To anyone cooking a Turkey this year, don't screw it up. I failed to thaw one early enough one year and had to grab a ham from the store a couple of hours before everyone showed up. Don't do what I did. Have a great thanksgiving everyone. From the post: >>Turkeys must be kept at a safe temperature during "the big thaw." While frozen, a turkey is safe indefinitely. However, as soon as it begins to thaw, any bacteria that may have been present before freezing can begin to grow again. Immediately after grocery store checkout, take the frozen turkey home and store it in the freezer. Frozen turkeys should not be left on the back porch, in the car trunk, in the basement, or any place else where temperatures cannot be constantly monitored.