No one wants to bite into a half-frozen bird.

So, what day should youstartthe thawing process?

In short, that depends on the exact weight of your turkey and how you choose to thaw it.

Preparing Stuffed Turkey with Vegetables and Other Ingredients for Holidays

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For a turkey that weighs 4-12 lbs.

:Allow 1-3 days to thawFor a turkey that weighs 12-16 lbs.

:Allow 3-4 days to thawFor a turkey that weighs 16-20 lbs.

:Allow 4-5 days to thawFor a turkey that weighs 20-24 lbs.

Keep your turkey in its original packaging for this method, too.

You should allow about 30 minutes per pound for a turkey to fully thaw in cold water.

This means you might start the thawing process on Thursday for smaller birds.

Once a turkey has thawed in cold water, cook it immediately.

Use the information below to determine exactly when you should start thawing your turkey in cold water.

For a turkey that weighs 4-12 lbs.

:Allow 2-6 hours to thawFor a turkey that weighs 12-16 lbs.

:Allow 6-8 hours to thawFor a turkey that weighs 16-20 lbs.

:Allow 8-10 hours to thawFor a turkey that weighs 20-24 lbs.

:Allow 10-12 hours to thaw