Frozen turkey

[givememarmite]

I could only get a frozen turkey this year (not in the UK) and was wondering if you would cook from frozen or defrost first? Does it make a difference to the end result? Not quite sure where I would defrost it if that's the best way as everywhere I've read has said defrost in fridge but that's jam packed! Will find a way though if it would mean the better result.

Of course you need to defrost it first or it will never reach the right temperature inside and you will all get food poisoning!

Do you have a cool place where it could defrost if you have no fridge space?

OMG, whatever you do, do not cook from frozen.

You can’t cook from frozen.

Do you cook with a thermometer?

IF it's a whole turkey, you definitely need to defrost it first. The outside would be ruined and hte inside still raw.

I always have a large turkey and it takes at least 3 days in the fridge to defrost completely. Mine has already been out of the freezer for a day.

If you haven't got room in the fridge, then somewhere else cold. Depending on where you are somewhere like a garage or shed. Best way is to remove stuff from fridge that can be kept in a cool bag (so fruit/veg) and put the turkey in there.

As PPs have said, you MUST defrost it completely and it always takes longer than you think - if you haven't already, please take it out of the freezer and put it in the fridge now!

You can then brine it overnight on Christmas Eve, assuming you eat your main meal on Christmas Day.

I no longer eat meat, but in previous years, my OH used to use Nigella's brining instructions, which always went down well.

Also, if you're in a country with a moderate temperature (i.e. not tropical or sub-tropical), a cool bag in the car boot is a good use of space.

No need to defrost in the fridge, it always says that, but it's totally unnecessary unless you're in a hot country and it will take about 2 days if its a big one.

I'd take it out today and expect it to be defrosted in a cool room by some time tomorrow.

Then remove everything that doesn't need to be in the fridge (cheese, pickles, veg, butter, drinks, even milk if you have somewhere cool to store) tomorrow afternoon/evening and put your turkey in the fridge until cooking time on Friday morning, when you can take it out of the fridge about an hour before you want to cook it.

No need to defrost in the fridge, it always says that, but it's totally unnecessary unless you're in a hot country and it will take about 2 days if its a big one.

Because most houses aren't centrally heated or anything. [Hmm]

I would be really careful about not having it in the fridge if you haven't got somewhere really cool. The outer areas defrost quite quickly so will be a breeding ground for bacteria whilst the insides are slowly defrosting.

You could defrost it in an unheated garage or shed, but make sure it's vermin proof

a whole bird you need to defrost first (and check the cavity that the innards are not included, melted plastic doesn't taste nice)

Ok, thanks everyone! I would never have cooked it from frozen normally but there are many suggestions online that it is ok to do so...it's very small if that makes a difference as there's only 4 of us. But I will definitely not take the risk and will defrost it first
The idea with a cool bag in the boot of the car is great, thanks I think I will do that! It's about 7 degrees here so should be ok?

7 degrees is perfect.

I cooked our turkey from frozen last year as then DP forgot to get it out of the freezer despite telling me he had. It was perfectly fine, I used a meat thermometer to ensure it was at the right temp