Thaw

Whenever possible, refrigerator thawing is best. However, if you are short on time and need a speedy method, try cold-water thawing. Do not ever thaw a turkey at room temperature, as this allows for bacterial growth and is never recommended.

Click on your Butterball^® product below for thawing instructions:

• Frozen Whole Turkey, Whole Turkey Breast, Boneless Roasts
• Frozen Stuffed Whole Turkey, Fully Cooked Baked or Smoked Turkey, Whole Turkey Breast Roast in Bag
• Fresh Breast Cuts, Ground Turkey, Fresh Italian Sausage, Brats, Marinated Tenderloin
• Fully Cooked Sausage, Strips, Bacon, Lunchmeat
• Frozen Mignons, Meatballs, Burgers

Frozen Whole Turkey, Whole Turkey Breast, Boneless Roasts

Refrigerator Thawing:

• Thaw breast side up, in unopened wrapper, on a tray in the refrigerator.
• Allow for at least 1 day of thawing for every 4 pounds of turkey.

Cold-Water Thawing:

• Thaw breast side down, in unopened wrapper, in enough cold water to cover it completely.
• Change the water frequently to keep the turkey chilled.
• Estimate a minimum thawing time of 30 minutes per pound for a whole turkey.

No Time to Thaw Your Turkey?

No thawing is needed for an all natural Butterball Fresh Whole Turkey. These turkeys are moist, flavorful, and make meal preparation so much easier. No matter whether you like fresh or frozen turkeys, you’ll love the great features available in both:

• Neck and giblets in plastic bags for easy removal.
• Unique leg tuck eliminates the need for trussing.
• Patented turkey lifter for easy transfer to and from pan.
• Major leg tendons removed for easier carving.
• Instruction folder included with each turkey.

Frozen Stuffed Whole Turkey, Fully Cooked Baked or Smoked Turkey, Whole Turkey Breast Roast in Bag

• It is not recommended to thaw a fully cooked smoked or baked turkey in cold water. It is best to thaw it in the refrigerator.
• It is not recommended to thaw a Frozen Stuffed Whole Turkey, Frozen Whole Breast Roast in Bag, or Frozen Boneless Roast in Bag. These items conveniently go from freezer to oven with no thawing.

Fresh Breast Cuts, Ground Turkey, Fresh Italian Sausage, Brats, Marinated Tenderloin

For best quality, consume product before the use-by date. If you’re unable to consume before that date and decide to freeze, use the following tips:

• Freeze fresh Butterball breast cuts, ground turkey, Italian sausage, and turkey burgers before the use-by date.
• To thaw, place package on a plate or tray and thaw in the refrigerator.
• Consume product within 3 days of thawing.

Additional Tips

Check out our Thawing Video for a quick demonstration.

Fully Cooked Sausage, Strips, Bacon, Lunchmeat

For best quality, consume product before the use-by date. If you’re unable to consume before that date and decide to freeze, use the following tips:

• Freeze product before the sell-by date.
• To thaw, simply place the package on a plate or tray inside of the refrigerator. You can also thaw in cold water in the sink. Make sure the package is fully submerged in the water.
• Consume product within 3 days of thawing.

Frozen Mignons, Meatballs, Burgers

For best results, do not thaw these items. These items conveniently go from freezer to skillet, oven, or grill with no thawing. If they have been thawed, use the following tips:

• Do not refreeze.
• Consume product within 5 days of thawing.
• Cook per instructions on back of the package.