Food safety is an important issue that all consumers should be aware of. Knowing how long items can remain safe to consume is an essential part of being a responsible grocery shopper. The freezing process helps to preserve food by halting the growth of bacteria, but it isn’t a permanent solution. It’s important to know the expiration date of any food item you purchase, especially if you plan to freeze it for later use. In this blog post, we’ll be looking at one of the most popular frozen items: turkey breasts. We’ll discuss the length of time that a frozen turkey breast can last, as well as offering tips on how to safely store and consume it. With this information, you can be confident that your frozen turkey breasts are always safe to eat.
Thawed Turkey in Fridge for a Week
Within a day or two of thawing, a turkey’s quality will start to deteriorate. Don’t try to keep it in the fridge for another week; otherwise, you might have to throw the bird away. Allow one day of thawing for every 4 to 5 pounds of meat when scheduling your time.
How Long Can You Keep a Raw, Frozen Turkey?
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You can keep a frozen turkey for a whopping two years, according to Butterball.
Make sure the meat stays frozen for the entire time. For instance, discard the turkey if your power went out while it was being stored and it started to thaw. Additionally, it’s crucial to guarantee that it is kept in its original packaging (and that the packaging and vacuum seal are undamaged and free of tears or holes).
A Word About Safe Thawing Practices
Let’s discuss some fundamental recommendations for safe thawing before we discuss how long a thawed turkey can be stored in the refrigerator.
The only secure way to defrost a thawed turkey if you intend to keep it in the refrigerator for a while is to keep it there continuously. If you employ any other technique, you’ll need to immediately cook the bird.
Allow one day of thawing for each 4 to 5 pounds of weight for whole turkeys. In 4 or 5 days, a 20-pound turkey should be completely defrosted.
We prefer to err on the side of caution since the bird will keep for an additional day or two after that (see section below). Give a 20-pound bird five days, and a 10- to 12-pound bird three days.
Place the turkey on a baking sheet or rimmed plate that can accommodate the entire bird and catch any juices that may leak from the package. If at all possible, place items on the fridge’s bottom shelf and in the back.
By inserting your finger into the turkey’s breast, you can determine whether it has been thawed. A thawed turkey is soft to the touch. If it’s hard and unyielding, the meat is still frozen.
It should be noted that a partially or still frozen turkey can be cooked. Just make sure it doesn’t spend more than a few hours in the “danger zone” between 40 and 140 degrees before it reaches a safe internal temperature.
When cooking a frozen turkey, increase the estimated cooking time by roughly 50%. If your recipe calls for a 4-hour smoke, be prepared to wait until the bird is done for 6 hours.
The turkey can be defrosted in a cold water bath if you don’t have much time. Pour enough cold water into the sink or another large container to completely submerge the bird. Keep the turkey in its original packaging, and if it isn’t watertight, add another layer.
Until the turkey is defrosted, submerge it in the cold water, changing the water for a new batch every 30 minutes. This process ought to take around 30 minutes per pound. A 12-pound turkey can therefore be prepared for the smoker in 6 hours.
Keep in mind that you must cook the meat right away after using this method to thaw it. Even if the meat was kept at a safe temperature throughout its prolonged immersion in cold water, it should not be refrigerated or frozen.
We try to avoid using the microwave to defrost food, particularly for big cuts of meat. With a whole turkey, it is nearly impossible to ensure an even thawing. While some portions of the bird may be fully cooked, others may be completely frozen.
If you have no other option, you can defrost your bird in the microwave, but only if it has a defrost setting. Defrost at this setting at a rate of six minutes per pound. In light of this, a 10-pound turkey can defrost in just one hour.
Use a microwave-safe container, and turn the bird around every six minutes. About halfway through the process, you should turn the turkey over. This will help the bird thaw more evenly.
Once the turkey has defrosted, season it and cook it immediately.
FAQ
Can you eat a turkey that’s been frozen for 2 years?
In accordance with the Butterball Turkey Talk Line, a turkey can be kept in the freezer for up to two years before it becomes unsafe to cook.
How long can you keep a frozen turkey in the freezer before it goes bad?
How Long Can You Keep a Raw, Frozen Turkey? According to Butterball, you can keep a frozen turkey for an incredible two years. Make sure the meat stays frozen for the entire time. For instance, discard the turkey if your power went out while it was being stored and it started to thaw.
How long is frozen cooked turkey breast good for?
Leftover turkey will remain edible for four days in the refrigerator and three months in the freezer.
