Receiving Instructions

Turkey ships chilled with ice packs.
Upon receipt, store in refrigerator for up to 4 weeks or in freezer for up to 6 months.

Thawing Instructions

If you need to cook your turkey in the next couple of days, we recommend softening the bird in the refrigerator. Below are the USDA's recommended refrigerator thawing times:

4 to 12 pounds – 1 to 2 days
12 to 16 pounds – 2 to 3 days
16 to 20 pounds – 3 to 4 days

If you need to cook your turkey in less than one day, we recommend softening your bird in a cold-water bath. Allow approx. 30 minutes per pound.

Submerge the turkey (in the original bag) in cold tap water. Change the water every 30 minutes until the turkey is thawed. Cook the turkey immediately after it is thawed. Below are the USDA's recommended cold water thawing times:

4 to 12 pounds – 2 to 6 hours
12 to 16 pounds – 6 to 8 hours
16 to 20 pounds – 8 to 10 hours

Preparation Instructions

To thaw, remove from freezer and place in refrigerator as noted above. Remove thawed turkey from refrigerator 1 hour before roasting and remove from bag. Do not leave turkey at room temperature longer than 1 hour.
To serve whole oven roasted turkey hot, place in sealed roaster pan or wrapped in foil and heat at medium temperature (approx. 325°F) for the below times, or approx. 10–15 minutes per pound.
7–10 lb. (cook time: 2 hours).
10–13 lb. (cook time: 2 1/2 hours).
13–16 lb. (cook time: 3 hours).

Willie Bird Pre-Brined Whole Roasted Turkey