Defrosting
It is important to make sure your turkey is properly defrosted before cooking it. Even if it is only partially frozen, cooking times won’t be long enough to cook the turkey properly. If it isn’t cooked properly then bacteria that cause food poisoning can survive.
A large turkey can take a few days to defrost fully so it is important to plan in advance. Before cooking check to make sure there are no ice crystals in the cavity and also test thicker parts with a fork.
Below are some defrosting times guidelines: (Defrosting times can vary so it is important to make sure your bird is fully defrosted)
2.5kg - Fridge = 25-30 hours : Room Temp = 5 hours
5kg - Fridge = 50-60 hours : Room Temp = 10 hours
7.5kg - Fridge = 75-90 hours : Room Temp = 15 hours
10kg - Fridge = 100-120 hours : Room Temp = 20 hours
12.5kg - Fridge = 125-150 hours : Room Temp = 25 hours
When you have fully defrosted your turkey, make sure you put it in the fridge until you are ready to cook, alternatively cook it as soon as it has defrosted.
For turkey stuffing recipes, visit our turkey stuffing site