Turkey Calculator: Size, Thawing and Cooking Time

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cook a turkey from frozen

Forgot to thaw the turkey? Cook it from frozen

With the turkey still frozen you have two safe exits. The first is cold water, about 30 minutes per pound, changing the water every 30 minutes and going straight to the oven. The second is roasting straight from the freezer: the USDA says it is safe and takes at least 50 percent longer. Never thaw on the counter. The tool picks between fridge, cold water and cooking frozen by itself, depending on the serving time.

How to decide between cold water and roasting frozen

The order of preference is fridge, cold water, and then the turkey straight into the oven frozen. The tool compares the current time with the cutoff of each method. Example: 10 hours are left before serving and the bird weighs 12 lb unstuffed. Cold water needs up to 8 hours plus 3 h 45 min of oven time, so it does not fit. Roasting frozen needs 5 h 40 min of oven time, plus 35 minutes for rest and carving, and the turkey has to go in 3 h 45 min from now. That path fits, with the bird coming out 5 h 40 min after it goes in.
The 50 percent increase applies to both ends of the range and is rounded up in steps of 5 minutes. In practice: 8 lb goes from 2 h 45 min to 3 h up to 4 h 10 min to 4 h 30 min; 12 lb, from 3 h to 3 h 45 min up to 4 h 30 min to 5 h 40 min; 16 lb, from 3 h 45 min to 4 h 15 min up to 5 h 40 min to 6 h 25 min; 20 lb, from 4 h 30 min to 5 h up to 6 h 45 min to 7 h 30 min. The USDA says at least 50 percent, so the number is a floor and the thermometer decides.
If even roasting frozen does not fit, the message changes. With a 12 lb bird and only 5 hours until dinner, the earliest possible serving time is 6 h 35 min from now: 20 minutes for the oven to come on, 5 h 40 min of roasting, 20 of rest and 15 of carving. The tool shows that time and offers a button to adopt it. Two safety details: the plan does not stuff a frozen bird, because the 50 percent rule is the USDA figure for the bird alone, and the giblet packet comes out with tongs as soon as it loosens.

Checked examples

A bird just over 8 lb

Input: 8.8 lb / 4 kg
Expected output: 4h10-4h30

Thawed it would be 2 h 45 min to 3 h.

A 12 lb bird

Input: 12.1 lb / 5.5 kg
Expected output: 4h30-5h40

Thawed it would be 3 h to 3 h 45 min.

A 16 lb bird

Input: 16.5 lb / 7.5 kg
Expected output: 5h40-6h25

Thawed it would be 3 h 45 min to 4 h 15 min.

A 20 lb bird

Input: 20.9 lb / 9.5 kg
Expected output: 6h45-7h30

Thawed it would be 4 h 30 min to 5 h.

Cold-water alternative

Input: 12.1 lb / 5.5 kg
Expected output: 6-8 h

Only worth it if there is time left before the oven.

Full tool FAQ

How much turkey per person?

Plan on 1 pound of whole turkey per person, which is the USDA figure, and up to 1½ pounds per person if you want leftovers. For 10 adults that is a 10 lb bird, or 15 lb with leftovers. This calculator counts a child as half a portion, a planning choice rather than a USDA number, so 8 adults and 2 children need 9 lb.

What size turkey do I need for 10 people?

How long does it take to thaw a turkey in the refrigerator?

How do I thaw a turkey fast?

When should I take the turkey out of the freezer for Thanksgiving?

Can I cook a turkey from frozen?

How long do you cook a turkey per pound?

What temperature is a turkey done?

How long does a stuffed turkey take to cook?

How long should a turkey rest, and how long do leftovers last?

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to roast a turkey that is still frozen?

Yes, according to the USDA, as long as the time is at least 50 percent longer than for a thawed bird and the temperature reaches 165 °F (74 °C) at every measuring spot.

Can I stuff a frozen turkey?

The tool does not calculate that combination: the 50 percent rule is the USDA figure for an unstuffed bird. Bake the stuffing separately, to 165 °F (74 °C) at the center.

Can I use hot water to speed it up?

No. The USDA speaks of cold tap water, changed every 30 minutes. Warm water heats the surface and leaves it too long in the danger zone.

What do I do about the giblet packet?

Remove it carefully with tongs or a fork as soon as the cavity loosens during roasting. Cook the giblets separately.

