How long to thaw a 20 lb turkey?
A 20 lb turkey takes 4 to 5 days to thaw in the refrigerator, or about 10 hours in cold water. For a Thursday dinner, move it to the fridge by Saturday, 5 days ahead.
How to work it out
- Fridge: 20 lb ÷ 5 lb per day = 4 days; ÷ 4 lb per day = 5 days → 4 to 5 days (rounded up to the half day)
- Cold water: 20 lb × 30 minutes = 10 hours
Twenty pounds is where thawing catches people out. At USDA’s rate of a day for every 4 to 5 lb, a 20 lb turkey needs the better part of a week in the fridge, which means it goes in the weekend before Thanksgiving, not on Tuesday night.
Adjust for your project
- In cold water
- about 10 hours
- For a Thursday dinner, start thawing
- Saturday, 5 days ahead
- Keep it in its wrapper on a tray to catch drips, in a fridge at 40 °F or below. Once thawed, it can stay in the fridge 1 to 2 more days before cooking.
- Forgot to thaw? You can roast a turkey from frozen; USDA says it takes at least 50% longer than a thawed one. Never thaw on the counter.
Thawing time by turkey weight
| Turkey weight | In cold water |
|---|---|
| 10 lb | about 5 hours |
| 12 lb | about 6 hours |
| 14 lb | about 7 hours |
| 16 lb | about 8 hours |
| 18 lb | about 9 hours |
| 20 lb | about 10 hours |
| 22 lb | about 11 hours |
| 24 lb | about 12 hours |
A thawing calendar for a 20 lb turkey
| Day | What to do |
|---|---|
| Saturday (5 days ahead) | Move the frozen turkey to the fridge, in its wrapper, on a tray or in a roasting pan. |
| Sunday to Wednesday | Leave it alone. Keep the fridge at 40 °F (4 °C) or below and the tray under it. |
| Wednesday evening | Press the thighs: they should give. Reach into the cavity and check for ice. |
| Thursday morning | Remove the neck and giblets, pat dry and roast — about 4¼ to 4½ hours unstuffed at 325 °F (163 °C). |
Starting on Saturday gives you five full days, the top of USDA’s 4-to-5-day range for 16–20 lb birds. If it thaws early, that is fine: a thawed turkey can stay in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days. A turkey of 20–24 lb sits in the next row of the table — 5 to 6 days — so a 22 lb bird should go in on Friday.
If it is Wednesday and the turkey is still frozen
Switch to cold water. At 30 minutes per pound, a fully frozen 20 lb turkey needs about 10 hours, with the water changed every half hour — roughly twenty changes, so plan on staying near the sink. A bird that has already spent a few days in the fridge will thaw faster. Leave it wrapped in a leak-proof bag, keep it fully submerged, and cook it as soon as it is thawed. That makes it a daytime job — never leave it soaking unattended overnight. If it finishes thawing on Wednesday, roast it then: carve, refrigerate the meat in shallow containers within 2 hours, and reheat it to 165 °F (74 °C) on Thursday (USDA FSIS).
Still frozen on the morning? Roast it anyway. USDA says a frozen turkey can go straight into the oven but takes at least 50% longer, so a 20 lb bird would need well over six hours. Pull out the giblet bag with tongs as soon as it loosens. The full roasting plan is in how long to cook a 20 lb turkey; a smaller bird is in how long to thaw a 15 lb turkey. Feeding twenty from one bird? See how big a turkey for 20 people.
Different size? Use the full Turkey Thawing Calculator.
What you’ll need
- Roasting pan with rackMid-range price
A heavy pan about 2–3 in deep with a rack lifts the bird out of the drippings. Measure your oven before buying one sized for a 24 lb turkey.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Instant-read meat thermometerBudget price
The only reliable way to know a turkey, ham or brisket is done. Check the thickest part, away from bone, and check it is calibrated before the big day.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links to products are affiliate links — they cost you nothing extra and help keep these calculators free.
Frequently asked questions
How long to thaw a 20 lb turkey in cold water?
About 10 hours at 30 minutes per pound, changing the water 20 times.
How long to thaw a 22 lb turkey in the fridge?
4½ to 5½ days — start by Friday, 5½ days ahead for a Thursday dinner.
How long to thaw a 24 lb turkey?
5 to 6 days in the fridge or about 12 hours in cold water.
Other common sizes
- How long to thaw a 15 lb turkey — 3 to 4 days
- How long to thaw a 12 lb turkey — 2½ to 3 days
Sources
- USDA FSIS — Let’s Talk Turkey: A Consumer Guide to Safely Roasting a Turkey (copy hosted by UW–Madison Extension) (opens in a new tab) — 1 lb of turkey per person (1¼ lb pre-stuffed); refrigerator thawing about 24 hours per 4–5 lb; cold water 30 minutes per lb; roasting timetable at 325 °F (163 °C); 165 °F (74 °C); 20-minute rest; 2-hour rule.
- USDA FSIS — Let’s Talk Turkey: A Consumer Guide to Safely Roasting a Turkey (fsis.usda.gov) (opens in a new tab) — The same guide on the FSIS website. FSIS also publishes Your Safe Thanksgiving Guide: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/poultry/your-safe-thanksgiving-guide