Thawing the turkey

[Dan Deter]

Picked up the fresh turkey today, its in the outside fridge now

[Ghawtho]

This sucks, turkey has been in the fridge and setting in ice chest in garbage SIX days and it’s still about 75% frozen. We have no other choice but to soak it in sink water. It’s needs to be dry brining in about 7 hours or less. It’s GOT to be on the smoker in 15 hours Wednesday about noon.

[rickgregory]

"It's GOT to be on the smoker in 15 hours Wednesday about noon."

WHA? Assuming you're serving mid-day Thursday why would you start the smoke 24 hours before then?

[jfmorris]

I'm in a similar situation. Been thawing in the fridge since last Thursday night, and yesterday the IR thermometer told me the birds were still at about 26 degrees. I'll probably start a water thaw tomorrow morning, so I can prep the turkeys Wednesday evening.

[Ghawtho]

It’s been placed in Luke warm sink water for today, we’ve been doing that for 40 years
without any issues. Using warm sink water you soon have ice cold water. Next time the thawing process will start 12 to 14 days early.

[Spinaker]

You could make a Prime Rib, instead.

[Ghawtho]

Got the turkey thawed, spatchcock and seasoned. The spatchcock was not the
best. I read about nice tender meat called turkey oyster found those but those went down the garbage disposal during trimming.
This was my first spatchcock on a turkey. It turned out much like a 10 year old boy cleaning fish for their first time. I remember those days cleaning fish as a kid, the fish eventually made its way to the trash can.

[Ghawtho]

rickgregory

Our weather will be nice Wednesday and turning cool and windy again Thursday.
We have a food saver so slicing and freezing most of it. My wife doesn’t like turkey, she is putting ham in the oven Thursday morning.
By Thursday night we are tired of eating Thanksgiving. We are probably eating out Mexican food Friday.

[STEbbq]

About two thirds defrosted so I removed the neck, turned the mini fridge down to 1.5, and shoved it back in. I can always do a water bath in the sink tomorrow morning.

[realdocBBQ]

I have 85 pounds of incompletely thawed turkey that needs to cook early tomorrow morning.


And a friend bringing another 20 pounder by around 10 to throw on the smoker.


And 2 more on Friday.



Oy very, maybe I shouldn't have volunteered to help people out!

[Ghawtho]

😂🤣😆 that’s too funny. That would be me, what the $@&@ did I get myself into!

[jfmorris]

Well, I'm back to report that the guidance on thawing in the fridge for 1 day per 4-5 pounds is just total trash, haha! I thawed a 20 pounder since last Thursday night, and a 12 pounder since Saturday night, and when I prepped and spatchcocked them this evening they both had solid ice in the middle of the cavity that I had to hit with water in the sink until I got it out of there, before I could get the neck and giblet pack out of the cavity, and get my poultry shears go through it.

The turkeys had 310mg of sodium per 4 ounce serving, being injected, so I salted lightly, with about 1/4 tsp kosher salt per pound. I'll put on a rub before hitting the grill(s) in the morning. Still debating where they are going, but that depends on how I feel in the morning. Either both on the offset, or one on the kettle and one on the kamado.

[realdocBBQ]

Yeah, my 20lb turkey and the brother 15lber have been sitting in the fridge since last Friday. So, 5-5½ days. The 15lb bird seemed, ehhhhh, partially thawed, maybe mostly? Kinda squishy on the outside, but still very stiff to move, etc. The 20lb bird was a little squishy on the top surface, but the bottom half was still rock hard.

Threw them both in an ice chest full of water last night, threw in some ice cubes a couple of hours later. I'm sure they're fine now.