How Long Should I Thaw a Frozen Turkey?
|
Size of Turkey
|
Thawing in the refrigerator
|
Thawing in cold water
|
| 8 - 12 pounds |
1 to 2 days |
4 to 6 hours
|
| 12 - 16 pounds |
2 to 3 days |
6 to 8 hours |
| 16 - 20 pounds |
3 to 4 days |
8 to 10 hours
|
| 20 - 24 pounds |
4 to 5 days |
10 to 12 hours |
Source: USDA
How Should I Stuff the Turkey?
If you don't have much time, you may want to bake your stuffing in a
greased, covered casserole during the last hour while the turkey
roasts. An unstuffed turkey takes less time to cook than one that is
stuffed.
Although it may seem like a good idea to save time by stuffing your
turkey in advance, that's inviting trouble. Harmful bacteria can
multiply in the stuffing and cause foodborne illness. Stuff the
turkey just before you're ready to roast it.
Spoon your stuffing into the bird loosely so there's room for it to
expand as it cooks. You can fit one to two cups of stuffing for
every pound of meat.
Source: USDA
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