You should start thawing your turkey in the refrigerator several days before you plan to cook it, based on the turkey's weight—roughly one day for every 4 to 5 pounds. This means a large turkey (20–24 pounds) should begin thawing about six days ahead, while a small one (4–12 pounds) may only need one to three days.

Refrigerator Thawing Guidelines

• For a turkey weighing 20–24 pounds, start thawing it six days before you plan to cook (often the Friday before Thanksgiving).

• For 16–20 pounds, begin thawing five days before.

• For 12–16 pounds, start four days ahead.

• For 4–12 pounds, allow one to three days.

• After thawing, the turkey can stay in the fridge for an additional one to two days before cooking.

Quick Cold Water Thawing

If you are short on time, use the cold water method:

• Leave the turkey in its original sealed packaging.
• Submerge in cold water, changing the water every 30 minutes.

• Allow about 30 minutes per pound to thaw.
• Cook immediately after the turkey is thawed.

Thawing Start Dates for Thanksgiving

Here is a general start-date guide for refrigerator thawing if Thanksgiving falls on Thursday:

Turkey Weight| Start Thawing| Thawing Time
---|---|---
20–24 lbs| Friday before| 5–6 days 510
16–20 lbs| Saturday before| 4–5 days 510
12–16 lbs| Sunday before| 3–4 days 510
4–12 lbs| Monday/Tuesday| 1–3 days 510

Begin thawing early to ensure food safety and avoid last-minute stress.