WASHINGTON — Thanksgiving is just a few days away, so it may be time to thaw your turkey.

Defrosting frozen turkey is a crucial part of Thanksgiving planning as it requires a few days, depending on the size of your bird. The U.S. Department of Agriculture suggests Thanksgiving cooks plan accordingly for the "big thaw," especially to do so safely.

The USDA says there are three safe ways to thaw food: in the refrigerator, in cold water or in the microwave oven.

Unsure of how much time you need? The USDA has an interactive calculator on its Thanksgiving FAQs page that will let you know how long you need to thaw out your bird.

Thawing turkey in the refrigerator:

The time needed to defrost a turkey properly depends on its weight. USDA guidelines say 24 hours are required for each 4

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