How To Thaw Unwrapped Chicken. The cold water method takes up to 1 hour per pound. Thawing in the refrigerator is the only recommended way to defrost a frozen turkey.

Choose the defrost setting or set the microwave to 30 percent power. The refrigerator method can take up to 2 days, depending on how many lbs of frozen chicken breast you have. Once your chicken is fully thawed, cook it immediately.

Can You Thaw An Unwrapped Turkey In Water. The problem is, you need to allow 30 minutes of thawing time for every pound of frozen bird, and you must keep the water 40 f or colder the entire time. If you’re short on time, you can defrost a turkey much more quickly by submerging it in a sink full of cool water.

I would unwrap it when it's thawed and place it on a rack if possible uncovered to let it air dry to encourage crispy skin. Thaw it in cold water. Thaw turkey in unopened packaging in a pan in the refrigerator on the bottom shelf.