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How to Thaw Your Thanksgiving Turkey

I am a #NSNation Blogger and I received Nutrisystem in exchange for this review. The opinions expressed are 100% mine.
We are just days away from Thanksgiving dinner. You’ve made your list. You’ve cleared the fridge. You’ve gone shopping and you’ve found the perfect Thanksgiving turkey.
Chances are the turkey you chose is nothing more than a huge frozen bowling ball and have no doubt it will take days for this monstrosity to thaw.

 There are several ways to thaw your turkey so it will be ready to cook on Thanksgiving day. The most common methods to thaw a turkey are the Refrigerator Method (the method I use) or the Cold Water Method.  Both are safe methods of thawing a turkey.

 Refrigerator Method
Clear enough space in your fridge for your turkey.

 Place the turkey in a large pan. Do NOT remove the turkey from its packaging.

 Butterball recommends thawing the turkey in the fridge 1 day for every 4 lbs. and thawed turkey can be left in the fridge for a couple of days.

 If it’s crunch time and you need to quickly thaw a turkey, then you may want to use the Cold Water Method.

 Cold Water Method
Submerge the turkey in cold water and change the water every 30 minutes. The USDA recommends you cook the turkey immediately after it is thawed if you use this method.

With Nutrisystem I don't have to wait for Thanksgiving to enjoy a delicious turkey dinner.  The Nutristisystem Roasted Turkey Medallions dinner is one of my favorite Nutrisystem entrees.  
This entree is low in fat and high in protein and keeps me on track with my weight loss goals. It's full of thick cut pieces of turkey piled on top of creamy mashed potatoes overflowing with a delicious turkey gravy.  Is your mouth watering yet?
I'm still on track to lose 50 lbs. by December.  I am determined to lose the weight and keep it off and Nutrisystem is helping me do so.  
I'm pretty sure I'll be able to stay on track during the holidays thanks to tips I found on the Nutrisystem website.

 For more tips on thawing a turkey, check out these 12 Food Safety Tips You Must Know on The Leaf. 
Which method do you use to thaw your turkey?

Comments

Alli Smith said…
I always use the refrigerator method when thawing my turkey. Years ago, I had to use the cold water method when that bird refused to thaw out in the fridge. :)
November 17, 2017 at 5:01 AM
candy said…
Most people do not thaw their turkey properly. I know some who just let it sit on the counter for days. Always scary. Wonderful tips on properly thawing out a turkey.
November 17, 2017 at 7:08 AM
AiringMyLaundry said…
I always do the fridge method! It always seemed to work well. One year it was slightly frozen so I did have to use the cold weather method briefly.
November 17, 2017 at 7:19 AM
Anonymous said…
I'm sure so many people needed to read this. There is a right way and a wrong way to thaw a turkey. Great points.
November 17, 2017 at 8:37 AM
joannabri said…
I don't think a lot of people realize that there is actually a method to thawing a turkey, or any meat for that matter. Not thawing properly can result in food poisoning!
November 17, 2017 at 8:48 AM
Tomi C said…
Thanks for the comments all! I think with all the reports of food poisoning people should take more thought into things each of us can do to protect our families.

Thanks for reading.
November 17, 2017 at 9:11 AM
Lisa said…
We do a fridge thaw and it takes forever. Congrats on the weight loss. 50 pounds by December is awesome.
November 17, 2017 at 1:23 PM
valmg @ Mom Knows It All said…
I usually defrost in the fridge. There have been one or two times it wasn't fully thawed in time so I had to convert to the cold water method.
November 17, 2017 at 4:47 PM
Sarah Bailey said…
Hands up I wouldn't know where to start with defrosting a turkey but it is something I really need to get my head around so thank you for this - I will conquer it!
November 17, 2017 at 5:24 PM
shabbyfufu said…
Thawing a turkey seems to be a struggle for me. The last few years I've been able to purchase it fresh from the grocery store and that's a big help!
November 17, 2017 at 6:50 PM
Liz Mays said…
I'm not sure which method we'll be using this year! The Nutrisystem Roasted Turkey Medallions meal does sound good!
November 17, 2017 at 8:47 PM
Amanda said…
Thanks for the tips! I have only cooked a turkey a few times and always thaw in the refrigerator and then brine.
November 17, 2017 at 9:17 PM
Anonymous said…
Who knew there are so many ways to thaw a turkey. We do the cold water method but now I might want to try a different way.
November 18, 2017 at 6:41 AM
rosemary@myhomeandtravels said…
Frig works for me as I usually do 2 smaller turkeys no matter how many I feed. Deep fried and roasted.
November 18, 2017 at 7:26 AM
chubskulit said…
I have been living here in the US for almost 13 years but I have yet to try making turkey. Thank you for this.
November 18, 2017 at 8:22 AM
Unknown said…
These are all fantastic tips. It is so important to follow safety guidelines when dealing with meat.
November 18, 2017 at 1:18 PM
Kita Bryant said…
I usually make room in my fridge and set it up in there. Much easier and I always remember to make room in my fridge for the holidays anyways.
November 18, 2017 at 7:00 PM
sandy n vyjay said…
These are really some useful methods. I think that the refrigerator method is more apt for this, though the cold water one can also be good based on the requirements.
November 19, 2017 at 12:59 AM
ricci said…
I've never made a turkey by myself before so I didn't know that thawing it out was such a big deal!! Good thing I'm not in charge of the meal!
November 19, 2017 at 1:52 AM
Dogvills said…
The refrigerator method is what i do. I would not risk a salmonella infection with the cold water method. Better to be safe and enjoy a great dinner than to be sick!
November 19, 2017 at 8:25 AM
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