How Do You Thaw A Turkey?

　　Don't -- if you can help it.  Make sure to buy your bird already defrosted, if possible.

　　Turkeys are hefty birds -- typically 15-35 lbs.  If you try to cook one from frozen the outside will get overdone before the inside is even thawed out.

　　To thaw a turkey out, you can leave it out "on the kitchen counter".  Most people's kitchens have an ambient temperature of 12-35 degrees C; at those temps, it can still take up to 3 days for the bird to thaw.  The outside will thaw first... and start to breed bacteria, while the inside is still frozen.  So not ideal.

　　The general "safest" advice is to thaw it by sitting it in the fridge.  Assume that you need 24 hours in a cold fridge to thaw 5 lbs of turkey.  As it thaws, it will leak a lot of fluid, which is bloody and a perfect medium for bacterial growth. So either keep it sealed tight in plastic wrap/bags on the bottom shelf (where it can't drip onto other food), or thaw in a deep baking dish.

　　Can also thaw in the microwave; follow the instructions for the bird's weight.  Make sure to cook it immediately after defrosting in the microwave as there may be some "hot" spots in the bird.

Buy fresh if possible ,you can't beat it.

Best way is to soak it in cold water over night! This thaws it gradually and keeps it out of the air! Find a big pan or just fill up the sink and place the turkey in!