You’re planning to roast or fry a turkey for Thanksgiving or another event. The first decision you have to make is whether to get a fresh or a frozen turkey. If you’ve decided to buy a fresh turkey, then all you need to do is prepare and cook the bird. Fresh turkeys should be bought just before you are going to use it. Then, you need to know the turkey thawing time, so you know when to remove it from the freezer.

For the vast majority of us, we go to our local grocery store and buy a frozen turkey. It can be purchased days, weeks, or even months in advance. If you are not going to immediately thaw and cook it, place it in the freezer immediately when you get home.

As Thanksgiving approaches, it’s time to take it out of the freezer and safely thaw it out. There are two basic ways to thaw a turkey, and one is definitely the wrong way. There’s actually a third way to thaw a turkey…. in the microwave. However, most turkeys do not fit inside of a microwave.

First, let’s talk about the wrong way. Never thaw a turkey by leaving it on the counter. At room temperature, bacterial growth is maximized. Thawing from the outside in, bacteria multiplies on the warm, outer surface. This can make you and everyone who eats it very sick.

Did You Know? You can refreeze a partially thawed turkey as long as ice crystals are still in the cavity. Note: refreezing the turkey can affect flavor, texture, and juiciness.

To safely thaw a turkey, it can be thawed either in the refrigerator or in cold water.