Over the last six years, USDA's staff on the Meat and Poultry Hotline have faced many challenges trying to save Thanksgiving turkeys that have been prepared in questionable ways. According to Conley, there are six basic problems that Hotline staff members hear every year. Read on to see if you may unknowingly be creating any of these scenarios. It's in a cold basement. While there are many reasons why consumers find themselves with turkeys defrosted at room temperature, some planned and some unplanned, the result is the same- a potentially unsafe turkey.
Bacteria grow rapidly at room temperature.
Bacteria will begin to grow on the outside portion of the bird that defrosts first. These surface bacteria can multiply to dangerously high levels that cooking may not destroy. Instead Plan on 1 day of refrigerator defrost time for every 5 pounds of turkey. Some callers worry that a frozen turkey will spoil if left in the refrigerator for 4 days. Don't be concerned.