How long does it take to thaw a turkey in water? It depends on the turkey, but with the cold water method, you will need about 30 minutes of thaw time per pound of turkey. So if you have a 12-pound turkey, you will need to spend 6 hours thawing the bird.
Grab your frozen turkey and make sure to leave it in its original package. Place it in your kitchen sink.
Next, run cold water over your turkey, filling the sink to fully submerge the turkey.
If your turkey keeps floating to the surface, you can grab a pot or bowl, fill it with water and place it on top of the turkey to hold it down.
Keep the turkey in water adding more water to keep the turkey fully submerged and the water chilled. For exact times per pound visit the link below.
Can you thaw a turkey in cold water overnight? No, it’s not safe to thaw turkey in water overnight. The water will drain from the sink or won’t be cold enough. Do this during the day when you are present to monitor and refill the water. You must keep the water cold to avoid bacteria growth. Your water should NOT drop to room temperature.