Same as any turkey: about 24 hours for every 4 to 5 pounds in the fridge. A Butterball is a brand, not a different bird. USDA thaw times go by weight, not by the name on the wrapper. A 14 lb Butterball needs 4 days. For Thanksgiving 2026, move it on Sunday, November 22. In cold water: 30 minutes per pound.
Thanksgiving dinner is Thursday, November 26, 2026. Find your Butterball's weight. That is your move date.
No. Fridge thawing takes about 24 hours for every 4 to 5 pounds, whatever brand is on the wrapper. Read the weight off your Butterball's tag; that number sets your date. Common sizes: 12 lb on Monday, November 23; 14 lb and 16 lb on Sunday, November 22; 18 lb and 20 lb on Saturday, November 21; 22 lb and 24 lb on Friday, November 20. Every weight, 8 to 24 lb, is on the turkey thawing chart.
Bigger than 24 lb? The chart tops out at 24 lb. Call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline: 1-888-674-6854.
Many Butterball turkeys are pre-basted, and many carry a pop-up timer in the breast. Neither changes thawing. The timer is a separate question: can you trust the pop-up timer on a turkey? Planning to brine? How to thaw a turkey you plan to brine covers what a pre-basted bird means for that plan.
Cold water takes 30 minutes per pound: 7 hours for a 14 lb Butterball. Seal the bird in a leak-proof plastic bag. Submerge it in cold tap water. Change the water every 30 minutes. Cook it right after it thaws. Full steps: thawing a turkey in cold water.
USDA's third safe way is the microwave: follow your microwave manual for size and timing, and cook the turkey right after it thaws. Never thaw a turkey on the counter. The outside warms up hours before the inside thaws. Bacteria grow in that warm layer.
Use the calculator for your buy, thaw, brine, and roast dates. Or ask in your own words.