How do I...

[shirlthegirl43]

... defrost my ruddy turkey?

It has been out of the freezer plenty long enough but it is still frozen inside.

Currently it is sitting in a sink of cold water but is there a safe fast way to get it ready for the oven?

Maybe I should have taken it out of its wrapping last night which would have alerted me to it not thawing quickly enough

[bubblewrap]

Hi Shirl, Madderbat here. Sorry to hear you're in a fix.

I assume you've taken it out of all the wrapping and removed the giblets from the neck end as well as whatever is inside it?

Can't recommend much else to do safely except keep changing the cold water as it will absorb some of the ice.

Hope you and yours manage to have a decent day, one for the memory bank perhaps
I've got your email addy somewhere, and will write to you one of these days,

Take care
xx

[shirlthegirl43]

Hi Madderbat, how's you doing?

I didn't take it out of the 'bag' till I was ready to bung it in the oven - I always do that. Trouble is the in laws were asked to take it out of the freezer and I don't think their house is very warm so it was probably like sitting in the fridge Hey ho, I baked a ham yesterday so we might just wait till tomorrow to have the turkey dinner and have ham and chips today.

Have a great day xx

[SarzWix]

Microwave? Not a big fan of them but needs must sometimes. Guessing you dont have a fan oven? Coz if you turn them on just enough to kick the fan in, they do a great job of defrosting stuff.

[Bramble_killer]

We're having turkey dinner tomorrow OH's sons join us on boxing day and we prefer having an easier day today.

Good luck with the turkey, here's hoping it will be ready in time!

[shirlthegirl43]

Microwave? Not a big fan of them but needs must sometimes. Guessing you dont have a fan oven? Coz if you turn them on just enough to kick the fan in, they do a great job of defrosting stuff.

Gas convection oven and blummin big turkey.

We're having turkey dinner tomorrow OH's sons join us on boxing day and we prefer having an easier day today.

Good luck with the turkey, here's hoping it will be ready in time!

I think we will just have ham and chips tonight and I will do the full shebang tomorrow. I have a niggly minor migraine so that would actually suit better

[OverWyreGrower]

Stick it in a warm room, off the floor with the central heating on and the door closed....

All ours were kept in the garage, and when it came to gutting them ready for delivery, the garage was so cold they were frozen!

We put them all in the spare room, on the ironing board (on platters obviously), fairly near the radiator, and left them there...

[zazen999]

If it were me, and I wouldn't be cooking let alone defrosting but...I'd pop it under the shower for half an hour. A cool not hot shower mind.

I often do this with stuff - put it in warm running water in the plastic bag that it was frozen in and it thaws relatively quickly.


*** The shower would probably need a good clean out afterwards though...

[shirlthegirl43]

It's in the oven now. Christmas dinner at approximately 8pm!!!! I hope the ruddy in-laws bugger off sharpish afterwards

[bubblewrap]

It's in the oven now. Christmas dinner at approximately 8pm!!!! I hope the ruddy in-laws bugger off sharpish afterwards

Well if you give them small plates they won't fall asleep afterwards.

[bubblewrap]

Well if you give them small plates they won't fall asleep afterwards.

And don't give them more than one glass of wine.

[bubblewrap]

And don't give them more than one glass of wine.

Next year get a smaller bird!

[toastie]

Hope you eventually got your turkey defrosted and enjoyed it yesterday. Must admit I was a bit perplexed by reading some of the suggestions put to you - with my health and safety hat on you should never use the ideas - never put in a warm room, soak in hot water, put in an oven when they are not defrosted inside - its at this time of year that most cases of food poisoning occurs.

[shirlthegirl43]

Hope you eventually got your turkey defrosted and enjoyed it yesterday. Must admit I was a bit perplexed by reading some of the suggestions put to you - with my health and safety hat on you should never use the ideas - never put in a warm room, soak in hot water, put in an oven when they are not defrosted inside - its at this time of year that most cases of food poisoning occurs.

It did eventually thaw in cold water and it also eventually cooked and was ready by 9pm (we had given in and eaten ham for dinner by then)

We made it into turkey curry today and bought a reduced price turkey which we have just enjoyed nicely roasted with all the trimmings saved from yesterday.

[SarzWix]

toastie, if you put it in the oven with no heat and just the fan running, then there is no reason for any food poisoning to occur. All you're doing is moving the cold air away from the surface continually. On my oven this is in fact labelled as the 'Defrost Setting'...

As for the other suggestions, well, a warm room will do no harm until the bird is actually defrosted and as it's wanted for cooking, it's never going to actually get warm itself is it? Ditto with tepid water.