Cooking Tip-How To Cook A Frozen Turkey

Cooking Frozen Turkey

If you bought a frozen turkey and forgot to thaw it for Thanksgiving dinner or received a free frozen turkey and don't have room in your refrigerator to thaw it before cooking it, have no fear-Yes you can cook a frozen turkey. This is actually very easy and has very good results. There are two issues, you cannot use the giblets, neck, etc. to make gravy and you need to make the stuffing outside the bird. I came across this situation when I received a free turkey at the grocery store, but had no room to thaw a big bird in the refrigerator for 3 or 4 days. It does take longer to cook but there is no basting! Here are a few things to consider:

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Tips:

• This is only recommended for roasting turkey, Do Not  fry, smoke, or barbecue your turkey if it is frozen. 
• It takes 50% longer to cook a frozen turkey than a thawed turkey. 
• If according to the label, your turkey would take 4 hours it will now take 6 hours.
• The turkey needs to be placed on a rack on a baking sheet with a low rim, this is important because the turkey needs to have warm air circulating all around it to cook properly.
• Do not stuff the turkey.
• If the giblets, neck, etc or encased in plastic, you need to remove these as soon as they are thawed.
• Use long handled tongs or a fork to remove the giblet package when they become loose this should be after about the first 2 to 3 hours. 
• Don't allow the plastic wrapper around the giblets to thaw-this will make your turkey un-edible.
• Check for doneness about 1/2 hour before the turkey is supposed to be done.
• Turkey should be done when the meat thermometer reaches 185° deep in the thigh or 165° in the thickest part of the breast and juices should also be clear.

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 325°.
   
2. Remove all packaging around turkey.
   
3. Place turkey breast-side up on a roasting rack. 
   
4. Place rack on a low rimmed cookie/baking sheet.
   
5. If the breast begins to get too brown, loosely cover it with aluminum foil.
6. Let the turkey sit for 20-30 minutes before slicing and serving.

If you have any concerns about your turkey here are some hotlines:
USDA Hotline 1-888-674-6854 (Monday-Friday from 10-4 EST and Thanksgiving from 8-2 EST)
1-800-Butterball (1-800-288-8372)