Can you cook a frozen turkey without thawing?
Answer: Yes — you can roast a frozen turkey in the oven without defrosting it first, says the U.S. Department of Agriculture. You shouldn’t grill, smoke, deep-fry or microwave a frozen turkey.
How long does it take to cook a frozen turkey?
Calculate your roasting time. Thawed turkeys require about 15 minutes of cook time for every pound of meat. With a frozen turkey, you need at least 50 percent longer, or about 22 ½ minutes per pound. A 12-pound turkey, which would cook in about three hours if it’s fully thawed, now requires 4 ½ hours.
When should I start defrosting my frozen turkey for Thanksgiving?

According to the experts, you should thaw a turkey in a refrigerator set to 40°F or below for about 24 hours for each 4 to 5 pounds. If your bird weighs more than 20 pounds, you should start thawing in the fridge on Friday, Nov. 19.
How do you prepare a frozen turkey?
- Step 1: Prep and Begin the Thaw. Cooking a frozen turkey-sicle is easy, just unwrap it and place it on a rack in a shallow roasting pan.
- Step 2: Season and Continue to Cook.
- Step 3: Remove the Giblets.
- Step 4: Check In.
- Step 5: Finish Roasting.
- Step 6: Let Rest.
How long does it take to thaw out a 12 pound turkey?
to three days
So, if the turkey weighs 4 to 12 pounds, plan for it to defrost in the fridge for one to three days. If it’s 12 to 16 pounds, make sure it’s placed in the fridge three to four days before the holiday arrives.

When should I thaw my turkey 2021?
Refrigerator Thawing
- 4 to 12 pounds — 1 to 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.
Can you cook a Butterball turkey from frozen?
Your secret weapon, Butterball’s Cook from Frozen Stuffed Turkey goes from the freezer, to the oven, to the table – no thawing and no fuss preparing stuffing.
Can you cook a turkey frozen?
Yes, cooking a turkey from frozen or partially frozen is totally safe and is even USDA-approved. Whenever we’re thawing and cooking turkeys, our goal is to move it through the danger zone of 40°F to 140°F as quickly as possible.