With Thanksgiving coming up this week, many people may have a nagging question lingering in their minds. And that is … “Where am I going to put the leftovers?”
For those struggling with the issue of space in the refrigerator, K-State Nutrition, Food Safety and Health Agent for the Wildcat District Holly Miner says this is a good time to clean out the fridge.
For those planning on thawing a turkey this Thanksgiving, remember that the safest way is to thaw your bird in the fridge. Plan on 24 hours of thawing in the fridge for every 5 pounds.
Whole Turkey Thawing Times:
- 4 to 12 pounds — 1 to 3 days
- 12 to 16 pounds — 3 to 4 days
- 16 to 20 pounds — 4 to 5 days
- 20 to 24 pounds —5 to 6 days
A thawed turkey can remain in the refrigerator for 1 or 2 days before cooking. Foods thawed in the refrigerator can be refrozen without cooking but there may be some loss of quality.
Cold Water Thawing Times:
- 4 to 12 pounds — 2 to 6 hours
- 12 to 16 pounds — 6 to 8 hours
- 16 to 20 pounds — 8 to 10 hours
- 20 to 24 pounds — 10 to 12 hours
A turkey thawed by the cold water method should be cooked immediately. After cooking, meat from the turkey can be refrozen.
Microwave Thawing:
Follow the microwave oven manufacturer's instruction when defrosting a turkey. Plan to cook it immediately after thawing because some areas of the food may become warm and begin to cook during microwaving. Holding partially cooked food is not recommended because any bacteria present wouldn't have been destroyed.
A turkey thawed in the microwave must be cooked immediately.