Next steps

Forgot to thaw the turkey? Cook it from frozen

How to decide between cold water and roasting frozen

The order of preference is fridge, cold water, and then the turkey straight into the oven frozen. The tool compares the current time with the cutoff of each method. Example: 10 hours are left before serving and the bird weighs 12 lb unstuffed. Cold water needs up to 8 hours plus 3 h 45 min of oven time, so it does not fit. Roasting frozen needs 5 h 40 min of oven time, plus 35 minutes for rest and carving, and the turkey has to go in 3 h 45 min from now. That path fits, with the bird coming out 5 h 40 min after it goes in.

The 50 percent increase applies to both ends of the range and is rounded up in steps of 5 minutes. In practice: 8 lb goes from 2 h 45 min to 3 h up to 4 h 10 min to 4 h 30 min; 12 lb, from 3 h to 3 h 45 min up to 4 h 30 min to 5 h 40 min; 16 lb, from 3 h 45 min to 4 h 15 min up to 5 h 40 min to 6 h 25 min; 20 lb, from 4 h 30 min to 5 h up to 6 h 45 min to 7 h 30 min. The USDA says at least 50 percent, so the number is a floor and the thermometer decides.

If even roasting frozen does not fit, the message changes. With a 12 lb bird and only 5 hours until dinner, the earliest possible serving time is 6 h 35 min from now: 20 minutes for the oven to come on, 5 h 40 min of roasting, 20 of rest and 15 of carving. The tool shows that time and offers a button to adopt it. Two safety details: the plan does not stuff a frozen bird, because the 50 percent rule is the USDA figure for the bird alone, and the giblet packet comes out with tongs as soon as it loosens.

Checked examples

A bird just over 8 lb

Input: 8.8 lb / 4 kg
Expected output: 4h10-4h30

Thawed it would be 2 h 45 min to 3 h.

A 12 lb bird

Input: 12.1 lb / 5.5 kg
Expected output: 4h30-5h40

Thawed it would be 3 h to 3 h 45 min.

A 16 lb bird

Input: 16.5 lb / 7.5 kg
Expected output: 5h40-6h25

Thawed it would be 3 h 45 min to 4 h 15 min.

A 20 lb bird

Input: 20.9 lb / 9.5 kg
Expected output: 6h45-7h30

Thawed it would be 4 h 30 min to 5 h.

Cold-water alternative

Input: 12.1 lb / 5.5 kg
Expected output: 6-8 h

Only worth it if there is time left before the oven.

Full tool FAQ

How much turkey per person?

What size turkey do I need for 10 people?

How long does it take to thaw a turkey in the refrigerator?

How do I thaw a turkey fast?

When should I take the turkey out of the freezer for Thanksgiving?

Can I cook a turkey from frozen?

How long do you cook a turkey per pound?

What temperature is a turkey done?

How long does a stuffed turkey take to cook?

How long should a turkey rest, and how long do leftovers last?

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to roast a turkey that is still frozen?

Yes, according to the USDA, as long as the time is at least 50 percent longer than for a thawed bird and the temperature reaches 165 °F (74 °C) at every measuring spot.

Can I stuff a frozen turkey?

The tool does not calculate that combination: the 50 percent rule is the USDA figure for an unstuffed bird. Bake the stuffing separately, to 165 °F (74 °C) at the center.

Can I use hot water to speed it up?

No. The USDA speaks of cold tap water, changed every 30 minutes. Warm water heats the surface and leaves it too long in the danger zone.

What do I do about the giblet packet?

Remove it carefully with tongs or a fork as soon as the cavity loosens during roasting. Cook the giblets separately.

Continue in the tool

More pages for this tool

Forgot to thaw the turkey? Cook it from frozen

How to decide between cold water and roasting frozen

Checked examples

A bird just over 8 lb

A 12 lb bird

A 16 lb bird

A 20 lb bird

Cold-water alternative

Full tool FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to roast a turkey that is still frozen?

Can I stuff a frozen turkey?

Can I use hot water to speed it up?

What do I do about the giblet packet?

Next steps

1 Size

2 Thaw

3 Roast

Continue in the tool

More pages for this tool

Forgot to thaw the turkey? Cook it from frozen

How to decide between cold water and roasting frozen

Checked examples

A bird just over 8 lb

A 12 lb bird

A 16 lb bird

A 20 lb bird

Cold-water alternative

Full tool FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to roast a turkey that is still frozen?

Can I stuff a frozen turkey?

Can I use hot water to speed it up?

What do I do about the giblet packet?

Next steps

1 Size

2 Thaw

3 Roast