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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Does anyone cook the turkey the day before..?

137 replies

NettleMania · 18/12/2021 18:13

This is probably sacrilege, but it would make my life so much easier. There would be more room in the fridge and more room in the oven. And I'd have more down time.

Does anyone else do this?

p.s. I am a turkey virgin as we usually have goose which I always do the day before. I have reluctantly been persuaded by misguided 'traditionalists' to do turkey this year...

OP posts:
ThatsMySantaHisBeardIsSoFluffy · 18/12/2021 22:42

It doesn't give more room in the oven though, as it cooks on its own and then rests while the sides are cooking. The 'more room in the oven' people aren't resting their turkey for long enough.

There is really no good reason to cook it the day before, IMO.

Vinotinto78 · 18/12/2021 22:54

It’s a nope from me. However, most of the accompaniments are already made and stashed away in the freezer…. Dauphinois, cauliflower cheese, Nut roast and pigs in blankets. Turkey is better freshly cooked in my opinion. But as the meal is such a frickin nightmare, I choose not to judge anyone who does it differently!

GutsInMay · 18/12/2021 23:12

Freshly cooked is much nicer.

Re-heated tastes like school dinners. I know from the reheated Turkey I have eaten / been offered on Boxing Day.

If you have paid for a good quality fresh bird it is worth enjoying at its best. Cooked fresh, well rested.

Have everything else frozen ready to heat up.

Curiousmouse · 18/12/2021 23:20

No but we buy a raw butchers ham and cook that Xmas eve day time.

Comefromaway · 18/12/2021 23:22

We don’t eat Sunday Dinner until 6-7pm. So we put the roast in Sunday morning. It’s usually cooked by 2pm & I pop it in the fridge until teatime.

DappyApple · 18/12/2021 23:52

No not on Christmas Eve. I wouldn’t have enough room in the fridge to store it. I leave it rest for an hour plus, so doesn’t take away oven space anyway. If you double layer it with foil then wrap it it an old bath towel will still be piping hot when it’s ready to serve!

HollyandIvyandAllThingsYule · 19/12/2021 00:03

Exactly @GutsInMay - we pay a lot for our turkey and I want to have it at its best! Boxing Day onwards is for leftovers...

As pp said, covered in foil and wrapped in a towel or a couple of tea towels it will still be piping hot an hour later and lovely to eat.

We do have a glazed ham too, but we cook that on the 23rd to have on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day. We also have a proper roasted pork joint in the Danish tradition (‘flæskesteg’ with wonderfully crispy crackling spears) at some point over the holidays.

Ahhh I can’t wait. 🎄🎄🎄

(Still a tiny bit miffed that I can’t have goose this year!)

onedayoranother · 19/12/2021 00:10

But the ritual of bringing the whole turkey to the table for everyone to go 'ooo'? The carving at the table? I'd miss that!

RaPumPumPumPum · 19/12/2021 00:14

Me!

More room in the oven on the day, gravy will heat it up

ThatsMySantaHisBeardIsSoFluffy · 19/12/2021 07:17

@RaPumPumPumPum

Me!

More room in the oven on the day, gravy will heat it up

If you're resting the bird properly, it would be done before you needed the oven for anything else.
HollyandIvyandAllThingsYule · 19/12/2021 07:18

Mind you I do agree with pp that if it makes the difference between a frazzled, stressful, unhappy Christmas Day and you feeling that little bit more chilled and happy, then I’m all for it - it’s not that big a deal and I’d rather people (especially women who, in many households, do most of the donkey work) do what makes it easiest on the day.

Happy Christmas everyone!🎄

whywouldntyou · 19/12/2021 07:33

Oh thank god! I thought I was the only one and never mention it to anyone outside the family because it would be sacrilegious! Braise it in gravy on the day (and I'm planning on heating it then putting it in the slow cooker to stay hot this year). I've done it that way for a few years now.

boto · 19/12/2021 07:35

Heating conversations going on here. A few thoughts;

Leaving the oven on and unattended overnight??!!Confused

And warmed meat in gravy can be bloody delicious.

whywouldntyou · 19/12/2021 07:38

@trumpisagit

I don't eat meat but DS2 always complains turkey is too dry and chicken is much nicer. Maybe the turkey he is having is cooked the day before. We will have turkey if go to MIL, or chicken if DH cooks.
No, it's be the other way around. Reheated in stock (braised) makes it incredibly moist, which is why I started doing it.
DiabeticFirstBaby · 19/12/2021 07:42

My parents always cooked it on Xmas eve and Xmas eve night we have turkey butties for tea using the leg meat. It's a tradition! x

ancientgran · 19/12/2021 10:50

@HollyandIvyandAllThingsYule

Mind you I do agree with pp that if it makes the difference between a frazzled, stressful, unhappy Christmas Day and you feeling that little bit more chilled and happy, then I’m all for it - it’s not that big a deal and I’d rather people (especially women who, in many households, do most of the donkey work) do what makes it easiest on the day.

Happy Christmas everyone!🎄

I don't get why turning the oven on, putting a turkey in and then x hours later getting it out would stress anyone out. What people seem to have done is cook the turkey the day before and then on the day put it in a tray with gravy and put it in the oven and then take it out again. It seems they have made more work not less.

The idea of slices of turkey in gravy in the oven does sound like school dinners.

HollyandIvyandAllThingsYule · 19/12/2021 11:00

It’s not for me either - I don’t relate at all! It’s a breeze to cook, really, and I’ve got the timings down pat and it all runs like clockwork. But clearly for quite a few people it seems to make the crucial difference. I don’t know why. It’s like there’s this myth perpetuated in some families that the turkey is some kind of onerous burden one must contend with for the sake of Christmas.

alwayswrighty · 19/12/2021 11:05

Husband is a Chef. He always does the Turkey on Xmas eve. Carves it Xmas day morning. Puts it in gravy in the slow cooker while he does the veg. It is delicious.

speakout · 19/12/2021 11:06

Always cook it the day befor, and leave it to cool and store in the garage overnight, My garage is as cold as the friidge in december

LindaEllen · 19/12/2021 11:06

Yes - I absolutely love the smell of it on Christmas Eve, it's amazing.

Enko · 19/12/2021 11:08

Cook turkey with 1.5 hours to spare for when you want dinner. Wrap in foil and towels (old blanket) leave to rest and cook everything else.

No wonder so many think Turkey is dry and horrid when they do stuff like suggested here.

A580Hojas · 19/12/2021 11:10

No, never. Mind you I've never had more than 8 people to cook for. But as pp have said, there is plenty of time to cook the roast potatoes, stuffing, pigs in blankets etc in the oven while the turkey is resting (breast side down if poss, juices run back into the breast).

HollyandIvyandAllThingsYule · 19/12/2021 11:11

@Enko do you have flæskesteg at Christmas? 🇩🇰 I always try to fit in in somewhere, even if it’s not the main roast.

WoodenReindeer · 19/12/2021 11:48

Yes to turkey reheated in gravy sounding like school dinners or cantern food. You'd think its the one meal a year you wouldn't do that! If its what you're used to I guess?

Itstheprinciple · 19/12/2021 12:13

We have never brought the whole bird to the table. Although I cook it the day before I don't slice it until Christmas day.

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