Holidays are stressful enough without worrying over thawing your Thanksgiving turkey. Timing is everything, and we’ve got you covered.
Depending on the size of your bird, you might need to start thawing it several days before the holiday — or risk a last-minute scramble.
Here’s what the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends.
How long does it take a turkey to thaw in the fridge? At what temperature?
Thawing a turkey in the refrigerator is the safest way to prepare for your Thanksgiving feast, but it requires some planning.
Allow about 24 hours for every 4 to 5 pounds of turkey in a refrigerator set at 40°F or cooler.
To avoid cross-contamination, place the bird in a sealed container — never directly in a drawer, even if you plan to disinfect after. Here’s how early you should begin refrigerator thawing based on size:
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4-5 lbs.: Thaw 24 hours ahead (Wednesday)
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5-10 lbs.: Thaw 2-3 days ahead (Monday or Tuesday)
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11-16 lbs.: Thaw 3-4 days ahead (Sunday or Monday)
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16-20 lbs.: Thaw 4-5 days ahead (Saturday or Sunday)
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20-24 lbs.: Thaw 5-6 days ahead (Friday or Saturday)
Display of Butterball brand frozen Thanksgiving turkeys in a supermarket on Nov. 13, 2025. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images) (Smith Collection/Gado via Getty Images)
How to quickly thaw a turkey: Use cold water
If you forgot to take your turkey out over the weekend, don’t panic just yet — cold water thawing is quicker.
Plan for about 30 minutes of thawing time per pound. Keep the turkey in its original packaging and fully submerged in cold water, making sure to change the water every 30 minutes to maintain a safe temperature.
Once thawed, cook the turkey immediately to ensure safety. After cooking, the meat from the turkey can be refrozen.
Here’s how early you should begin cold water thawing based on size:
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4-5 lbs.: Thaw in 2 hours (on the day of cooking)
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5-10 lbs.: Thaw in 4-6 hours (start in the morning)
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11-16 lbs.: Thaw in 6-8 hours (start early morning or the night before)
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16-20 lbs.: Thaw in 8-10 hours (start very early morning or the night before)
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20-24 lbs.: Thaw in 10-12 hours (start the night before or very early morning)
How long to thaw a turkey in the microwave?
Follow the microwave oven manufacturer’s instructions when defrosting a turkey.
Plan to cook it immediately after thawing because some areas of the food might become warm and begin to cook during microwaving. Holding partially cooked food is not recommended because any bacteria present wouldn’t have been destroyed.
Are groceries in Texas getting more expensive?
We hear all the time about the price of eggs. But what about the price of protein, like your Thanksgiving turkey, or produce for your green bean casserole?
Our Grocery Price Tracker lets you see how the cost of different types of food has changed in Texas since 2019. You can go deeper on specific categories — like frozen food, canned items or fresh meat and produce — and adjust your view to see the change over a specific period of time. You can sort for prices during the Trump presidency, when Biden was in office, or when major tariffs were enacted.
— Brandi D. Addison, USA TODAY Network, contributed to this report.
