Not used to handling -- turkey question

[ceeveg]

I just bought a thawed 6 lbs breast to cook in a crockpot for my family on Thursday. Can I keep the thawed breast in the fridge, or should I freeze it until Thursday? How long can I keep a turkey breast safely in the fridge if it is thawed?

Thank you! Not used to handling meat and don't want to give my family food poisoning for the holiday ;)

[SpuglyRoo]

I guess that depends on when it was thawed.  Are their any instructions on the package?  If you do freeze it, you are going to need to make sure that you take it out in time for it to defrost, the bigger the item, the more time it needs.

[Annie Mac]

What's the best by date on it? If it's Thursday or after, I'd say go for it & leave it in the fridge. Otherwise yes, pop it in the freezer for a couple days until you're ready to use it. 

[ceeveg]

I didn't realize it had instructions or a sell by date :) Oops!  The instructions said to use within four days or the sell-by date. I decided to put it in the freezer. The crockpot recipe I have calls for it to be either thawed or frozen, so I think it will work.  It was about a 20 minute trip by car from the grocery fridge to my  fridge at home, so I think I should be good. Thank you!

[Annie Mac]

Do you have a meat thermometer? Especially if your'e starting from frozen, they're nice to have to make sure the bird is totally cooked. Turkey should be done to 165. I've actually thrown out a turkey (a whole, expensive turkey) because I inadvertently cooked it partially frozen, and when it seemed done, it really wasn't.

[ceeveg]

I will get a meat thermometer. I was going to leave it in the crockpot for 10+ hours per the recipe -- I am comfortable chucking it and going with a tofurkey if need be :)

[plantnerd]

May be too late, but it will take it about 2-3 days to thaw in the fridge.  If you come up short put in the sink and fill with cold water until thawed all the way.  Especially with crock pot cooking you want your meats to be thawed all the way and close to room temp if possible.  I like to leave whole birds (or big pieces like leg quarters or bone in breast) on the counter for an hour or so while I prep the rest of the meal.  Helps with the bloody bone issues in poultry.