Thanksgiving turkey: Can you cook it frozen?

Every year I have the same Thanksgiving nightmare — I forget to thaw the turkey ahead of time. So just in case this ever really happens, can you safely cook a frozen turkey?

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Answer

Yes, you can safely cook a frozen turkey. Simply roast it in the oven. Don't grill, smoke, deep-fry or microwave a frozen turkey.

To determine the approximate cooking time, follow this guideline from the Department of Agriculture: Take the recommended cooking time for the thawed turkey — either from the label directions or a timetable for oven roasting whole turkeys — and add 50 percent of that time to the original time. For example, a turkey that should take five hours to roast when thawed will take about 7 hours and 30 minutes to roast when frozen.

Many whole turkeys have a giblet package tucked inside the turkey. Carefully remove the package with tongs or forks when the turkey has sufficiently defrosted in the oven, and cook separately. If the giblets are wrapped in plastic and the plastic bag melts, harmful chemicals may leach from the plastic into the surrounding meat. If you suspect that a plastic bag has melted inside the turkey, don't eat the giblets or the turkey.

Also, remember that roasting time is approximate — so check the turkey often. Insert a food thermometer in the innermost part of the thigh when the turkey has defrosted enough to easily insert one, and roast the turkey to an internal temperature of 165 F (74 C).

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