Here is some advice on defrosting your bird at Christmas
 
Q:  Can I cook my bird straight from frozen?
A:  If you’ve bought a frozen bird it must be fully defrosted before cooking. Do not cook from frozen.
Q:  How do I defrost the bird properly?
A:  The safest way to defrost a bird is in the fridge.  Place the bird on the bottom shelf on a plate or tray and make sure it cannot drip onto any other foods.
Q:  How long will it take to defrost my turkey?
A:  Allow at least 24 hours of defrosting time in the fridge for every 2-2.5kg (approximately 4-5lbs) of food.
 
Weight (Kg) Minimum time to defrost
3.5-5.5kg/8-12 lbs 2-3 days
5.5-6.5kg/12-14 lbs 3 - 3.5 days
6.5-8kg/14-18 lbs 4 - 4.5 days
8-9kg/18-20 lbs 4.5 - 5 days
9-11kg/20-24lbs 5-6 days
 
Q:  How do I know if my bird is fully defrosted?
A:  The bird is defrosted and ready for cooking when the body is soft the legs can be moved and there are no ice crystals inside the cavity.  If you are not going to cook the bird immediately make sure to keep it in the fridge.
 
Click here for questions about preparing the bird
 
If we haven't answered your questions, please call the safefood helpline. ROI - 1850 404 567 or NI - 0800 085 1683
 
This article was provided by Safefood – www.safefood.eu

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