How long do you cook how to cook a turkey turkey? There’s no question that when it comes to the Thanksgiving food narrative, turkey is the main character. With that role comes natural pressure for the chef preparing the holiday centerpiece.

It’s not so intimidating once you have a plan. USA TODAY tapped chef Michael Symon, of ABC’s “The Chew”, and Herve Guillard, dean of students and director of education at the Institute of Culinary Education, to share their expertise to help you cook the perfect turkey. How do you defrost a turkey? According to the National Turkey Federation, Americans consume 46 million turkeys at Thanksgiving. It’s estimated that some 50 percent of those are bought frozen.

If you’ve missed that window, you can thaw it in cold water. Place the turkey breast side down, still in its original unopened wrapper, with enough cold water to cover it completely. You can expect 30 minutes of thawing per pound of turkey. If you have a 12 pound turkey, which is on the smaller side, you’re looking at around 6 hours. Defrosting a whole turkey can take days.

You’re better off cleaning more and taking precautions, such as hand washing, throughout your cooking process. Symon walked USA TODAY through the step-by-step process to avoid cross contamination. How to brine a turkey Many birds come pre-brined, Guillard says. So, check to make sure what you’ve purchased needs a brine before starting.