Every year my family and closest friends gather at my sister’s house for the Thanksgiving holiday. And every year I prepare the turkey. And every year in my quest to avoid “foul” looks, I weigh the options of buying a fresh vs frozen turkey. Now that we are counting down the days until the holiday, I wanted to share some of my thoughts about turkey day preparation.
Consider your ”freezer” space. If I purchase a fresh bird, I could pre-order it, and pick it up on Wednesday for preparation Thursday morning. Remember, if you buy a fresh turkey, you should purchase it only 1-2 days before cooking. But if I clear out some freezer space, I could buy it later today, stick it in the freezer, and put it in the refrigerator Tuesday (so it will defrost safely by Thursday morning). NEVER buy a prestuffed fresh turkey. Unless you want to add food borne illness to your holiday plans.
Here are some helpful guidelines:
What size turkey should I buy?
Type of Turkey Pounds to Buy
Whole bird 1 pound per person
Boneless breast of turkey 1/2 pound per person
Breast of turkey 3/4 pound per person
Prestuffed frozen turkey 1 1/2 pounds per person
*keep frozen till cooking
Now this is the confusing part. If you buy a frozen turkey, put it (in the orginal wrapper) directly into the freezer. When you are ready to thaw the bird, remember to allow about 24 hours per 4 to 5 pounds of turkey. A thawed turkey should only be in the refrigerator 1 to 2 days. After that, fire up the oven!
Thawing Time in the Refrigerator
Size of Turkey Number of Days
4 to 12 pounds 1 to 3 days
12 to 16 pounds 3 to 4 days
16 to 20 pounds 4 to 5 days
10 to 24 pounds 5 to 6 days
My next big decision will be whether or not to stuff the turkey, or serve the stuffing on the side (which is usually the safer option). But if you want to stuff the turkey, stuff loosely. The stuffing should always be moist (and not dry)! Heat destroys bacteria much more rapidly in a moist environment. Once the turkey is stuffed, put it right into the pre-heated oven.
How Long Should the Turkey be Cooked?
350 F Oven up to 18 Pounds, 325 F Oven 18-24 pounds
165 F Internal Temperature
Cooking Time of Unstuffed Turkey
Size of Turkey Hours to Prepare
8 to 12 pounds 2 3/4 to 3 hours
12 to 14 pounds 3 to 2 3/4 hours
14 to 18 pounds 3 3/4 to 4 1/4 hours
18 to 20 pounds 4 1/4 to 4 1/2 hours
20 to 24 pounds 4 1/2 to 5 hours
Cooking Time Stuffed Turkey
8 to 12 pounds 3 to 3 1/2 hours
12 to 14 pounds 3 1/2 to 4 hours
14 to 18 pounds 4 to 4 1/4 hours
18 to 20 pounds 4 1/4 to 4 3/4 hours
20 to 24 pounds 4 3/4 to 5 1/4 hours
If you think of any other questions about cooking your turkey, call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-256-7072). The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 4 PM. So no more stressing out about picking out your turkey! Fresh or frozen, the turkey is the main focus of the food presented for the Thanksgiving feast. But close family and friends giving thanks and sharing thoughts about the holiday is really the most special part of the day. I’m thankful for so many things, I can’t wait to share my thoughts on Thanksgiving day. The very best part of the day is when everyone sitting around the festive table shares what they believe to be their blessings. Have a wonderful start to the holiday season!