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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Turkey = freaking out!

41 replies

pinkdinosaur · 23/12/2016 22:25

AIBU to be freaking out over the cooking of this monster turkey!!

DH picked a 6kg frozen turkey today it says it takes 72 hours to defrost in the fridge!!

Its been defrosting since 5pm in the kitchen

I now have 34 hours i think!! until i need to start cooking on xmas day!!

Can i defrost at room temp and not kill us all with food posioning!!?????

First ever full turkey i am cooking too!! Its going to take 3 1/2 hours to Cook the fucker!!

So.....

Am i going to posion everyone?

Should i says sod it and let the DH be in charge of this monster

Or can you lovely lot calm me down!!

OP posts:
WellErrr · 23/12/2016 22:26

I only just remembered to take mine out too.

We need a turkey support topic.

dementedpixie · 23/12/2016 22:28

To work out the defrosting time for your turkey, check the packaging for any guidance first. If there aren't any defrosting instructions, use the following times to work out roughly how long it will take to thaw your turkey.

*in a fridge at 4ºC (39ºF), allow about 10 to 12 hours per kg, but remember that not all fridges will be this temperature

*in a cool room (below 17.5ºC, 64ºF), allow approximately three to four hours per kg, or longer if the room is particularly cold

*at room temperature (about 20ºC, 68ºF) allow approximately two hours per kg

When your turkey is fully defrosted, put it in the fridge until you're ready to cook it. If this isn't possible, make sure you cook it immediately.

(I defrost most things at room temperature as things never seem to defrost in the fridge)

WellErrr · 23/12/2016 22:29

Although mine is 4.8 kilos but I got it out at 8pm - only remembered when I saw a thread on here...!

Original poster
pinkdinosaur · 23/12/2016 22:29

Wellerrr i feel like i need therapy!! One bloody meal and i am so stressed!!

Is yours defrosting as room temp?

OP posts:
Original poster
pinkdinosaur · 23/12/2016 22:30

Thank you dementedpixie!! Feeling calmer now!

OP posts:
Fluffyears · 23/12/2016 22:30

I always defristnit at room temperature then put it in fridge once defrosted. I once tried to do it in the fridge and it was still frozen on Christmas Day 😫

MadisonAvenue · 23/12/2016 22:32

I took mine out to defrost at teatime. I'm always worried about how long it should take and it won't go into the fridge to defrost because we can't adjust the shelves due to the position of the door. Everything I read seems to mention that defrosting at room temperature is more risky. An online calculator I used today said that it should take 23 - 29 hours to defrost but I'm sure a similar size has taken longer in the past.
Got a 6.7kg monster here.

Oysterbabe · 23/12/2016 22:33

I defrost everything at room temperature. It hasn't finished me off yet.

FloatyFlo · 23/12/2016 22:35

I thought the OP title was referring the other Turkey. I thought shit what's happened now?!

EveOnline2016 · 23/12/2016 22:35

I have always defrosted mine at room temperature, once defrosted it gets cooked.

I put of tray of water at the bottom of the oven so the steam helps get the turkey moist.

CoperCabana · 23/12/2016 22:36

So, breathe!
Based on timings above, it will be fully defrosted by the morning. Unless you are up about 6am, I would pop it in the fridge and get it out first thing and leave all day, keeping an eye (unless your fridge is freezing). If you are up around 6am, I would leave it out overnight and then put in fridge, again, unless fridge is very cold and might refreeze it.
If it helps, my mum used to keep the turkey in the shed and no bad things ever happened!

DodoRevival · 23/12/2016 22:36

I'd leave it out overnight (heating off). I tend to leave things defrost initially out the fridge.

Original poster
pinkdinosaur · 23/12/2016 22:37

Ohhh thanks for the tip eve!!

Glad i am not the only one defrosting a monster bird madison!

OP posts:
peppatax · 23/12/2016 22:37

Floaty Grin

WellErrr · 23/12/2016 22:38

It's on the utility windowsill pink but there's no heating in that room so it's quite cool. No bloody room in the fridge anyway.

Poor turkey won't know if it's coming or going, it was killed and frozen on Sunday and now it's been hauled back out of the freezer.

Pardalis · 23/12/2016 22:38

We don't have turkey due to Christmas family tradition. But this angst is another reason! Even if you buy fresh there's the panic on how long to cook it for!

That said, I'm worried that I'm going to cook the half a cow sitting in my fridge too long!

Bedsheets4knickers · 23/12/2016 22:40

My mum always left ours in a baking tray in the hall .. no one ever got sick x

Daisyfrumps · 23/12/2016 22:43

Can i defrost at room temp and not kill us all with food posioning!!?????

Yes - but you play bacteria roulette as the outside becomes warmer - don't risk it.

dementedpixie · 23/12/2016 22:47

The info I gave above comes from the NHS site btw

www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Healthychristmas/Pages/cooking-turkey.aspx

Flumpnugget · 23/12/2016 22:51

Fill the bath with cold water and submerge to defrost- it regulates the temperature that it thaws at (obvs guessing its wrapped in plastic).

Inertia · 23/12/2016 22:57

What about defrosting it in a very large pan or tray of cold water, as long as you change the water frequently?

Inertia · 23/12/2016 22:59

I see Flumpnugget beat me to it !

Bauble16 · 23/12/2016 23:00

If it's any consolation I put mine in the fridge it was still frozen solid 3 days later. It's now in cold water and defrosting great

WankersHacksandThieves · 23/12/2016 23:03

I inadvertently ordered a frozen turkey instead of a fresh one, it cam with my Sainsburys delivery today. I was planning on cooking it tomorrow. According to t'internet, the safest out of the faster ways is in a sink of cold water and change the water frequently. I put mine in the sink about half 5 and it's coming along. I'll dry it off and put it in the fridge before bed and continue with the sink of cold water again in the morning. Mine is 3.7 kg so not huge and I'm hoping to get it in the oven early afternoon. Once it gets unfrozen enough it recommends taking the giblets etc out the cavity to help. Hopefully be able to do that at some point in the morning but then I'll have to have opened the bag so won't be able to dunk it in the sink again. Never had a frozen turkey before :(

PurpleMcPants · 23/12/2016 23:08

I would double check your cooking times too, I have a 12 lb chicken and worked out the cooking time earlier to be 4 hours. That's just a bit smaller than your turkey

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