Before Thanksgiving, I thaw my 24-26 lb turkey for two days in the refridge, it won't be completely thawed by it will be workable so you can clean the inside and rinse it without much trouble.
Next look into brine'ing your turkey as the a way to get a moist turkey. (I brine for 30 hrs. prior to cooking.)
The best way to thaw a turkey is in the refrigerator. Figure on one day for each 4-5 pounds of turkey.
I always brine my turkey so typically as soon as I can pull the guts out of the cavity and clean it, I will immerse it into the brine and then back into the refrigerator. The salt in the brine speeds up the thawing while the spices flavor the meat.
BTY I have found adding a bottle of Guinness to the brine does wonders for the flavor.
Place the frozen turkey, still wrapped, in a large bowl or in the roasting pan you plan to roast the turkey in, and let it sit in the refrigerator for two to three days. Do not thaw at room temperature, since that may encourage the growth of bacteria. Most home microwave ovens are too small to accommodate a fifteen-pound turkey, so don't try to thaw it in there. Turkey breasts, like those sold by Empire Kosher, are typically small enough to thaw in the microwave, so if you want to try that, follow the directions on the wrapper.
The best way to thaw it is in the refrigerator. Figure one day for each 4-5 pounds of turkey, so it should take 5-6 days to thaw out a 25-pound turkey.
The best and safest way to thaw a frozen turkey roll roast is to move it from the freezer into the refrigerator to allow it to thaw. In a time crunch, you can remove it from the box and soak in cold water to thaw. You should change the water every 30 minutes or so until it is completely thawed.
A turkey requires at least 24 hours for every 4 to 5 pounds of weight to thaw in a refrigerator set at 40 degrees F.In cold water it will take about 30 minutes per pound.
It is probably best to throw it out. The fridge only slows down the growth of bacteria, after that length of time it has most likely begun to spoil. The best rule for a situation like that is when in doubt, throw it out.
It could ruin. The outer parts of the turkey would thaw quicker than the inside parts and could possibly grow bacteria. The safest way to thaw a turkey is to move it from the freezer to the refrigerator at least 3 days before you plan to cook it. If it is a very large turkey, and depending on the temperature of the freezer, it could require 4 days to thaw.
Put it in a big bowl of warm or hot water for a day before you cook it with the wrapper off. Change it regularly becuae you will get the blood of the turkey.
The best way to thaw chicken is in the refrigerator. The length of time it will take to thaw will depend on how the chicken was packed when frozen - whether its a solid block or individually frozen.
It is strongly recommended that you thaw a turkey (or any frozen meat product) in the refrigerator so that the turkey does not warm up enough for any bacteria that may be on it to reactivate and start multiplying.
You have to thaw the turkey. If you didn't, the outside would be burned black before the center was cooked.
The best way to defrost anything is in the fridge. It keeps the food out of the danger zone, but it does require more time to thaw. If you plan to eat your turkey on the weekend I'd say pull it as early as monday and put it in the fridge on a tray.
The most appropriate way to unthaw a turkey is to move it from the freezer to the refrigerator. Allow it to sit for two to three days in order to properly thaw.
Put it in the refrigerator for a day or two.