Buzz
The end of the year can be chaotic. Between planning your Thanksgiving feast and handling holiday shopping, the stretch from Halloween to New Year's can feel overwhelming. Butterball aims to ease the burden with a turkey you can cook directly from the freezer.
Even if you’re new to cooking turkey, the instructions are simple to follow. Start by removing the outer packaging and rinsing the turkey under cold water. Then, open the wrapper near the neck and remove the bird. Place it in a roasting pan, breast side up, with at least three inches of space. Coat it with oil and pop it into the oven. Don’t forget to wash your hands and clean up any surfaces the turkey has touched.
For a step-by-step guide, check out Butterball’s YouTube video below.
Unlike traditional turkeys, which can be checked for doneness at the end of the cooking process, Butterball advises monitoring the “cook from frozen” turkey throughout the roasting. After four hours, remove it from the oven and place it on a heat-resistant surface. Insert a thermometer into the breast and thigh, ensuring not to touch the bone. When the turkey reaches 170℉, it's ready to serve; typically, the roasting takes around five hours.
The USDA recommends thawing frozen turkey in the refrigerator as the safest method, ensuring a consistent thaw in a food-safe environment. However, this approach is very time-intensive: allow one day for every 4 to 5 pounds. For example, a 20-pound turkey will require nearly a week to defrost.
The “cook from frozen” turkey overcomes this time-consuming challenge with its special brine. According to Butterball, the brine's unique balance and distribution help the turkey retain moisture throughout the roasting. If you can't access this new product, here are some tips to quickly (and safely) thaw a standard turkey.
