Free calculator
Defrosting Calculator
How long to thaw a turkey, roast or chicken in the fridge or in cold water — and which method is safe for what you have.
Your results
In the fridge
3 × 24 h
In cold water, changed every 30 min
6 h 37
Safe to keep in the fridge after thawing
1-2 days / jours / días
On the counter
Never / Jamais / Nunca
Twenty-four hours in the fridge for every 4 to 5 lb (about 2 kg). A 6 kg turkey needs three full days, which is the single most common Christmas mistake — the bird comes out of the freezer on the 23rd and is still solid on the 25th.
Cold water is the fast method: thirty minutes per pound, in a sealed bag, fully submerged, with the water changed every half hour. The changing is not optional. Still water warms against the meat and the outer layer climbs into the range where bacteria multiply while the centre is still frozen.
Counter thawing is never safe for meat, and no amount of "my grandmother always did it" changes what happens between 40 and 140°F (4 and 60°C). The outside of a large cut sits in that range for hours before the middle has moved at all.
Questions people ask
How long to thaw a turkey?
Twenty-four hours per 4-5 lb in the fridge. A 14 lb bird needs three days; a 20 lb bird needs four. Start on the Monday for a Thursday dinner.
Can I refreeze thawed meat?
Yes, if it thawed in the fridge and never went above 40°F (4°C). Quality suffers — ice crystals rupture the cells twice — but it is safe. Meat thawed in water or a microwave must be cooked first.
What if my turkey is still frozen on the day?
Cold-water thaw what you can, then roast it partly frozen at 325°F and add about 50% to the time. It works, it is safe, and it is better than the alternatives — but check the thigh with a thermometer, not the clock.