Cooking Frozen Turkey in a Crockpot?

This is not a safe practice as the meat comes up to temperature too slowly to avoid bacterial growth. The turkey will be fully cooked but may make your family ill.

Here is a link from the USDA with more safety information:

Cook Slow to Save Time: Four Important Slow Cooker Food Safety Tips

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Question: Cooking Frozen Turkey in a Crockpot?

posh270

November 13, 2017

Can you cook frozen turkey in a crockpot?
Editor's Note: This is not a safe practice as the meat comes up to temperature too slowly to avoid bacterial growth. The turkey will be fully cooked but may make your family ill.

Here is a link from the USDA with more safety information:

Cook Slow to Save Time: Four Important Slow Cooker Food Safety Tips

Answers

andrea.henderso80
Bronze Answer Medal for All Time! 242 Answers

November 15, 20171 found this helpful

Best Answer

It is not recommended to cook frozen meat in a crockpot for the very reason that the crock cannot handle the extreme temperature difference. It can work with a small amount and a lot of liquid to buffer the temperature but is still not a good idea because it raises the possibility of cracking your crock. The best way to roast a turkey is to thaw it first in a sink of cold water and then season and bake in the oven.

That being said, I have often skipped the thawing part and just put it in a size appropriate roaster, seasoned it to my families taste and then baked it over night or 6-8 hrs (depending on size)at 300*F. By the end of the baking time, the bird is falling off the bone and is moist and flavorful. This is how my mom taught me and how my family has roasted a turkey for many, many years.

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coville123
Silver Post Medal for All Time! 433 Posts

November 13, 20170 found this helpful

You can, it will just take longer to cook. So it is better unthawed.

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Judy
Gold Post Medal for All Time! 677 Posts

November 13, 20170 found this helpful

It is not recommended to cook frozen meat in a crockpot because the temperature will never get high enough to kill bacteria. You are better off using the oven or investing in an electric pressure cooker, which is safe to use with frozen meat.

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poehere
Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 105 Posts

November 15, 20170 found this helpful

When cooking a frozen turkey it is not recommended to cook this in a crock pot. You'll need to check the turkey at different stages of the cooking process. The center of the turkey is the last to defrost and cook.

The only safe way to cook a frozen turkey is in your oven. Also, when cooking a frozen turkey it is best to cook the stuffing separately and not in the bird. When the turkey is cooking, you'll need to test different areas of the turnkey to make sure it is fully cooked. Furthermore, you should never try to deep fry or grill a frozen turkey. This isn't safe. If you don't have time to defrost your turkey before cooking it, then it's best that you cook it in the oven.

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Melissa M.

November 30, 20170 found this helpful

Cooking any frozen meat in a Crockpot is dangerous especially turkey.

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