Can I put a 13 lb. turkey in the oven partially frozen?

Question

Too big for defrost in microwave, can't get the giblets out though, and I know they have paper on them, anyone have any ideas. It is now in the sink with cold water running over it.

Answer 1

You shouldnt defrost it in the microwave. You have the right idea with cold water. Get the giblets out first though. If you cant wait to thaw it completely, then roast it in a roasting bag, or cover the turkey with a tight cover or use plastic wrap and aluminum foil to cover it.
Just today for dinner, I cooked 16 partially frozen 9lb turkey breasts. They came in roasting bags. I roasted them at 350. And they cooked evenly, did not burn or overcook.

Answer 2

You can put a partially frozen turkey in the oven, but NOT with the giblets in it. Keep soaking it in cold (NOT warm water) and change the water frequently to maintain the cold temperature. At some point you will be able to remove the giblet package. For safety sake, it is very important not to try to thaw a bird too quickly at too high a temperature (do not soak it in warm/hot water); you will encourage bacterial growth. It is very tedious to wait for the giblet package to loosen enough to remove, but you should always ere on the side of caution. Aside from the safety risk, you would not want the giblet paper to be roasted with the bird. You want to be able to remove the giblets and rinse the cavity before you stuff or roast the bird. It's just good basic hygeine. Also remember, even after you remove the giblets, a partially frozen bird is going to need longer time in the oven than a fully thawed one. In future you shoud move the bird from the freezer to the refrigerator 2 days before the roasting to let it thaw slowly and safely.

Answer 3

yes but keep in mind when you add more to the oven, it will take more energy/time to cook. tips 1) try to have the meats at room temperature (but be careful not to set out too long, especially the turkey) 2) use a pizza stone in the bottom of the oven if you have one. This will help the oven regulate and distribute the heat better. 3) use a probe thermometer to check the internal temps. Two probes would be ideal. One for each meat. 4) dont forget about carry over cooking time. If you want the final temperature of the turkey to be 165-170, then take it out of the oven when it reaches 160-165.

Answer 4

Keep thawing until you can get the giblets out. It will take longer to cook when the turkey is only partially thawed but won't hurt anything. Over cooking to get the giblets up to temp if you don't remove first.

Answer 5

You *can*, but I highly don't recommend it.... The meat won't cook properly, and the inside will be pretty much still quite RAW when the outer inch or so of meat is done. You'd then have to cut off the done bits, and re-roast the rest, and well, that just gets troublesome.

Best to let it thaw further, or use water to thaw the inside. You gotta be *really* careful though, not to let that bird sit too long at room temp.. Poultry and bacteria are not something to be trifled with.

If it's absolutely *got* to be cooked tonite, your best bet is honestly to get a good sturdy knife, maybe even an electric one if it's still partially frozen, carve off the breasts, thighs and legs, season em and pan-roast them. The smaller pieces will cook faster, can be thawed in the microwave, and still provide the tasty edibles required for dinner. It's just not as showy as a whole browned bird.

Answer 6

You can-just keep checking it until the giblets are thawed enough to pull out. There is too much moisture in there for the paper to burn in a big hurry. It will take quite a bit longer for the bird to cook though-just FYI.

Answer 7

In the sink with cold water running over it is definitely the way to go. I wouldn't put it in there partially frozen.

Answer 8

You can't put it in the oven because it will cook unevenly (some parts overcooked, others raw).

Answer 9

you can but i dont advise that...or should i say no you shouldnt...it want cook right if you do