Thawing turkeys

jonboy · 11-08-2009, 07:25 AM

I am preparing to smoke a few turkeys.
Is there a way to safely thaw several turkeys out of the refrigerator?
(Say you buy more turkey then will fit in your fridge)
Last year i tried to put the frozen turkeys into the beer fridge to thaw and a week later they were still frozen.
I rinsed the turkeys in the sink, left them overnight and they are still hard as rocks.
I would like to smoke the turkeys on monday morning.
How long can the turkeys be left out of the fridge thawing?
Thanks for the help,
The last thing i want to do is pass along spoiled turkeys.
jon

Kevin · 11-08-2009, 07:32 AM

There is no safe way to thaw a turkey at any temperature above 40*f. My suggestion would be to turn the temp up to 39 degrees in your beer fridge.

Captain Dave · 11-08-2009, 08:26 AM

I have thawed turkeys overnight in a salt water brine. Dont know how safe it is but nobody ever got sick.

jonboy · 11-08-2009, 08:33 AM

I am reading about thawing in refrigerator for several days, thawing in water(changing every 30 mins) and microwaving.
I would like to buy fresh but they arent available.
How would a resturant thaw multiple turkeys?
It seems that we would put them overnight on the prep sinks and allow to stand/thaw....but i am not sure.
jon

maxwell7 · 11-08-2009, 08:47 AM

How much extra time would be needed to put in smoker frozen. We place frozen in the oven and cook until done every year!I have no clue if you could smoke it that way.It would clearly be safer!

MOS95B · 11-08-2009, 09:15 AM

I can't see why a big cooler amd some towels wouldn't work. Watch them closely, though. Don't want to go from thawing to spoiling...

blues_n_cues · 11-08-2009, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonboy

I am reading about thawing in refrigerator for several days, thawing in water(changing every 30 mins) and microwaving.
I would like to buy fresh but they arent available.
How would a resturant thaw multiple turkeys?
It seems that we would put them overnight on the prep sinks and allow to stand/thaw....but i am not sure.
jon

thats pretty much it.if you have a large icechest just fill it w/ cold water & add birds. you'll probably have to change water a couple times but it works.

Redheart · 11-08-2009, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxwell7

How much extra time would be needed to put in smoker frozen. We place frozen in the oven and cook until done every year!I have no clue if you could smoke it that way.It would clearly be safer!

I would never do as mentioned here. A turkey lingers long enough in the danger zone when smoked thawed or fresh. Smoking frozen bird would place it in that danger zone for a very long period of time. Just my 2 cents

voodooblu · 11-08-2009, 09:27 AM

I have done a few in a big igloo cooler just keep a probe in there in the water and change the water out w fresh cold water. I have also done a few while I brined them like other have said above.

igolf2 · 11-08-2009, 09:44 AM

I thawed two large birds last year in my bathtub ( cleaned very good of course ) worked well - easy to change the water

JamesB · 11-08-2009, 10:00 AM

I cook several turkeys every year around the holidays. I use the bathtub... Set the birds in the tub and fill it up with cold water. Drain and refill the tub every 20-30 minutes. The birds will thaw fairly quick... I then smoke/roast them in the pit at temps averaging 325°. As long as you thaw them quick and cook 'em quick, you should be OK. Poultry takes on some easily and quickly, so there is no real need to do them low and slow.

cds9333 · 11-08-2009, 10:36 AM

My family always put the bird in a 5 gal bucket with ice water overnight (with lid). No one has ever gotten sick from it. Though this may not work for larger birds as we usually only had 12-14#.

seattlepitboss · 11-08-2009, 12:15 PM

Got this from a reliable source, it's never failed me - seattlepitboss

Frozen turkey thawing time table

Weight Time in refrigerator Time in cold water
4 to 12 lbs. 1 to 3 days 2 to 6 hours
12 to 16 lbs. 3 to 4 days 6 to 8 hours
16 to 20 lbs. 4 to 5 days 8 to 10 hours
21 to 24 lbs. 5 to 6 days 10 to 12 hours

Around here I cook my bird on Wednesday, then bone it all the way out and cook the carcass in the stock pot, saving the meat & gravy-makings for the next day. That way I get all the heavy cleanup done before anyone even thinks about showing up and I don't have to do so much on the day itself. To cook a 21# deeply frozen bird on a Wednesday, I remove it to the refrigerator the previous Friday. Works every time.

