Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To dread cooking the blasted turkey every year?

238 replies

Mrswhatsit40 · 19/12/2024 15:06

It's always dry and tasteless no matter what I do. I'm generally very laidback but this is the worst bit about Christmas for me - worrying about cooking the turkey. Worrying it's going to defrost properly in time then wrangling with a beast the size of a large toddler, removing the disgusting giblets, then in and out of the oven for hours from 9am onwards basting, giving myself third degree burns in the process, stuffing inside or not blah blah.

What the the absolute BEST way you cook your turkey to avoid meat dryer than a nuns crotch? And please don't suggest that Jamie Oliver thing of smearing butter underneath the skin bc I tried it last year and it was impossible (disclaimer:I am not a great cook).

Help me please oh wise MN-er's so I can sleep tonight..what's your failsafe tip for tender turkey? Or does it not exist?

YANBU: It's a pain in the bloody arse and turkey tastes terrible no matter what
YABU: It's easy to cook a nice turkey and you are clearly doing it all wrong

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
WhitegreeNcandle · 19/12/2024 15:28

I do ours overnight in the Aga. Appreciate I’m lucky to have that option but I wonder if low and slow in the oven might be the same. Always do a massive one too as we feed a lot of people. Buy them from a local farm where they are disposed of last weekend, dressed this week and can collect from Saturday. Loads of farms do it that way just for Christmas.

AngelicInnocent · 19/12/2024 15:27

How many is it for? Get a frozen turkey joint and a nice gammon. Bit of obligatory turkey and then fill up on gammon.

Original poster
Mrswhatsit40 · 19/12/2024 15:27

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 19/12/2024 15:23

How would you feel about doing what Nigella does, and brining it before you roast it, @Mrswhatsit40? I’m sure she has a recipe online, but basically you soak it over night in salty water/brine, with various things in to give it a bit of flavour - onions, celery, clementines, herbs, spices.

If I recall correctly, she then just roasts it normally - maybe with butter smeared on it (not under the skin).

Covering the breast with streaky bacon, part way through the cooking time, protects the skin of the breast, and you get crispy bacon which people love.

Hmmm, I wondered about doing this actually as the one I enjoy at the pub always tastes quite salty - I wonder if they brine it first. Il check that out.

OP posts:
crockofshite · 19/12/2024 15:27

STOP with the turkey already.

The sky won't fall in if you have chicken or duck or goose instead.

Or beef, or pork, or fish.

Just stop with the damn turkey. It's dry and tasteless and utterly pointless.

WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 19/12/2024 15:27

Lots of fresh ones available in my local M&S football this afternoon.

if you can afford and are prepared to throw money at it, we order from Kelly bronze and follow their instructions. We get a crown, half crown or full bird depending on numbers. No faffing, cooks quickly, always moist and tasty. Thermometer tells you when it’s cooked perfectly, let it rest while your potatoes and veg are in the oven.

Cynic17 · 19/12/2024 15:26

So have something else! Order a Chinese takeaway, if you like. It's supposed to be enjoyable. I haven't eaten turkey at Christmas for over 30 years... it's easy.

LiveLaughGoblin · 19/12/2024 15:25

Mrswhatsit40 · 19/12/2024 15:19

What do you have Christmas Day? Mine kick off if I suggest doing something else!

Show quote history

They can cook it then!

user2848502016 · 19/12/2024 15:25

Frozen turkeys are drier than fresh.

Also try a crown or a ready to carve turkey joint type thing. They don't take as long to cook so aren't as dry.

Also are you letting it rest before carving? At least half an hour

Original poster
Mrswhatsit40 · 19/12/2024 15:25

heldinadream · 19/12/2024 15:21

Ah. Now you're asking.
I'm afraid I think Xmas day is not obligatory either.
So I'm no further help.

Show quote history

😂😂😂 You have the right idea. Once the youngest has left home I'm bogging off on a Caribbean cruise over the festive period.

OP posts:
FrenchandSaunders · 19/12/2024 15:25

I never understand why people put themselves through all that defrosting and cooking. I've never done it and I'm mid 50s. Head to M&S for a deboned, stuffed crown .... or if that's not within budget, buy a chicken or beef/lamb.

