Food preparation · Australia
Turkey thawing planner
Work back from your ready-to-cook time to find when to start thawing a turkey.
A little help in the kitchen
How to use it
Choose the country page and enter the turkey's weight in kg or lb. Switching units converts the entered weight.
Choose fridge thawing, or cold water on the US and Canadian pages. Fridge thawing is the recommended starting method. The UK and Australian pages follow their agencies' fridge guidance.
Read the turkey packaging first. Enter its thawing duration if given, using the hours/minutes picker or typing minutes. This is required for Australia and Canadian cold-water planning because no agency weight-based rate was found for those methods.
Choose the day, time and time zone when the turkey must be ready to cook. Include cooking and resting time separately when planning your meal.
Choose Calculate thawing plan. Check the start date and time, follow the reminder steps, and confirm the turkey is fully thawed before cooking. Save, share a link, print or download the calendar file.
How it works
Start time = ready-to-cook time minus thawing duration. US fridge planning uses 24 hours per 4 lb, the slower end of USDA FSIS's 4 to 5 lb range. US cold water uses 30 minutes per lb. UK fridge planning uses 12 hours per kg, the longer end of the FSA's 10 to 12 hour range.
Canadian fridge planning uses Health Canada's 24 hours per 5 lb expression, converting kg to lb consistently. Its page also describes the amount as approximately 2.5 kg. Calculations round upwards to a whole minute. Durations are elapsed time, so a clock change can make the local start clock differ from the ready clock.
The official pages checked do not supply a weight-based rate for Australian fridge thawing or Canadian cold-water thawing. For these, the tool subtracts the package duration you enter. It does not substitute another country's rate. A package duration also overrides an agency estimate where one is available.
For US and Canadian cold-water plans, reminder steps change the water every 30 minutes until the target time. Use leak-proof wrapping, cold drinking water and a clean container, and cook immediately after thawing. You must remain available to carry out those steps.
Thawing times are estimates, not a guarantee that a bird is ready. A large 6 to 7 kg turkey can take up to 4 days in the fridge according to FSA guidance. Follow the package instructions and check the cavity for remaining ice. Never use this planner to justify cooking a partly frozen bird or thawing it on the counter.
Thawing guidance on this page
Follow the turkey package instructions and check it is fully defrosted before cooking.
| Method | Timing |
|---|---|
| Fridge | Enter the package's fridge thawing duration |
| Cold water | Use fridge thawing on this page |
Frequently asked questions
How long does a 16 lb turkey take to thaw in the fridge?
The US planner allows 4 days, or 96 hours, using 24 hours per 4 lb. For a Thursday 08:00 ready-to-cook target, move it into the fridge on Sunday at 08:00 if no clock change occurs. Follow its package instructions and check it is fully thawed.
Is the ready time my dinner serving time?
It is when thawing should be complete so cooking can begin. Work back through cooking and resting separately to find that time. The related dinner planners can help with the cooking timeline.
Why does my country page ask for the package thaw time?
Australia's checked FSANZ consumer page does not give a turkey weight-based fridge rate, and the checked Health Canada page gives no cold-water duration. Enter the duration from your turkey's packaging so the tool can calculate a start time without guessing.
Can I thaw a turkey in cold water?
The US and Canadian pages support their agencies' cold-water guidance: keep the turkey in leak-proof wrapping, cover it in cold drinking water, change the water every 30 minutes and cook immediately after thawing. UK and Australian pages use fridge thawing. Never thaw it on the counter.
What if the start time has already passed?
Choose a later ready-to-cook time, or check whether another method is supported on your country page and follow its package instructions. The tool warns about a past start and keeps your chosen target fixed. It cannot safely shorten the thawing process.
Can I save reminders or use another time zone?
Save the plan in this browser, share its settings in a link, print, or download an .ics file with the thawing interval, water-change reminders where applicable and a final thaw check. Calendar times use the selected zone, including daylight saving. The file must be imported into your calendar.
