Free tool
Find out how long to thaw your turkey in the fridge or in cold water, what date to start, how big a turkey to buy and how long to roast it.
These are the USDA's guidelines for thawing a whole turkey:
| Method | Rule | Example, 16 lb turkey |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator (40°F or below) | 24 hours for every 4 to 5 lb | About 3 to 4 days |
| Cold water | 30 minutes per lb, water changed every 30 minutes | About 8 hours |
The "start thawing by" date counts back from your dinner date using the longest estimate, plus one extra day.
The calculator shows the USDA's roasting times for an unstuffed whole turkey at 325°F. Always check the temperature with a food thermometer. The turkey is done when the innermost part of the thigh, the innermost part of the wing and the thickest part of the breast all reach 165°F.
For a longer look at each thawing method, read how long to thaw a turkey in the full thawing guide. Count down with the Thanksgiving countdown, and read about the sales in when Black Friday is. If the power fails while the bird is thawing or cooking, see what to do in a power outage.
About 24 hours for every 4 to 5 pounds. A 15 pound turkey needs roughly 3 to 4 days. Add a day of margin, because a thawed turkey keeps in the fridge for 1 to 2 days.
About 30 minutes per pound, so a 14 pound turkey takes about 7 hours. Keep it in a leak-proof bag, submerge it in cold tap water and change the water every 30 minutes. Cook it right after.
Plan on about 1 pound per person. For leftovers, plan on about 1.5 pounds per person.
No. Thawing at room temperature lets the outside warm into the unsafe zone while the middle is still frozen. Use the refrigerator, cold water, or cook it from frozen, which takes about 50% longer.
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Buy a turkey of about 15 lb.
Between 4 and 40 lb.
Fridge thaw time
3 to 4 days
Start thawing by
Pick a dinner date
Roasting time at 325°F
3 to 3.75 hours
USDA guidance: allow about 24 hours for every 4 to 5 lb in a refrigerator at 40°F or below. The start date adds one extra day, and a thawed turkey keeps in the fridge for 1 to 2 days before cooking. Roast an unstuffed turkey until the innermost part of the thigh, the wing and the thickest part of the breast read 165°F on a food thermometer. Times are a guide. The thermometer decides.