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How Long to Thaw a 16 lb Turkey
A 16 lb turkey takes about 4 days to thaw in the fridge, or 8 hours in cold water. Roast it at 325 °F for 3¾ to 4¼ hours unstuffed, or 4 to 4¼ hours stuffed.
For a 3:00 PM Thanksgiving dinner, move it from the freezer to the fridge by Sunday, November 22 and put it in the oven at 10:15 AM.
= lb
Planned for lb: the planner covers 4 to 30 lb. For a bigger bird, add a day of fridge time per 4 lb and check it with a thermometer.
Date defaults to Thanksgiving, November 26, 2026.
A fridge thaw needs days.
Your turkey schedule
- Fridge thaw
- Cold-water thaw
- Roasting at 325 °F
This weight is beyond the USDA chart (up to 24 lb); the time adds 15 minutes per extra pound. Check with a thermometer.
The oven time uses the long end of the USDA range, so start checking the temperature early. It is done at 165 °F in the thickest part of the breast, the innermost thigh and the wing, and in the centre of the stuffing.
USDA turkey thawing times
| Whole turkey | Fridge | Cold water |
|---|---|---|
| 4 to 12 pounds | 1 to 3 days | 2 to 6 hours |
| 12 to 16 pounds | 3 to 4 days | 6 to 8 hours |
| 16 to 20 pounds | 4 to 5 days | 8 to 10 hours |
| 20 to 24 pounds | 5 to 6 days | 10 to 12 hours |
Fridge at 40 °F or below: about 24 hours per 4–5 lb. A thawed turkey keeps 1–2 days in the fridge. Cold water: about 30 minutes per lb, in a leak-proof bag, changing the water every 30 minutes; cook it right away.
USDA roasting times at 325 °F
| Weight | Unstuffed | Stuffed |
|---|---|---|
| 4 to 8 pounds (breast) | 1½ to 3¼ hours | 6–8 lb: 2½ to 3½ hours |
| 8 to 12 pounds | 2¾ to 3 hours | 3 to 3½ hours |
| 12 to 14 pounds | 3 to 3¾ hours | 3½ to 4 hours |
| 14 to 18 pounds | 3¾ to 4¼ hours | 4 to 4¼ hours |
| 18 to 20 pounds | 4¼ to 4½ hours | 4¼ to 4¾ hours |
| 20 to 24 pounds | 4½ to 5 hours | 4¾ to 5¼ hours |
Times are approximate. Let the turkey stand 20 minutes before carving. Cooking from frozen takes at least 50% longer.
Forgot to thaw the turkey?
- The night before or that morning: use cold water. Keep the turkey in its leak-proof wrapper, submerge it in cold tap water and change the water every 30 minutes. A 16 lb bird takes about 8 hours.
- No time at all: it is safe to roast a turkey straight from frozen. Plan at least 50% more oven time, and pull out the giblet bag with tongs once it loosens.
- Never thaw it on the counter, in the garage or in hot water: the outside sits in the 40–140 °F danger zone while the middle is still frozen.
Source: USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, Turkey Basics: Safe Thawing and Let’s Talk Turkey Roasting. Converting kilos? See the unit converter.
About the Turkey Thaw Planner
The Turkey Thaw Planner tells you exactly when to take a frozen turkey out of the freezer. Enter the weight in pounds or kilos, choose how you will thaw it (in the fridge, in cold water, or not at all if you cook it from frozen) and say when you want to eat. You get a dated schedule: the day to move the turkey to the fridge or the time to start a cold-water bath, when to preheat the oven, when the turkey goes in, when it comes out to rest and when to carve. Every step can go straight into your phone’s calendar. The times come from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service: about a day in the fridge for every 4 to 5 pounds, 30 minutes per pound in cold water, and the USDA roasting timetable at 325 °F for stuffed and unstuffed birds. The date starts on Thanksgiving Day, but it works for Christmas, Friendsgiving or any Sunday roast.
How to use it
- 1 Enter your turkey’s weight in pounds or kilograms.
- 2 Pick how you will thaw it: in the fridge, in cold water, or cook it from frozen.
- 3 Tick “stuffed” if you will cook the stuffing inside the bird.
- 4 Set the meal date and the time you want to eat, then follow the schedule or add each step to your calendar.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to thaw a 16 lb turkey in the fridge?
About 4 days in a refrigerator at 40 °F or below. USDA allows about 24 hours for every 4 to 5 pounds, and a thawed turkey keeps in the fridge for 1 to 2 more days, so starting a day early is fine.
How long does it take to thaw a 16 lb turkey in cold water?
About 8 hours: 30 minutes per pound. Keep the turkey in a leak-proof bag, submerge it in cold tap water, change the water every 30 minutes and cook it as soon as it is thawed.
How long do you cook a 16 lb turkey?
At 325 °F, about 3¾ to 4¼ hours unstuffed or 4 to 4¼ hours stuffed, according to the USDA roasting timetable. It is done when a food thermometer reads 165 °F in the thickest part of the breast, the innermost thigh and wing (and the centre of any stuffing). Let it rest 20 minutes before carving.
How many people does a 16 lb turkey feed?
About 16 people. USDA suggests 1 pound of turkey per person, which leaves some leftovers for most groups.
When should I take a 16 lb turkey out of the freezer for Thanksgiving?
Count back 4 days from the morning you roast it: for a 3:00 PM Thanksgiving dinner that means moving it to the fridge by Sunday, November 22. The planner above works it out for any meal time.
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