How to Defrost a TurkeyIn Time for the Feast Before you can start seasoning and cookinga delicious turkey, it needs to be well-thawed. Here are our best tips andtricks for defrosting turkey. To defrost in your fridge, keep theturkey in its original packagingand place in a large baking dish. Allow 1 day in the fridge forevery 3.5-4 pounds of turkey. If you don’t have days to spare, fill your sinkwith cold water, place the turkey in a largeplastic bag, and set the turkey in the water. For every 1 pound of turkey,allot 30 minutes for thawing. Thawing your turkey may actually be theeasiest part, but don’t forget to plan ahead.