Never thaw raw meat at room temperature! How much time should I allow for thawing a turkey?
• Refrigerator • In a refrigerator, it takes about 24 hours of thaw time for every 5 pounds of turkey. • Cold Water • It takes about 30 minutes per pound to thaw a turkey in cold water. • Microwave • Check the microwave’s owner’s manual for power and capacity instructions for best thawing results, and to be sure the turkey is not too big for your microwave. To avoid cross-contamination when thawing, always be sure juices from the turkey do not come in contact with other foods.
