frozen turkeys

[dietstartsmonday]

Just that really. Are they any good? Prices are so much better

[MrsLeighHalfpenny]

I would be worried that you have no idea how long they have been frozen for - just like any frozen food really. There is a reason why it's cheaper to kill and incur costs storing a frozen bird than it is to kill it and sell it fresh straight away.

[chantico]

It's spreading the Christmas peak, rather than being for a sub-standard food reason.

I don't know how long any foodstuff is permitted to be frozen for before retail sale. But I'd always assumed it was regulated and not unsafe.

And it does rather depend on how you cook it. If you're going to have it fairly plain, then fresh would be better. But if stuffed, basted aromatically, bacon-wrapped etc, then there's not really much to tell between them.

[dietstartsmonday]

Will be basted wrapped in bacon etc. The size I want is less than half price of the fresh one

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

It depends who you buy it from really. There are some brands I am snobby about - as long as cheap doesn't mean poor welfare then I'm sure its fine. chantico is right. It saves the farmer rearing millions of turkeys all in one go and spreads out the process.

[PennyHasNoSurname]

We had a frozen one from Tescos last year and it was delicious.

[ItMustBeBedtimeSurely]

Ime they tend to be dryer, but if you brine it, you can't tell the difference at all.

A frozen free range turkey is the same price as a fresh standard one so it's a good option.

[dietstartsmonday]

How do you brine it?

[ItMustBeBedtimeSurely]

Basically dissolve sugar and salt in water and leave turkey in it overnight. Sounds disgusting but is absolutely delicious, and totally takes the guess work out of xmas day - it comes out perfect every time and never dries out.

Nigella has a recipe involving spices and oranges in the brine, or there are lots of recipes on the internet.

One thing to note though - the water it sits in is obviously a major food poisoning hazard, so use a big container so nothing spills ( I use a trug) and empty it out into an outside drain.

[missmargot]

I've bought one for the first time ever this year, however we are only having it cold for sandwiches and Boxing Day lunch not for Christmas Day lunch itself. That said, the reviews on Ocado are brilliant and everyone raves about it being that fresh, so hoping it will be good.

[BBQsAreSooooOverrated]

I'm tempted by a frozen goose as it's half the price as a fresh one. I think by the time it's all prepped drowned in gravy it should be fine

[Clutterbugsmum]

I have in the past, and never had a problem with them.

As long you take it out to defrost in time, I usually take it out before they say as you should because they always take longer then you think. The cover in butter and bacon and they have been moist and have flavor.

[dietstartsmonday]

Thanks all. Think I will go for it