How Long To Thaw A 20# Turkey 2024. Thaw your turkey in the refrigerator at 40 °f or below. The usda says that you can defrost a turkey in.

The safest way to thaw a turkey is in the refrigerator, with a thawing time of 24 hours for every 5 pounds of turkey. As a general rule, allow 6 minutes per pound when thawing a turkey in the microwave.