...to think I will get a turkey on December 20th?

[Weddingblues23]

First time hosting Christmas. Very confident cook but have never shopped for a turkey before and not sure if they get sold out weeks in advance like advent calendars and the middle of Lidl special buys 😄 If I order a turkey to click and collect from a Tesco megastore on December 20th, will I actually get one? Or should I try to get one in advance and freeze it?

YABU - Are you crazy?! Those things fly off the shelves (can turkeys fly 🤔)

YANBU - you'll have a turkey to gobble, no problem

You’ll get one. I have always managed to get one in M&S even on Xmas eve.

you’ll be fine

I've never ordered anything and never not been able to get what I wanted.

We usually get a turkey butterfly from a farm shop, but the shops have always had turkeys in.

We just go at 6 am on the 23rd. First stop Morrisons for most things, then M&S on the way back for anything that was missing/didn't like the look of at Morrisons. We're usually home before 8 am, after sailing past the queues of people waiting for their click and collects. Then we don't need to go anywhere any shops for the best part of a week.

For the past several years there have been turkeys lining the shelves come Xmas eve! You’ll be fine 5 days before.

I agree that many years ago you’d have had no luck but it’s just not like that anymore

You'll be fine ..at any supermarket.

You'll get one. It may not be the compulsory MN organic Norfolk Bronze that's been reared on quenelles of Fortnum and Mason brandy butter and hand-plucked by jolly elves singing Away in a Manger...but you'll definitely get a turkey.

You will defo get one, you might even get a bargain!

😆

There won’t be a shortage of anything in the 20th. Even the 24th there’s usually loads left. Unless you have very particular and specific requirements you’ll be completely fine, even if you don’t preorder it.

Second question... how likely is it to last in the fridge for five days? Normally when I buy a chicken it's at least 5 days so I'm guessing the same for turkey?!

Similar here - crack of dawn at M&S as soon as they open on the 23rd. Grab turkey, plus fresh OJ for Bucks Fizz, maybe some veg, home by 8.

The last few years we've got one in Aldi on the 23rd. I'd prefer not to have it any earlier as it takes up so much bloody space in the fridge!

I wouldn't rely on a supermarket having stock.
You should have ordered one from you butcher or farmshop weeks ago.
Order one ASAP.

Nah, I'm not spending £100 on a turkey. It's a supporting player in my view, supermarket is fine.

This is such a mumsnet response.

Back in the real world, supermakets are full of turkeys right up to Christmas. I’ve never pre ordered one and usually do my food shop on 23rd or 24th.

I could'nt get one in my fridge along with everything else. I buy later so keep 2 or 3 days. Wrapped with foil and leave in garage. Add cold blocks if temperature is over 9 in garage.

Sadly we don't have a garage and the foxes would have it away in a flash! But I take on board the warning re fridge space.

You may very well get one on the 20th, but it’s not great to cook five day old poultry. You need it to be as fresh as possible.

If you are ordering from Tesco's Festive Food to Order, you'll get one. The specific items for those orders are sent to the stores in the numbers needed specifically for the click and collect and delivery orders.

If it's like last year, they will be best before 26th, so it should be ok (but there were stories in the news about ones that weren't ok, from various supermarkets so I guess it can't be guaranteed).

Only thing I've struggled to get if left too late is potatoes.

Just make sure you tick the box to allow substitutions so if they've not got that exact turkey, you can still get a different turkey.

I'd not leave it 5 days before cooking tbh. Over the past few years have you not seen the stories about green gone off fresh turkeys? You can order a turkey now to be collected on 23rd. It means it will be killed a few days later so should be fresher. Morrisons have their own farmers rear all their meat and poultry.

Just order be from Tesco before their cut off date (needs to be in basket and checked out by the date). You are then guaranteed one will be delivered in your delivery date although I think 20th is a bit early tbh.

You could just buy a frozen one. I've just ordered one from Waitrose for £29 (I am cooking it after 25th hence getting a frozen one).

Aldi never get turkeys in until just before Christmas and they are lovely and v reasonably priced if you can be bothered to go to an actual shop. You should be able to get one right up to Christmas. I usually go on 23rd. I'd go early in day to make sure. I believe they get daily deliveries. Their yellow label Prosecco is lovely also, while you are in there! 😀

I always get my christmas food at 7am on Christmas eve from Aldi. There's always one random veg missing, but never any issues getting turkey.

Due to all our plans changing at the last minute last year as everyone except me had Covid, I got a frozen one in our local co-op on Christmas Eve. They had loads left.

If you order one with Click & Collect, you’ll definitely get one.

There was a bit of a shortage last year, I think bird flu related, but you’ll probably be fine this year even if you just go to a supermarket in the morning and get one off the shelf.