Heather says:
There are two things on today’s to-do list. First get out the shopping list and plan your attack.
Second, figure out how long your frozen turkey will take to thaw. Frozen turkeys need a full 24 hours per 5lbs to thaw in a 40F refrigerator. Once thawed the turkey can be held for up to 48 hours.
For example, an 18lb turkey will take nearly 4 days to thaw and should be used by the 6th day. Thanksgiving is 1 week away, so it’s time to start thawing those 20 plus pound turkeys. Don’t forget to keep that turkey in the very bottom of the refrigerator to prevent any cross-contamination through drips and spills.
If you are picking up a fresh turkey, it should be cooked within 3 days of pick-up, so play it safe and pick it up on Tuesday or Wednesday.
I smiled when you said it's list making time for Thanksgiving. I thought "probably should make a note to defrost the bird in time." Yikes. I was right. Hopefully 20 pounders are starting the big thaw today.
I didn't think it through – or do the math – so it's a good thing I 'm not cooking a turkey! Somebody owes you big time.