Accidentally Thawed Turkey At Room Temperature

As its surface warms bacteria multiply.

Accidentally thawed turkey at room temperature.

Another way to thaw a turkey is using cold water. Submerge the entire wrapped turkey in cold water. Make a mole sauce to disguise the first one. This method is quicker than refrigerator thawing but requires more care.

I put the frozen turkey still in it s original packaging on the kitchen counter at room temperature to thaw for most of the day. No safety issues as long as you thaw it cold. In the time it takes for the entire turkey to thaw the surface bacteria can multiply to dangerous levels. In general allow 24 hours of thawing time for every 4 to 5 pounds of turkey.

Room temperatures fall within the danger zone of 40 f to 140 f that promotes active growth of bacteria if left on a kitchen counter a frozen turkey will thaw from the outside in. To make sure that the turkey does not get up to room temperature change the water every half. A year frozen turkey will probably have suffered freezer burn and developed off flavors. However you thaw your turkey use a digital tip sensitive thermometer to ensure it has reached an internal temperature of 165f.

The laws of physics are apparently different north of the 49th parallel and poultry is required to reach 180f. Thawing a frozen turkey on the kitchen counter or the dining room table or in any other room of your house is a huge no no. Besides the fact that it is let us say unseemly to defrost a thanksgiving turkey in some random bedroom to say nothing of the bathroom thawing a turkey at room temperature is a terrible practice.