Defrost Turkey. Use turkey within 4 days after thawing. How long to thaw turkey in cold water.
3 Once the oven has reached temperature place the breast-side up on a rack inside of an aluminum foil-lined roasting pan. Make sure not to thaw your turkey on the kitchen counter where it could be contaminated with bacteria. When defrosting a 12 pound turkey in the microwave it is not necessary to thaw it overnight in the fridge as you can get the same results by using a microwave.
And if you thaw it in the fridge make sure its wrapped tightly with plastic wrap and its on a tray.
Always defrost in a fridge not at room temperature. A 16-pound bird will take 8 hours to thaw. How long does it take to defrost a turkey. A large turkey say 15 to 20 pounds will need to spend 4.
