I got two for a big Thanksgiving and there's not enough room in the refrigerator for both. There are three safe ways to thaw food: in the refrigerator, in cold water, and in the microwave. STORAGE. If using a regular cooler, not an Xtreme cooler, figure 30 minutes per pound to thaw. 2. A: This question comes up … Thawing the turkey in the garage or in the trunk of the car. While you might sometimes get away with doing this for your pork chops or a few chicken breasts that you’re cooking for dinner (although, don’t tell the USDA), large meats like turkeys and roasts take much longer to thaw.Once the outside of the turkey thaws to above 40°F, it enters the “danger zone,” and any bacteria present in the meat will start to multiply rapidly. We have two non-negotiables when it comes to thawing your Thanksgiving turkey: DO NOT defrost at room temperature. Or, you could mix it up by throwing the second turkey on the grill or in the smoker. Thawing in the refrigerator is the ONLY recommended way to defrost a frozen turkey. Thawing the turkey in the laundry sink for three days. To thaw it I put it in my garage that i thought was cold enough to start thawing. Frozen birds can be kept in the freezer for up to six months. For it to work, however, you'll need plenty of time: 24 hours of defrosting time for every 4 to 5 pounds of bird. WRONG. W. Hadner. Store fresh birds on ice or in the fridge for up to four days. 3. Planning ahead is the key to this method because of the lengthy time involved. I bought a frozen turkey last Wednesday. RISKY. https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/.../a33825235/how-to-thaw-frozen-turkey MYTH No. If using an Xtreme cooler, triple that. Leave it in the original vacuum wrapping. It's safe to cook foods from the frozen state. So you really need to keep it chilled. THAWING. Put a frozen 18 lb turkey in the 28 quart cooler. In a hurry? If you don't have space in your fridge, you might be able to make do with an ice chest; if it's really at most 43F, the ice will last a long time. How to Thaw in a Cooler: 1. Cover with cold water, close cooler, and walk away. Plan to thaw the turkey in the water for an hour for every two pounds.These guidelines will help:4- to 12-pound turkey: 2 to 6 hours12- to 16-pound turkey: 6 to 8 hours16- to 20-pound turkey: 8 to 10 hours20- to 24-pound turkey: 10 to 12 hoursThe water should always be at or below 40°F in order to slow bacterial growth. 3: The best way to thaw a frozen turkey is in the garage. It thawed quite a bit by the next day so I then put it in my fridge. Refrigerator Thawing. Q: What is the safest way to thaw a turkey? And your garage is attached to a house that's well over 40F, so it'll probably be well above 43F in there. A large turkey, say, 15 to 20 pounds, will need to spend 4 to 5 days in the refrigerator. As the turkey thaws, the outside would be within the temperature danger zone for a long period of time allowing potentially dangerous bacteria to multiply.