Moxie Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 It seems like our turkey is always frozen in the middle after days in the fridge. What day should I put the bird in the fridge so it is ready to cook Thanksgiving Day? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharon H in IL Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 This is a deep, haunting fear of mine.:tongue_smilie: I am picking up my locally-raised, frozen bird on Friday, and letting it stay in the fridge from then till T-day. If it's still frozen in the middle a day before T-day, I'm going to soak it in a cold salt water bath in a bucket out in the garage. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelle in MO Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 I'm wondering this, too. I have a 19# bird and a COLD frig! I'm thinking I'll put it in the frig on Sunday night, then thaw it in cold water for a few hours before cooking if it needs it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Impish Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 I always resort to a cold water bath the day before...literally, it goes in the tub. Never seems to matter when I stick it in the fridge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodhaven Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 An excellent question to which I have no answer. I need to figure that out as well. I know, I'm not any help at all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelle in MO Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 I always resort to a cold water bath the day before...literally, it goes in the tub. Never seems to matter when I stick it in the fridge. Does it prefer champagne and bubbles, or not? ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forget-Me-Not Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 I always resort to a cold water bath the day before...literally, it goes in the tub. Never seems to matter when I stick it in the fridge. Yep, except I have 5G bucket that I set into my tub. I fill it with cold water and then either leave the water on a slow drip or go in and flush it with fresh water every hour or two. I hate having a turkey taking up a huge chunk of room in my fridge all week. We always brine our turkeys too, so even if they're still a little slushy in the middle when we put them into the brine, they're completely thawed afterward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsmamainva Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 I had the same question! We have a 23 pound Butterball and, according to Butterball's website, you put him in the fridge at least 1 day for every 4 pounds of bird. So we're putting ours in the fridge on Saturday morning. Hope this helps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 I need my 'fridge for other stuff, so my frozen bird always goes into a large cooler full of water for two days - I change the water when I remember (if I remember hahaha) and the day of cooking I run water through the cavity (in my clean sink) to make sure it is thawed. Hubby smoke grills it outside (yum). Then I use bleach to clean out the sink and the cooler!!!. Haven't had any illness in the last several years I have done this. PS - I like using a larger cooler as I can close the lid! The cooler has a plug at the side to let water out (I have hubby drag it to the back porch and the water goes into the backyard.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StartingOver Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 Our 23 pound bird is coming out on Friday, I will check it Tuesday night to see if it needs to hit the water, as I start my broth on Wednesday. This usually works pretty good, seem to have the timing down on a 22-26 pound bird. ;-) I usually do put it in a cooler on Wednesday as I start baking then and need more fridge space. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KatieJ Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 I'm wondering this, too. I have a 19# bird and a COLD frig! I'm thinking I'll put it in the frig on Sunday night, then thaw it in cold water for a few hours before cooking if it needs it. I would put it in the fridge on Friday and if it thaws sooner, it will still be cold, and you will be fine. We always get a turkey from DH's office the Friday before Thanksgiving and DH always chooses a large one. (CLose to 20 pounds if he can ). We always put it directly in the fridge.And yes, many times it is still partially frozen on Thursday am. We have a newish 2nd fridge this year, but we are getting the turkey today (Earlier than usual) and I not taking any chances. It is going directly to the fridge tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 I am buying a bird on Saturday after we get home from our vacation and not even putting it in the freezer. It will go strait into our 2nd fridge and hopefully thaw. We are going somewhere else for Thanksgiving day and they will serve Turkey, but we love having Turkey leftovers so I will cook our own for home use after Thanksgiving. Dawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelle in MO Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 I would put it in the fridge on Friday and if it thaws sooner, it will still be cold, and you will be fine. We always get a turkey from DH's office the Friday before Thanksgiving and DH always chooses a large one. (CLose to 20 pounds if he can ). We always put it directly in the fridge.And yes, many times it is still partially frozen on Thursday am. We have a newish 2nd fridge this year, but we are getting the turkey today (Earlier than usual) and I not taking any chances. It is going directly to the fridge tonight. Sounds good! I have an extra frig, too, so I won't have to worry about the space issue. So handy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbeyej Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 Rule I've read is 24hours per 5lbs of bird. My own experience would say to do that *plus* one additional 24 hours. (And still be prepared to let it soak in a sink of cold water the day of.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetMissMagnolia Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 I usually stick it in the tub also.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeachGirl Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 I read the Chickens in the Road blog daily. She had a great list of times recently for turkey thawing. Here is the website (I don't know how to make it a link, sorry!) http://chickensintheroad.com/farm-bell-recipes/turkey-times/ . Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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