How Long Does Frozen Turkey Last? USDA Freezer Times
How long does frozen turkey last? Safe indefinitely at 0°F, best within 1 year per USDA. Thawing times by weight and cooking a turkey from frozen.
A frozen turkey is safe indefinitely at 0°F, but USDA says to cook it within 1 year for best quality. Thaw it in the refrigerator for 24 hours per 4 to 5 pounds, or in cold water for 30 minutes per pound. Cooking from frozen is safe but takes at least 50 percent longer.
How long does frozen turkey last?
USDA FSIS says frozen turkeys can be kept in the freezer indefinitely, but to cook them within 1 year for best quality. A frozen turkey is safe at 0°F because freezing keeps microbes dormant and only quality suffers with long storage. USDA's chart gives these times:
| Turkey | Fridge | Freezer (0°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Whole, raw | 1 to 2 days | 1 year |
| Pieces, raw | 1 to 2 days | 9 months |
| Ground, raw | 1 to 2 days | 3 to 4 months |
| Cooked leftovers | 3 to 4 days | 2 to 6 months |
| Thawed in the refrigerator | 1 to 2 days before cooking | Can be refrozen without cooking, with some loss of quality |
The first four rows come from the FoodSafety.gov cold storage chart, and the last row from FSIS's thawing guide. These are quality times. Keep the freezer at 0°F or lower and check it with an appliance thermometer.
How can you tell if a frozen turkey has gone bad?
Check the smell once it's thawed. FSIS says foods held too long can develop a rancid or off odor and should be discarded. Other signs aren't safety problems:
- Grayish-brown, leathery spots are freezer burn. FSIS says it makes food dry, not unsafe, and you can cut the spots away. Heavy freezer burn may be thrown out for quality.
- A torn wrapper is still safe. FSIS says to overwrap or rewrap it.
- Dark bones and dark meat near the bones come from pigment seeping out of young poultry bones during freezing and thawing. FSIS lists it as a color change.
How do you thaw a frozen turkey safely?
There are three safe ways, per FSIS: the refrigerator, cold water and the microwave. FSIS says never to thaw food in a garage, basement or car, or on the counter. While the center is still frozen, the outer layer reaches the 40 to 140°F danger zone, where bacteria multiply fast.
| Turkey weight | Refrigerator (40°F or below) | Cold water (change water every 30 minutes) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 to 12 pounds | 1 to 3 days | 2 to 6 hours |
| 12 to 16 pounds | 3 to 4 days | 6 to 8 hours |
| 16 to 20 pounds | 4 to 5 days | 8 to 10 hours |
| 20 to 24 pounds | 5 to 6 days | 10 to 12 hours |
Refrigerator thawing runs about 24 hours for every 4 to 5 pounds. Keep the turkey in its wrapper on a tray to catch juices. A thawed turkey can wait in the refrigerator 1 or 2 days before cooking. Cold water thawing runs about 30 minutes per pound, in a leak-proof bag, and the turkey must be cooked immediately afterward. For the microwave, check your owner's manual for the turkey size that fits and the minutes per pound, remove all the outside wrapping, and cook the turkey right away. Don't refreeze or refrigerate it after a microwave thaw.
A weight on the line between two rows, like 12, 16 or 20 pounds, should use the longer row. Thanksgiving falls on a Thursday, so count back from Thursday morning using the longest refrigerator time for your turkey's weight:
| Turkey weight | Longest USDA refrigerator time | Into the refrigerator by |
|---|---|---|
| Under 12 pounds | 3 days | Monday |
| 12 to under 16 pounds | 4 days | Sunday |
| 16 to under 20 pounds | 5 days | Saturday |
| 20 to 24 pounds | 6 days | Friday |
That's our own count-back from USDA's ranges, so treat it as the latest safe start. A thawed turkey can wait in the refrigerator 1 or 2 days before cooking, so starting a day early costs you nothing.
Can you cook a turkey from frozen?
Yes. FSIS says it's safe to cook a turkey from the frozen state, and the cooking time takes at least 50 percent longer than for a fully thawed turkey. Pull out the giblet packet with tongs or a fork once it loosens, about 20 to 30 minutes into baking. Don't use an oven bag, and don't smoke, grill, deep fry or microwave a frozen turkey. USDA's timing from frozen for an unstuffed turkey roasted at 325°F (times are approximate, so check with a food thermometer):
| Weight | Time from frozen |
|---|---|
| 4 to 8 pounds (breast) | 2 1/4 to 5 hours |
| 8 to 12 pounds | 4 1/4 to 4 1/2 hours |
| 12 to 14 pounds | 4 1/2 to 5 3/4 hours |
| 14 to 18 pounds | 5 3/4 to 6 1/2 hours |
| 18 to 20 pounds | 6 1/2 to 6 3/4 hours |
| 20 to 24 pounds | 6 3/4 to 7 1/2 hours |
That table is from USDA's guide for a turkey that isn't ready. Whatever the method, a whole turkey is safe at 165°F, measured in the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast. Frozen pre-stuffed turkeys with a USDA or state mark of inspection should not be thawed. Cook them from frozen and follow the package directions.
How do you store leftover turkey?
Refrigerate leftover cooked turkey within 2 hours, or within 1 hour if the room is above 90°F, and split it into shallow containers so it cools fast. Use it within 3 to 4 days, or freeze it within that window and use it within 2 to 6 months for best quality. FSIS's own freezer chart lists cooked poultry at 4 months, so aim for the short end. Reheat to 165°F. FSIS says a turkey that thawed in the refrigerator can be refrozen raw, and cooked meat from a turkey can be refrozen.
More questions about frozen turkey
Can you refreeze a turkey after thawing?
Yes, if it thawed in the refrigerator, per FSIS, though quality drops. Don't refreeze one that thawed in cold water or the microwave unless you cook it first.
Is a frozen turkey safe after 2 years?
Safe if it stayed at 0°F the whole time, according to FSIS, but quality drops after 1 year. Check the smell after thawing and throw it out if it's rancid or off.
How long can a thawed turkey stay in the refrigerator?
FSIS says 1 or 2 days before cooking.
Related freezing guides
See how long to thaw chicken in the fridge, can you refreeze thawed food, how to prevent freezer burn and can you freeze apple pie for the holiday table. The printable freezer storage chart and our guide to what you can freeze cover the rest, and how long food lasts covers the fridge and pantry.
When in doubt, throw it out
If a turkey was thawed on the counter, sat out more than 2 hours or smells off, throw it out. Don't taste it to check.
Track it so you never guess
Well Stockd keeps your fridge, pantry and freezer in one list. It estimates expiration dates for fridge and pantry food and puts what's closest to expiring first. Freezer items don't get an estimated date, so write the freeze date on the package. Add three foods from your fridge and see what you can cook. Try it free, or read our guide to apps that track expiration dates.