Cook Frozen Turkey: No Defrosting Needed, Life in canada

Oops, did you forget to defrost your turkey for the big holiday dinner?

Have no fear, because whether fresh or frozen, you can cook a turkey to perfection, and nobody will know any different.

Defrosting a turkey on the counter is not recommended, as it can grow bacteria as it thaws.

Ideally, you’ll want to defrost a frozen bird in the refrigerator, allowing it to remain at a proper temperature while it thaws.

However, if you’re reading this, you’ve either forgotten to defrost your turkey or it’s a last-minute gathering and you’re the chef.

Saving Your Holiday Dinner

The classic roast turkey is a Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter treat that most of us look forward to.

Sometimes, I dream about the smells that fill the house, the sides you work on as it cooks, and the people arriving in groups and hovering in the kitchen to catch up, all part of the tradition.

What you never want to be a part of is discovering that your turkey is either a) still in the freezer – whoops – or has only half thawed in the fridge.

I have had this delightful discovery more times than I care to admit, so over the last decade or so, I’ve skipped this “treat” and gone straight to cooking my turkey from frozen.

One of the best parts of learning how to cook a turkey from frozen is that it helps keep your meat more moist because it cooks from the outside.

It can save you a ton of basting – my least favourite part of the entire process.

I know that some readers will be concerned about whether it’s safe to cook a frozen turkey, because it’s outside the norm for everyone.

Let me assure you that it is as long as the internal temperature reads 165°F before you serve it, and to have your turkey spend as short a time as possible in the lower temps.

The key to this is to preheat your oven and assume that it will take you about half again as long for your bird to roast.

Related: 25 Of The Best Pinterest Pumpkin Recipes

How To Cook Frozen Turkey

Here are the basics for cooking a turkey from frozen and still having it come out delicious:

Preheat your oven to anywhere from 325 to 400°F (I’ll share approximate roasting times further down).

Unwrap your turkey and get it onto your roasting pan breast side up.

Don’t waste your time with butter, oil, etc., because it won’t stick just yet.

Now is also not the time to remove the giblets, as the turkey is frozen.

Put the frozen turkey into a large roasting pan and then into your preheated oven.

Ignore the roasting turkey for 2 to 3 hours while you work on other things, such as side dishes or desserts for the celebration.

This would be a good time to get your side of stuffing prepped, for example, since you didn’t put any into the turkey.

Removing The Giblets From A Frozen Turkey

After the first three hours, grab a pair of bacon tongs and carefully pull the bag of giblets from the inside of the turkey.

Be very careful with this one – I have accidentally tipped my wrist back and scalded myself on a few occasions.

Seasoning A Frozen Turkey

Rub butter, oil, salt, and pepper onto the turkey and return it to the oven. Also consider putting strips of bacon around the turkey to add even more flavour and moisture while it roasts.

I put a sliced onion, apples, and oranges into the cavity at this stage.

You’ll also want to add seasoning to your turkey, which I prepare a bowl of melted butter, Worcestershire sauce, dried Rosemary, black pepper, salt, paprika, garlic powder, parsley, sage, and thyme into the cavity as well before continuing the cooking.

If you want to reduce the amount of salt you use, stick to unsalted butter and portion as needed the seasonings.

Second Cooking Of A Frozen Turkey You Forgot To Defrost

How much longer for your turkey to hit 165°F will depend on what temperature you used.

Ideally, I like to go with 325°F, but if the frozen turkey was a last-minute discovery, go a bit higher to begin with and shave off time. It’ll still be delicious!

I’ve given you a table for approximate cooking times by temperature. Please remember to subtract the first few hours you cooked the turkey.

One note, though: you might want to tent a little foil over the top at a higher temp, to stop the turkey from browning too much before the inside is ready.

I like to tent the turkey frozen with tin foil and cook it again for the second hour until the last hour.

During the last hour, I remove the tin foil to brown the bacon and turkey so they are crispy and moist.

Use the pan drippings, which should be lovely and browned, to make a delicious, rich gravy to serve with your meal.

However, these two steps are optional, as you do not have to do this.

Best Thermometer For Cooking A Frozen Turkey

ThermoPro: Cook Like A Pro Every Time!

Keep overcooking or undercooking your meat? The ThermoPro TP03H Instant Read Thermometer is the perfect solution to end this problem, and it always ensures your food is cooked like a pro!

With an accuracy of ±0.9°F and a temperature reading speed of 3-4 seconds, you’ll never return to cooking meat without this device!

The waterproof digital candy thermometer also features a foldaway probe for storage purposes when not in use, and can be stored just as easily.

• Specifications:
• Response Time: 3-4seconds
• Temperature Range: -58°F~572°F (-50°C~300°C)
• Temperature Accuracy: ±0.9°F(±0.5°C) from 32 to 212°F (0 to 100°C)
• Temperature Units: °C or °F
• Probe Length: 3.9 inches
• Power Auto-off Time: 10 mins of no use

How To Tell When The Turkey Is Done

Using a meat thermometer, once your turkey hits 165°F internally and the legs and thighs 175°F, you can take it out and rest it for 15 minutes.

Carve and serve.

Happy holidays!

Discussion: What was your worst Thanksgiving disaster? Please share in the comments.

Thanks,
Erin and Mr. CBB