Food safety tips for handling, thawing, roasting, storing, and reheating turkey.
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Download a print version that this document: Turkey: for sure Thawing and also Cooking (PDF)
manage Food safely
constantly wash her hands before and after taking care of food. store the kitchen, dishes and also utensils clean. always serve food top top clean plates. carry out not usage the same platter and also utensils for raw and cooked meat/poultry.Fresh Turkey
purchase the turkey only 1 or 2 days before you setup to cook it. save it save on computer in the refrigerator till you’re all set to cook it. Ar it ~ above a tray or pan come catch any juices that might leak. do not buy new pre-stuffed turkeys. If not handled properly, harmful bacteria that might be in the stuffing can multiply rapidly.Frozen Turkey
keep frozen until you’re prepared to thaw it. Turkeys have the right to be preserved in the freezer indefinitely. However, chef turkeys within 1 year because that the best quality.Thawing her Turkey
There are three means to thaw your turkey safely: Thawing in the Microwave Oven: inspect your owner’s manual for the minutes per pound and also the power level to usage for thawing. eliminate all exterior wrapping. location on a microwave-safe food to catch any juices that might leak. cook your turkey immediately after thawing in the microwave. perform not refreeze. Thawing in the Refrigerator: store the turkey in its initial wrapper. location it on a tray to catch any kind of juices that might leak. A s turkey deserve to remain in the refrigerator because that 1 come 2 days. If necessary, a turkey that has been correctly thawed in the refrigerator might be refrozen.| Thawing in the refrigerator | Time come thaw (allow 24 hrs for every 4 come 5 pounds) |
| 4 to 12 pounds | 1 come 3 days |
| 12 to 16 pounds | 3 to 4 days |
| 16 to 20 pounds | 4 to 5 days |
| 20 to 24 pounds | 5 to 6 days |
| Thawing in cold water | Time to thaw (allow 30 minutes every pound) |
| 4 to 12 pounds | 2 come 6 hrs |
| 12 to 16 pounds | 6 come 8 hours |
| 16 to 20 pounds | 8 come 10 hours |
| 20 to 24 pounds | 10 come 12 hours |
Roasting her Turkey
collection your stove temperature no reduced than 325 °F. location the turkey top top a rack in a shallow roasting pan. For more even cooking, it is recommended that you chef your stuffing exterior the bird in a casserole dish. Use a food thermometer to inspect the internal temperature that the stuffing. The facility should with at the very least 165°F. If you pick to stuff her turkey, to fill the cavity just before cooking. Fill the cavities loosely. Usage a food thermometer to inspect the interior temperature of the stuffing. The facility should with at least 165°F. To inspect the doneness that a entirety turkey, insert a food thermometer in the thickest component of the within thigh without poignant the bone. A whole turkey should be cooked come 165°F. To examine the doneness of a turkey breast, insert a food thermometer in the thickest component of the breast. A turkey breast need to be cooked to 165°F. If your turkey has actually a pop-up temperature indicator, the is recommended the you additionally check the internal temperature the the turkey and also the stuffing. permit the turkey stand for 20 minutes after cooking. It will carve an ext easily. eliminate all stuffing indigenous the turkey cavities.REMEMBER : Always wash (with soap and water) hands, utensils, the sink, and anything else the comes in contact with life turkey and its juices.
Timetables for Turkey Roasting (325°F oven temperature):
These times room estimates. Always use a food thermometer to check the interior temperature of her turkey and also stuffing (165°F).
| Unstuffed Turkey | Time to cook |
| 4 come 8 pounds (breast) | 1½ come 3¼ hours |
| 8 come 12 pounds | 2¾ come 3 hours |
| 12 come 14 pounds | 3 to 3¾ hours |
| 14 to 18 pounds | 3¾ come 4¼ hours |
| 18 to 20 pounds | 4¼ come 4½ hours |
| 20 come 24 pounds | 4½ come 5 hours |
| Stuffed Turkey | Time to chef |
| 4 to 8 pounds (breast) | 2½ to 3½ hours |
| 8 to 12 pounds | 3 come 3½ hours |
| 12 to 14 pounds | 3½ come 4 hours |
| 14 come 18 pounds | 4 to 4¼ hours |
| 18 come 20 pounds | 4¼ come 4¾ hours |
| 20 come 24 pounds | 4¾ come 5¼ hours |
storing Leftover Turkey
litter away turkey, stuffing, and also gravy left the end at room temperature much longer than 2 hrs (1 hour in temperatures above 90 °F). division leftovers into little portions. Refrigerate or freeze in covered shallow containers for quicker cooling. usage refrigerated turkey and stuffing within 3 come 4 days. Use gravy in ~ 1 to 2 days. If freezing, usage leftovers in ~ 2 come 6 month for ideal quality.See more: How Much Does An Electric Golf Cart Weigh With Batteries ? How Much Does A Golf Cart Weigh