Handling Fresh and Frozen Turkeys

Written by Doris Donnerman (last updated November 20, 2013)

Cooking a turkey safely begins when you first bring the turkey home. Handling a fresh turkey is different from handling a frozen turkey. After fully thawing a frozen turkey, you treat both turkeys the same.

A fresh turkey should be bought only one or two days before cooking. Make sure that when you purchase your fresh turkey that you do so from a reputable place. You don't want to purchase a previously frozen turkey that is being sold as a fresh turkey. A fresh turkey seems to have better quality than the frozen type.

When you come home from the store, keep the turkey in the same bag that it came in. Place a cookie sheet under the turkey while it is in the refrigerator. The cookie sheet will catch any juices that may leak out of the turkey bag. Do not buy a fresh turkey that comes pre-stuffed. The danger is too high for harmful bacteria that can multiply fast.

Buying a frozen turkey is usually cheaper than buying a fresh one, and it has some other advantages too. For instance, you are able to buy the turkey well ahead of time, when you either have more time or find a great deal on the turkey. A turkey can be frozen indefinitely, but the quality of a frozen turkey diminishes after about a year.

The tricky part in handling a frozen turkey comes when it is time to thaw it out. There are three different safe methods of thawing a turkey. The first (and safest) method is to thaw the turkey in the refrigerator. This method can take up to six days. It is best to figure five hours of refrigerator time per pound. Remember to place a cookie sheet or tray under the turkey to catch any juices.

The second method for thawing is the cold-water method. Keep the turkey in the original bag that it came in and place it into a sink or a large container, like a bucket. Cover the turkey with cold water. Change the water every half hour. Before placing the turkey into the water check the bag to make sure that the bag is not torn. If the bag is torn, place the turkey—still in the original bag—into another bag and secure it tightly. The cold-water method usually takes about thirty minutes per pound.

The third method is thawing the bird in the microwave. It is not recommended, but if you must thaw the turkey this way make sure that you follow the manufacturer's instructions for thawing. After thawing the turkey this way, cook it immediately.

Remember to keep thawed turkeys refrigerated until ready to stuff and cook. The only time you would not refrigerate the turkey is if you used the microwave to thaw it. Then you must cook the turkey immediately.

Author Bio

Doris Donnerman

Doris is a jack of all trades, writing on a variety of topics. Her articles have helped enlighten and entertain thousands over the years. ...

MORE FROM DORIS

Supervise Pets Outdoors

It's great to take your pet outdoors and give it a breath of fresh air, but there are a few things you need to remember ...

Discover More

Washing and Sorting Socks

It's inevitable that you'll lose socks in the laundry and never see them again. It's also inevitable that you'll give the ...

Discover More

Fixing "Smeary" Hardwood Floors

While wood putty can help you safely restore and preserve your hardwood floors, when it is not used correctly you can end ...

Discover More
More Cooking Tips

Chicken Salad

Chicken salad is one of the easiest salads to make, and beloved of light sandwiches around. Not only is it exceptionally ...

Discover More

Garlic Broiled Chicken

Nothing really seems to bring out the flavor in chicken quite the same way that garlic does. Well, if you are in the mood ...

Discover More

Chicken Cordon Bleu from Scratch

Chicken cordon bleu is, without doubt, a truly fantastic meal. What is even better, is if it has been made from scratch. ...

Discover More
Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is five less than 6?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)