One of the main stresses of the Christmas period is defrosting all of your food and understanding when each piece needs to start cooking. Luckily, we’ve got you covered with this in-depth guide covering everything you need to know. So, how long do you defrost a large turkey?
A large turkey should be defrosted in the fridge for 12 hours per kg of turkey. This means that a 5kg turkey should be defrosted for 2 and a half days or 60 hours. You should always ensure the meat is defrosted fully to ensure that your cooking time remains consistent and the meat is cooked evenly.
Read on to find out more about how long to defrost a turkey, when to start defrosting for Christmas, if you can cook a turkey straight from frozen, and what the best method of defrosting is.
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How Long Does It Take To Thaw a Large Turkey?
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When Should I Start Thawing My Turkey For Christmas?
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Can You Cook Turkey From Frozen?
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What Is an Acceptable Method to Thaw a Large Frozen Turkey?
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Can You Defrost a Large Turkey at Room Temperature?
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Large Turkey Butterfly & Christmas Turkey From Tom Hixson
How Long Does It Take To Thaw a Large Turkey?
Defrosting a large frozen turkey is a long process that needs to be planned in advance. If you’re defrosting a large turkey for an event like Christmas or Thanksgiving where you’ll have lots of other foods in the fridge, this will need a lot of preparation.
You’ll need to consider the size of your turkey to understand how long it will take to defrost fully. The basic rule is to defrost for about 12 hours per kg of turkey. That means if you have a 4.5kg turkey like our Large Turkey Butterfly, you’ll need to defrost it for 2 days and 6 hours (54 hours).
When Should I Start Thawing My Turkey For Christmas?
If you’re planning to cook your 4.5kg turkey on Christmas morning, you’ll want to start defrosting your turkey on the 22nd of December just before you go to bed, but no later than 3am for it to be ready for 9am. However, you’ll need to adjust this depending on the weight of your turkey.
If you plan to start cooking your turkey on Christmas Eve and finish on Christmas Day, you’ll need to defrost it fully before starting to cook. Otherwise, you’ll be starting to cook with a part-frozen turkey which will throw off your cooking times and prevent you from cooking it thoroughly.
Can You Cook Turkey From Frozen?
It is actually possible to cook most turkeys from frozen, however, it’s best to check the packaging to see if this is recommended or not for your particular meat. One thing to bear in mind is that it will take about 50% longer to cook than it would with a defrosted turkey, so you’ll need to plan your cooking times accordingly.
Cooking times for a defrosted turkey in a conventional oven:
- Under 4.5kg: Cook for 45 minutes per kg plus 20 minutes.
- 4.5-6.5kg: Cook for 40 minutes per kg.
- Over 6.5kg: Cook for 35 minutes per kg.
To get the cook times for a frozen turkey, simply complete the calculation above and add 50%.
What Is an Acceptable Method to Thaw a Large Frozen Turkey?
There are technically multiple methods of defrosting a turkey, however, it’s best to defrost it in the fridge to ensure that the meat stays fresh, even if it ends up defrosting for slightly longer than needed. All of the defrosting times listed above are for defrosting in the fridge.
Can You Defrost a Large Turkey at Room Temperature?
Because the temperature of the room you defrost it in can fluctuate, especially during winter months when you’re running the heating, it is less safe to defrost your turkey at room temperature.
A warm kitchen is also the perfect place for bacteria to thrive and potentially get on other surfaces, so this method isn’t recommended.
Large Turkey Butterfly & Christmas Turkey From Tom Hixson
At Tom Hixson, we sell a range of mouthwatering Turkey products that are sure to create the perfect centrepiece for any occasion. If you’re looking for a Christmas or Thanksgiving turkey, look no further than our Large Turkey Butterfly, Halal Large Turkey Butterfly, or our standard Turkey Butterfly. Or for help deciding between what type of turkey cut you need, read our guide on The Difference Between a Turkey Crown & Turkey Butterfly.
