Have you allowed enough defrosting/cooking time for your turkey?

**Michelle** · 11-26-2003, 04:34 PM

Defrosting Do's
Remember that you have to allow 24 hours for every 5 pounds if you're going to defrost a turkey in the refrigerator. That means a 15-pound turkey will take three full days, so get started on Monday.

If you miss this deadline, you can defrost the bird faster in a sinkful of cold water, allowing about half an hour for each pound of turkey and changing the water occasionally. (It will still take 7 1/2 hours for that 15-pounder, so do it after work on Wednesday, then refrigerate it.)

Roasting Times For a Fully Defrosted Turkey
10 to 18 lbs.:
3 to 3 1/2 hours (unstuffed)
3 3/4 to 4 1/2 hours (stuffed)
18 to 22 lbs.:
3 1/2 to 4 hours (unstuffed)
4 1/2 to 5 hours (stuffed)
22 to 24 lbs.:
4 to 4 1/2 hours (unstuffed)
5 to 5 1/2 hours (stuffed)
24 to 30 lbs.:
4 1/2 to 5 hours (unstuffed)
5 1/2 to 6 1/4 (stuffed)

http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/spec...ca1102defrost/

Happy Thanksgiving!

**SewCrafty** · 11-26-2003, 05:08 PM

Great info, thanks Michelle!

**Missy** · 11-26-2003, 05:14 PM

Great info, thanks!

**homesteadmamma** · 11-26-2003, 05:47 PM

Great tips Michelle.

Also, once your turkey is stuffed and cooked, make sure you don't leave it out for any length of time. Take the stuffing out of the turkey and whatever is leftover of the turkey (after your meal), cool and refigerate as quickly as possible.

**captclearance** · 11-26-2003, 11:25 PM

My turkey is cooked, sliced and all picked clean.... I have all of my juices for my dressing and gravy........ All done..... Good thing too.. I got a 24 pounder ......

**Michelle** · 12-20-2004, 03:19 PM

Anyone having turkey for Christmas too? We're doing a ham, but I need to see if Dave wants to do our turkey in the freezer downstairs too.

**PrairieRose** · 12-20-2004, 06:02 PM

Got my turkey defrosting as we speak. I'm gonna roast that bird tomorrow and boil the carcass for stock to make my gravy out of as well. Will have it sliced and ready to reheat by this time tomorrow. We always have turkey for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. We usually have a turkey as well. We're pigs. What can I say.....?

**Michelle** · 11-04-2005, 09:02 AM

**Michelle** · 11-13-2006, 04:29 PM

a yearly

**Katybird** · 11-13-2006, 06:00 PM

Thanks for bumping this up and for the reminder.

**dmvezina** · 11-13-2006, 07:27 PM

This will be the first time we're doing a fresh turkey. I actually ordered it yesterday. In my ways of trying to be as frugal as possible, dh announces he wants a fresh turkey! UGH! But, I said fine because I'm also getting a free frozen turkey. I believe the fresh turkeys are about .20 more per pound. So, with the free one, I guess that isn't bad.
So, now, would the roasting times be the same for fresh? That doesn't make a difference does it?

And for Christmas we have ham.