Defrosting turkeys

[GeorginaA]

Okay, Dec 25th can happen now - I've bought the turkey.

This is the first time ever I've had Christmas at home, so I'm a bit of an idiot... erm ... novice, I mean novice The label says that it's going to take 48 hours to defrost in a cool room - what's a cool room? I'm not sure I have one of them

Coolest room in the house is the downstairs loo, but that's ruled out for obvious hygene reasons... the second coolest area is the stairs, but don't fancy tripping over the turkey every time I need to pop upstairs... what does everyone else do?

Garage?

kitchen windowsill

TBH, I leave chickens defrosting out on the side in the kitchen overnight as the kitchen is pretty cool when the heating is off. You could move it about depending on the time/weather

Whatever you do, don't forget and end up having to defrost it under the kitchen tap on Christmas morning and end up with dinner at 9pm in the evening.

Our garage has no heating whatsoever - turkey would stay frozen, seriously!

kitchen windowsill is really narrow and right by a radiator

You think kitchen counter as long as I put it in another room while cooking would be okay? Don't want to give my guests food poisoning! 48 hours seems an awfully long time (I think I might have gone overboard with the size of turkey - damn you Delia!)

Lol gingerbear I'm going to write it on my calendar with big red letters I think - just in case!

Turn your heating off and stop whinging

Our garage has no heating either - I'd leave it in there during the day and bring it into the unehated kitchen at night. I'd also allow an extra, say, 12 hours and if it defrosts early, put it in the fridge.

I normally get mine about 3 dyas b4 xmas and it goes in the garage along with any largers/potatoes etc as it's really cold there! just means the dryer can't go on for two/three days. (also gateux in there the day b4)

this year thou getting a fresh one so that's coming xmas eve.

I have ordered fresh from the butcher's for this reason. Now I need big red letters on my kitchen calendar so I don't forget to pick it up!

Well I've just found this site which suggests 66 hours in the fridge for my weight of turkey - might do the fridge route and allow it to take longer - will be less worried about bugs multiplying then I think!

(gawd, I might need a bigger fridge though )

Hi GeorginaA

Not been on Mumsnet for a while so was pleased to find you here

I will be given a frozen turkey by the company I work for as a Christmas bonus, it's usually a fairly large one and I give it 48 hours in the kitchen to defrost. This year though we're going to my Mum's for Christmas so I will have to cart a defrosted turkey half way across the country along with all the pressies and dd's paraphernalia - food poisoning anyone?

Yikes - lugging a half defrosted turkey around sounds like fun