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Defrosting a Turkey in Just Three Days |
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When the holidays, around when you’ll find that the frosting with a turkey is a more involved than you expected, especially when you’ve never cooked up turkey or before. Of course, it’s not as difficult as to what some people claim. It’s really just a lot of waiting around.
Any turkey that when you pick up at the store will be frozen. Defrosting a turkey involves letting them use warm up enough for the frozen water crystals to melt inside. This process takes different amounts of time for different meat products and the amount of meat that’s frozen. Naturally the bigger the turkey the more time it will need to defrost.
Defrosting in the Refrigerator
Defrosting a turkey is very simple. All you need to do is set the turkey out to defrost gradually. Start a few days before hand, we’d recommend about three days before the holiday or when you plan on cooking the turkey. Place the turkey in the fridge to start defrosting in a slightly warmer environment than the freezer. Most fridges are kept at between 40 and 45°F. This is an easy way to start and warming that turkey gradually without you having to worry about bacterial growth in the outer layers of meat. The cold environment of the refrigerator helps keep bacterial growth and down during the defrosting process.
Give this about two days, then 24 hours before you plan on cooking the turkey you can remove it to the sink to finish defrosting inside. Experts recommend allowing 24 hours of defrost time for every five pounds of turkey. So, a fifteen pound turkey should take about three days to properly defrost.
Defrosting in the Sink
You’ll want to remove all the dirty dishes from the sink! Then, clean the sink thoroughly with soap and hot water. This makes it safer to use and helps cut down on that dangerous bacteria.
Fill up the sink with cold water, making sure to plug up the drain so it stays in the sink! Then, you can place the turkey, in the water to continue defrosting. Remember, it is best to keep the turkey wrapped in it’s plastic casing while defrosting!
Let the turkey defrost this way until you are ready to cook it. Be sure to change or keep adding fresh cold water to the sink so it’s stays relatively cool as it is defrosting. This is very important. Since you want to keep the potential for bacterial growth as low as possible while that turkey is defrosting. The cool water will be slightly warmer than a refrigerator and makes an excellent medium for safely defrosting the large turkey.
It is important also, to cook that turkey within the 24 hour timeframe! You can’t expect the turkey to remain good indefinitely, so you’ll want to cook it after you’ve begun the defrosting process. It’s not really a very good idea to change your mind about having turkey for the holidays and put the bird back in the freezer. Because even though you’ve been keeping it at a relatively low temperature, some bacterial growth has started. This is why so many experts and cooks highly recommend making sure the interior of your turkey reaches, one hundred and sixty five degrees Fahrenheit during the cooking process. It ensures that harmful bacteria have been killed off.
Thanksgiving can be a real challenge if you are watching yourwaistline, but we can give you some eating tips so that you can still look good and be healthy after the Thanksgiving dinner without having to deprive yourself. First, don't go to Thanksgiving really hungry. Eat a good breakfast and lunch on that day. Second, go skinless on your turkey and you'll save some calories for dessert and side dishes. Hope that helps! Try decorating your Thanksgiving Day dinner table with some simple food garnishing. For assigned seating try these free printable place name cards.
Labor Day Parties
Think about inviting everyone to a "Touch Football Thanksgiving" game before your big feast. Girls and guys alike will have fun doing this.It's also sure to give you some fun conversation at your table.
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