Thawing
Leave the turkey in its original wrapping and place it on a tray in your refrigerator.
Allow five hours of defrosting time per pound. For example, a 14-19 lb. turkey will
need 3-4 days to thoroughly defrost. If your turkey hasn't completely thawed by
the time you're ready to cook it, place it under cold, running water to accelerate
the thawing process.
Suggested Refrigerator Thawing Times
for Whole, Frozen Turkey
| Turkey # Size |
Thawing Time
in Refrigerator |
| 8-12 lbs. |
1-2 days |
| 12-16 lbs. |
2-3 days |
| 16-20 lbs. |
3-4 days |
| 20-24 lbs |
4-5 days |
If you need to quick-thaw your turkey, leave it in its original wrapping and place
it in COLD water. The water must be changed every 30 minutes. Allow approximately
30 minutes per pound using this method.
Suggested Cold-Water Thawing Times
for Whole, Frozen Turkey
| Turkey Size |
Thawing Time
in Cold Water |
| 8-12 lbs. |
4-6 hours |
| 12-16 lbs. |
6-8 hours |
| 16-20 lbs. |
8-10 hours |
| 20-24 lbs. |
10-12 hours |
Cleaning
Check the roasting guide below and preheat your oven to 325° F. Release the legs
from the metal clamp. The neck and giblets should be removed from the body and neck
cavities. Rinse the turkey both inside and out with cool water and pat it dry with
paper towels.
Seasoning
Now it's time to flavor and season your turkey. Start by adding 1/2 tablespoon salt
and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper to the inside cavity. Next, if you like, fill cavity
with sliced aromatic vegetables and citrus such as onions and lemons. This will
help flavor the turkey. You can also add fresh herbs such as sage, parsley and rosemary
as well as garlic cloves for great taste. These will not be edible and will need
to be discarded after cooking.
When you're done, place the legs back into the clamp and tuck the wing tips under
the back of the turkey.
Next, brush the turkey with oil or melted butter, vegetable oil or olive oil will
work. This will help brown the turkey and allow the seasoning to stick. We suggest
seasoning with salt and pepper; however you can use anything you prefer.
Place the turkey, breast side up, in a shallow, 2-inch deep roasting pan.
Your turkey is now ready for the oven.
|