How long to thaw a rock hard 20 pound turkey?

Scottborasjr

Got a turkey from my meat guy for a great price, it's a 20 lb bird. How long in a 40 degree fridge will it take to thaw and how long after that should I be concerned about it going bad?

Carolina Q

No experience here, but could apparently cook it from frozen...

http://eggheadforum.com/discussion/767344/ever-cooked-turkey-from-frozen

theoldguy

We have tried that too and after a week in the fridge it was still hard.  So back to the sink full of cold water overnight and then with some grunting get the neck out and finally start to get into the cavity.  Have never had a problem with spoiling as it gets cooked that same day.  This fridge business could take weeks me thinks.  tog

sumoconnell

If it's still hard after four hours, your supposed to call the doctor.

Seriously though, I agree with tog.

lousubcap

+1 with @theoldguy-gave a frozen 20 lb turkey a week in a fridge last Thanksgiving and had to resort to the cold water finish thaw.  I'm guessing around 10 days or so if you go straight thru with the fridge.  FWIW-

anton

I usually get results in the fridge after7-10 days. Holpe this helps.

tarheelmatt

I place in water overnight... Never any issues.  

Little Steven

Carolina Q said:

No experience here, but could apparently cook it from frozen...

http://eggheadforum.com/discussion/767344/ever-cooked-turkey-from-frozen

I cooked one from frozen just after that. Great results!

Zmokin

I would try just throwing it in an ice chest for a day or so with a fridge thermometer.
Check it after 24 hours to see how it is doing.

pgprescott

a really long fricken time!

DieselkW

I'm with @Zmokin - a cooler full of water, enough to submerge the bird, you can leave it on the kitchen floor that way.
I would give it two days, unless you keep changing the water every every 8-12 hours, you can likely get her to give up her giblets within a day by frequent exchanging 33f water with 65f water.

keepervodeflame

Here you go. this chart includes both fridge times and cold water method times. However, I am no fan of the submerged turkey method, just too much opportunity for bacteria growth IMO. Although, I do brine turkeys in a container that fits in my garage fridge with two shelves removed. 

http://foodreference.about.com/od/food_reference_charts/a/Turkey-Thawing-Time-Chart.htm

henapple

If it takes longer than 4 hours. ..call your doctor. . :((

lousubcap

The quality of your freezer and how truly frozen will cause the above link estimates to be off.  In addition to the extended duration 20 lb turkey thaw everything that comes from the chest freezer will exceed the predicted thaw times.  FWIW-

Legume

Every time I breeze past the title of this post I think the question is how far can you throw a rock hard 20 lb turkey.

Anyone?

Scottborasjr

@Legume in the air or on the ice? Turkey bowling is a great sport around here when things are frozen solid. I've had it in the fridge for a couple of days now, the outside is soft, tomorrow I will open it up, see what I've got and throw it on the egg. If it really well thawed I will spatchcock it, if not I will roast it until done. The beauty of options. 

Legume

Just reminded me of this...

http://youtu.be/gjPduCYbGbI

Scottborasjr

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MelSharples

Brine and defrost at the same time, always works for me.