still in the freezer. I quickly put it in the refrigerator. I just now (8:00am PDT, Wed 11/25/09) took it out of the refrigerator as it is still pretty frozen solid and put it in the sink with cold water.

1) Do you think this will thaw in time;

2) How long can I safely keep it submerged in cold water to help the thawing process without having to worry about all those lovely bacterias growing?

Thanks so much!

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

Put it in a sink full of cold water and leave the tap on to a slow dribble, it should have your turkey mostly thawed in about 2 hours (make sure to keep letting the water out or you'll overflow!!!) then pop it in the fridge to thaw the rest of the way overnight and you'll be ready to cook the next morning! (As long as you cook your bird properly and THROUGHLY, use a meat thermometer, no little bacterias will survive the trip anyway!)

Source(s):

I almost ALWAYS forget to thaw the turkey far enough in advance, I end up doing this almost every year and havent made anyone sick yet, lol. Also Alton Brown gave me this useful tip years ago!

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

Thanks! I didn't do the drip water because I wasn't home to monitor it nor did I want a huge water bill but I did put it in cold water in the sink with a pan on top full of water to keep it submerged & changed the water twice after 2 hour intervals. It's all thawed now! Thanks & Happy Thanksgiving!

Answer 2

i used the butterball directions for a 10 lb and its still as hard as a rock

Answer 3

I have almost a 10 pounder! Mine is also a butterball! If u look up my question( another turkey question) some nice ladys helped me along! Put it in cool water and let it sit for and hour then remove the water and do it again! Every hour or 2 u should give the turkey new bath water, lol! Then after 7 hours depending how big it is, mine took about 8 at a 9 pound turkey, so bigger the longer,.. After that put it in the lowest part of your fridge and it should be fine! If its still frozen, keep up the water in the sink. Good Luck
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