When do I thaw my Thanksgiving turkey? [Video]

DENVER — As you start planning your Thanksgiving dinner, don’t forget an important step: Defrosting frozen turkeys.

Even the most seasoned cooks may not know just how long the process takes.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, you should allocate 24 hours of thaw time in the refrigerator for every 4-5 pounds of turkey. 

That’s about three days for a 15 pound bird.

There are other methods procrastinating cooks can use in a pinch, like thawing turkey in a microwave or in cold water that’s replaced every 30 minutes, but the USDA and other experts says the safest and healthiest method is waiting it out in the refrigerator. 

“If you thaw out your turkey improperly, say you leave it out on the countertop or some place that’s not 40 degrees or below, what that does is that allows your turkey to get into a temperature …