how long defrost turkey
â¢ Using this thawing method, you should estimate about 30 minutes of defrosting time per pound of turkey. Approximate time to defrost a whole turkey in cold water: - 10 pounds â 5 hours - 15 pounds â 7 hours - 20 pounds â 10 hours - 25 pounds â 12 hours.nother plus of thawing turkey in the refrigerator: If your plans change and you decide not to cook the turkey at all, you can safely refreeze the defrosted turkey within 1 to 2 days (although there may be some loss of quality). 2. Cold Water Thawing. You can defrost your frozen turkey much faster in cold water.