You were planning to have a turkey dinner but you forgot to take the turkey out of the freezer to defrost before cooking. Instead of changing your meal plans, use the frozen turkey but change the approach to your cooking method. Katherine Zeratsky, Mayo Clinic Nutritionist, suggests that it is safe to cook a frozen turkey, but you must adjust the cooking method to ensure safety.
Step 1
Preheat the oven to at least 325 F. Avoid grilling, smoking, microwaving or deep frying the frozen turkey as these cooking methods use a temperature that is either too high or too low. and the outside of the frozen turkey would be cooked while the inside would only be partially cooked. The oven is the only cooking method that evenly cooks the frozen turkey.
Step 2
Increase the total cooking time by about 50 percent. A 12- to 14-lb. fresh turkey typically requires about 3 to 4 hours to cook thoroughly, but you should cook a frozen turkey for 5 to 6 hours. Most turkeys include a general cooking guide on the label for a quick reference for a recommended cooking time.
Step 3
Remove the giblets with tongs when the turkey begins to defrost. The giblets are typically packaged and stuffed inside the cavity. You must remove the package to prevent the plastic packaging from melting. After removing the giblets, you can either discard or continue cooking for sauces or dressings.
Step 4
Check the internal temperature of the turkey by sticking the probe of a meat thermometer into the middle of the meat. Continue cooking the turkey until the internal temperature reaches 165 F. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends this temperature to ensure all bacteria has been destroyed.
Tips and Warnings
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends defrosting the frozen turkey three different ways -- in the refrigerator, submerged in cold water or in the microwave oven. Never use oven bags when cooking a frozen turkey.
Things You'll Need
- Timer
- Tongs
- Meat thermometer
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