MaltipooMama · 19/12/2024 15:25

I hate to say it but the butter under the skin is the only way I remotely manage to get a juicy turkey (I still think it's dry regardless!) could you just get a crown? This year I'm doing four turkey parcels which are basically turkey breast wrapped in bacon and stuffing and just popped in the oven. Alternatively why not just do a big chicken and maybe pair it with a gammon or beef joint?

kelsaycobbles · 19/12/2024 15:23

Oh and salt and pepper the bird as well

GetDressedYouMerryGentlemen · 19/12/2024 15:23

Google Phil Vickery's turkey recipe - it's a game changer. DH used to reluctantly pick at a bit of leg and moan now he is happy to tuck in to breast too.

Fairyliz · 19/12/2024 15:23

Terrribletwos · 19/12/2024 15:16

Go to Tesco xmas eve late and get a fresh one heavily reduced.

I’ve done this in previous years and there has always been loads to choose from.
If by chance there was none left then we could have chicken/beef/lamb; there will be some meat there.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 19/12/2024 15:23

How would you feel about doing what Nigella does, and brining it before you roast it, @Mrswhatsit40? I’m sure she has a recipe online, but basically you soak it over night in salty water/brine, with various things in to give it a bit of flavour - onions, celery, clementines, herbs, spices.

If I recall correctly, she then just roasts it normally - maybe with butter smeared on it (not under the skin).

Covering the breast with streaky bacon, part way through the cooking time, protects the skin of the breast, and you get crispy bacon which people love.

Original poster
Mrswhatsit40 · 19/12/2024 15:23

JurassicPark4Eva · 19/12/2024 15:18

If you hate cooking and you're not good at it, buy a chicken in a cooking bag from any supermarket and just put it in the oven. Turkey is overrated.

If you insist on turkey, buy a turkey crown you again, just put in the oven as is.

It's is SO overrated. The thing is when I go for a carvery I love the turkey roast dinner, it always tastes really nice so there must be a way of cooking it so it's tasty. I just don't know what it is!

OP posts:
kelsaycobbles · 19/12/2024 15:23

Butter on the outside, bacon on the outside also

It is of course just possible that you don't like turkey

KneesUnder · 19/12/2024 15:23

If you are doing turkey (not obligatory) I recommend Nigella’s timings. Most people cook
it for far too long and then complain it’s dry. Cover in bacon for the first hour.

Meadowfinch · 19/12/2024 15:23

OP, check Tesco for a fresh Gressingham duck. It'll feed a family of four, tastes much nicer that turkey and doesn't dry out. You don't need to baste it, just cover it over with foil and roast it. Easy.

arethereanyleftatall · 19/12/2024 15:22

How old would you be to be able to kick off but not old enough to cook the Turkey yourself?

I don't get it. Just get something else.

squirrelnutcartel · 19/12/2024 15:21

Mrswhatsit40 · 19/12/2024 15:19

What do you have Christmas Day? Mine kick off if I suggest doing something else!

Show quote history

Let them source and cook it then. People are only pretending to like turkey anyway. It's social pressure that means they're buying them. Just say no, enough, no more turkey.

heldinadream · 19/12/2024 15:21

Mrswhatsit40 · 19/12/2024 15:19

What do you have Christmas Day? Mine kick off if I suggest doing something else!

Show quote history

Ah. Now you're asking.
I'm afraid I think Xmas day is not obligatory either.
So I'm no further help.

Original poster
Mrswhatsit40 · 19/12/2024 15:20

FatAlec · 19/12/2024 15:12

We get a turkey butterfly from butcher so just a big ol chunk of meat so no messing about with giblets and the like. Very easy to carve too. Lots of basting helps keep it moist!

This is what I do (lots of basting) but then I've just read on another thread on here that it's best to cover tightly in foil and then just leave it alone??

OP posts:
Original poster
Mrswhatsit40 · 19/12/2024 15:19

heldinadream · 19/12/2024 15:09

Why do it then? I'm 69, 2 kids, 3 gcs, never cooked a turkey in my life and never will.
It's not obligatory. 😂

What do you have Christmas Day? Mine kick off if I suggest doing something else!

OP posts:
Original poster
Mrswhatsit40 · 19/12/2024 15:19

Terrribletwos · 19/12/2024 15:08

I tried to cook a frozen turkey one year. Never again! As you say it was awful. Can't you get a fresh one?

I went to Waitrose today and there were none, only two frozen ones left. I have a Tesco delivery coming Monday but they've no fresh turkeys on there despite me doing it about 2 weeks ago. I'm guessing you have to order a fresh one from the butcher?

I thought things are supposed to be fresher when they're frozen? Didn't think it made any difference to taste whether it's frozen or not, maybe that's my mistake!

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread