Help pls--DH and the turkey!!!

11 years ago

DH won a turkey in a raffle on Friday. By the time he got it home, it was partially defrosted, but when I pressed on it, I could still feel the icy crystals in it. We've kept it in the refrigerator.

He thought he'd speed up the defrosting process by leaving it out on the kitchen counter for 2 hours today. By the time I got home and saw it, and felt it, it was totally defrosted but still cool (not "fridge-cool") to the touch. He says it was only out for 2 1/2 hours. I don't know if that's true, or if he just said that.

Any ideas about whether it's still okay to cook and eat? I'm more than a little chagrined about this!

Thanks!

Smiles,

Sooz

Comments (19)

caminnc
11 years ago
I wouldn't eat it. Can you go buy a fresh one (same brand) and toss the old one? He will never know and neither one of you will die.
centralcacyclist
11 years ago
I'd toss it. :(

Eileen
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Annie Deighnaugh
11 years ago
Why risk your health? Toss it.
foodonastump
11 years ago
I'd toss him. Um... er... I mean "it" :)

I think you'd probably fine, but I couldn't enjoy it with that thought lingering in the back of my mind.
chase_gw
11 years ago
I'd eat as long as it was still quite cool to the touch...then again I like to live on the edge ;)
dcarch7 d c f l a s h 7 @ y a h o o . c o m
11 years ago
All you need to do is measure the inside temperature with a probe thermometer, and Google a chart and see if it has been in the danger zone and estimate if the time in the danger zone is within safe range.

I think you may find it very safe to eat.

dcarch
lindac
11 years ago
You are going to cook it aren't you? As long as it was still cool I sure would cook it....without a blink! And I'll bet it was still icy in the very inside. I have stuffed more than one "completely defrosted turkeys" that still were frozen on the inside.
coconut_nj
11 years ago
I'd seriously doubt there's a problem with it. Sure, go ahead and take it's temp. What size is it? It takes an awful long time for a turkey to really defrost, let alone go bad. A couple hours out is not very long, especially since it still felt cool/cold.
Jasdip
11 years ago
I'm definitely in the camp to cook it. It takes a long time for turkey to thaw, much less go bad in that period of time.

The one that I cooked for Thanksgiving was still icy on the inside, and it was in the frig for a week!

I'd cook 'er up.
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
11 years ago
I would definitely keep it, that's just a start on the thawing. The frozen bird I bought yesterday we left sitting out all night. We are NOT baking a frozen bird again: "...it was in the frig for a week!" Yep, I don't know how long a bird takes to thaw in the frige, but a week isn't long enough.

Even if you were gone all day, there's no way that bird could have not only thawed but become hazardous to eat.
colleenoz
11 years ago
I'd cook it and eat it without a qualm.
Olychick
11 years ago
I wouldn't hesitate to eat it. You're going to cook it, which will kill anything questionable, but unless it smells bad in the raw state, it's fine.
User
11 years ago
Goodness, no question, cook it and eat it. And enjoy

Happy Thanksgiving.

{{gwi:1560475}}
debbyga
11 years ago
I've thawed my 20-pound turkeys on the counter for years and will continue to do so. I agree that it would take forever to thaw in the refrigerator, and I don't have time for that. I like living on the edge too! I would never throw it out.
bulldinkie
11 years ago
yes if it were cool also smell??
marilyn_c
11 years ago
I'd cook it.
Lars
11 years ago
Note that in the dry salt cooking method, the turkey is to be left out for at least one hour at room temp before cooking. I would not have a problem with cooking the turkey that you described.

Lars
sooz
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks, everyone!

Smiles,
Sooz
annie1992
11 years ago
Well, I'm late to the party, but you can add me to the list of people who would cook it without qualms.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Annie

Help pls--DH and the turkey!!!

Comments (19)

caminnc

centralcacyclist

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sooz
Original Author

annie1992

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Help pls--DH and the turkey!!!

Comments (19)

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soozOriginal Author

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sooz
Original Author