This guide is for anyone cooking a frozen turkey for Thanksgiving or a holiday dinner who needs to know when to start thawing.
A frozen turkey takes days, not hours, to thaw safely in the refrigerator. Work backward from your dinner date so the bird is ready on time.
The quick answer
FoodSafety.gov says:1
- In the refrigerator: allow about 24 hours for every 4 to 5 pounds.
- In cold water: allow about 30 minutes per pound, changing the water every 30 minutes, and cook the turkey right after thawing.
Thawing times by weight
From the FoodSafety.gov turkey chart:1
| Turkey weight | In the refrigerator | In cold water (change water every 30 min) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 to 12 lb | 1 to 3 days | 2 to 6 hours |
| 12 to 16 lb | 3 to 4 days | 6 to 8 hours |
| 16 to 20 lb | 4 to 5 days | 8 to 10 hours |
| 20 to 24 lb | 5 to 6 days | 10 to 12 hours |
Count back from dinner
Our planning example: for a 16-pound turkey on a Thursday dinner, the refrigerator method needs 3 to 4 days, so move it from the freezer to the fridge by Sunday evening. Keep it in its wrapper, on a tray or in a pan to catch drips, on the lowest shelf.
Cold water: the backup plan
If you’re short on time, the cold-water method is faster but takes attention. Our advice: keep the turkey in a leak-proof bag, submerge it fully in cold tap water and set a timer to change the water every 30 minutes, as the chart specifies.1 Because a turkey thawed in cold water should be cooked right after thawing, start it the morning you plan to roast.1
Cook it to 165°F
The safe minimum internal temperature for turkey is 165°F (74°C).1 Check it with a food thermometer rather than relying on the pop-up timer or the clock.
Need a pan big enough? See our turkey roasting pan size guide.
Checklist
- Weigh the turkey (it’s on the label).
- Fridge: 24 hours per 4–5 pounds.
- Cold water: 30 minutes per pound, fresh water every 30 minutes, cook right away.
- Roast to 165°F, checked with a thermometer.
Sources & method
How we researched this
- This is a research-based guide, not a hands-on product test.
- Every measurement and safety figure is attributed to the source it comes from. Where we give our own advice, we say so.
- We don’t rank or recommend specific products in this guide.
Sources
- Meat and Poultry Roasting Charts (turkey thawing times), FoodSafety.gov (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). Accessed Nov 9, 2026.
Review history
- Published Nov 9, 2026.