11-08-2009, 07:25 AM	#1
jonboy is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 01-14-07 Location: Mount Washington, Kentucky	Thawing turkeys I am preparing to smoke a few turkeys. Is there a way to safely thaw several turkeys out of the refrigerator? (Say you buy more turkey then will fit in your fridge) Last year i tried to put the frozen turkeys into the beer fridge to thaw and a week later they were still frozen. I rinsed the turkeys in the sink, left them overnight and they are still hard as rocks. I would like to smoke the turkeys on monday morning. How long can the turkeys be left out of the fridge thawing? Thanks for the help, The last thing i want to do is pass along spoiled turkeys. jon

11-08-2009, 07:32 AM	#2
Kevin Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 02-06-05 Location: Southern Minnesota	There is no safe way to thaw a turkey at any temperature above 40*f. My suggestion would be to turn the temp up to 39 degrees in your beer fridge. __________________ Kevin

11-08-2009, 08:26 AM	#3
Captain Dave is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 07-29-09 Location: Luling, Texas 78648	I have thawed turkeys overnight in a salt water brine. Dont know how safe it is but nobody ever got sick. __________________ Thanks for noticing

11-08-2009, 09:15 AM	#6
MOS95B is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 05-05-09 Location: Robbinsdale, MN	I can't see why a big cooler amd some towels wouldn't work. Watch them closely, though. Don't want to go from thawing to spoiling... __________________ John Originallly posted by BigButzBBQ If it makes your stomache growl and your heart scared as soon as you see it or smell it, it's got to be good!

11-08-2009, 09:44 AM	#10
igolf2 is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 12-14-08 Location: Huntsburg, Ohio	I thawed two large birds last year in my bathtub ( cleaned very good of course ) worked well - easy to change the water __________________ Big Block Propane Stok Quattro Grill Homemade piggy roaster / spit Turkey Fryer / Clam Steamer UDS Moink Certified!

11-08-2009, 08:33 AM	#4
jonboy is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 01-14-07 Location: Mount Washington, Kentucky	I am reading about thawing in refrigerator for several days, thawing in water(changing every 30 mins) and microwaving. I would like to buy fresh but they arent available. How would a resturant thaw multiple turkeys? It seems that we would put them overnight on the prep sinks and allow to stand/thaw....but i am not sure. jon

11-08-2009, 08:47 AM	#5
maxwell7 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 07-07-09 Location: Centerview , M0.	How much extra time would be needed to put in smoker frozen. We place frozen in the oven and cook until done every year!I have no clue if you could smoke it that way.It would clearly be safer!

11-08-2009, 09:27 AM	#9
voodooblu Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 07-07-09 Location: Knoxville, Tn	I have done a few in a big igloo cooler just keep a probe in there in the water and change the water out w fresh cold water. I have also done a few while I brined them like other have said above.

11-08-2009, 10:00 AM	#11
JamesB is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 08-15-05 Location: Irving, Tx	I cook several turkeys every year around the holidays. I use the bathtub... Set the birds in the tub and fill it up with cold water. Drain and refill the tub every 20-30 minutes. The birds will thaw fairly quick... I then smoke/roast them in the pit at temps averaging 325°. As long as you thaw them quick and cook 'em quick, you should be OK. Poultry takes on some easily and quickly, so there is no real need to do them low and slow.

11-08-2009, 10:36 AM	#12
cds9333 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 09-06-08 Location: Manhattan, KS	My family always put the bird in a 5 gal bucket with ice water overnight (with lid). No one has ever gotten sick from it. Though this may not work for larger birds as we usually only had 12-14#.

11-08-2009, 12:15 PM	#13
seattlepitboss is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 02-05-09 Location: Seattle, WA	Got this from a reliable source, it's never failed me - seattlepitboss Frozen turkey thawing time table Weight Time in refrigerator Time in cold water 4 to 12 lbs. 1 to 3 days 2 to 6 hours 12 to 16 lbs. 3 to 4 days 6 to 8 hours 16 to 20 lbs. 4 to 5 days 8 to 10 hours 21 to 24 lbs. 5 to 6 days 10 to 12 hours Around here I cook my bird on Wednesday, then bone it all the way out and cook the carcass in the stock pot, saving the meat & gravy-makings for the next day. That way I get all the heavy cleanup done before anyone even thinks about showing up and I don't have to do so much on the day itself. To cook a 21# deeply frozen bird on a Wednesday, I remove it to the refrigerator the previous Friday. Works every time.