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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Useless Father Bought Xmas Meat Today (Tues 19th)

238 replies

Smerk · 19/12/2023 19:50

Just want a sanity check here. We're hosting Xmas for 10 adults and 2 small children (as usual). My dad's one contribution to this is ordering the meat from his local butcher for me or him to collect close to Christmas.

After chasing him up for a week asking if he'd managed to order the beef joint and pigs in blankets, he finally confirms today that be has bought it all and it's currently sitting in his fridge.

When I expressed concern that it's not going to last until next Tuesday, he replied:
"The butcher said it'll be fine. The pigs were frozen and my fridge is cold."

I thought that you had 24 hours to eat something that was defrosted. I also thought that meat was good in the fridge for only 3-4 days. I am very concerned that if we wake up on Xmas Day and it's turned, we're absolutely fucked. I'm also worried that we're going to make my elderly in-laws and breastfeeding SIL sick.

We can't refreeze the pigs if they've already been frozen. I don't particularly want to eat a frozen joint, but maybe I should tell him to stick it in his freezer and I'll buy a replacement of everything. Money is not an issue but the waste makes me sick.

AIBU to rebuy all the Christmas meat?

OP posts:
SadlyACupOfTeaDoesNotSolveEverything · 19/12/2023 19:53

Cook the pigs in blankets… sandwiches for lunch tomorrow? Freeze the beef for a steak pie on NYD.

If moneys genuinely no issue re order for Saturday collection but definitely needs to be fresh.

whatdidshedotogetahillnamedafterher · 19/12/2023 19:57

Oh heck! Lets be generous as its christmas and pressume he didnt know! Sorry OP but I learned very early on if I want a job doing, do it myself!

Lighrbulbmo · 19/12/2023 19:57

if money is no issue you won’t be fucked !
fucked would be no money no food no hope…..could you have an early Christmas meal and get replacement meats for 25th

LittleMousewithcloggson · 19/12/2023 19:58

Freeze the beef
cook and eat the piggies
wrap them in puff pastry, sprinkle cheese on them and have them for breakfast with juice and fruit

RosesAndHellebores · 19/12/2023 19:58

What's wrong with putting the beef in the freezer and defrosting the day before it's cooked? I do it all the time. I'd also have put the pigs back in the freezer. They'll be fine if properly cooked.

ThePoshUns · 19/12/2023 19:59

Cook the pigs and freeze them, heat them in the oven on Xmas day.
If the beef is fresh what's the use by date?

Shade17 · 19/12/2023 20:00

No need to do anything with the beef, just keep in the fridge. It’ll be absolutely fine.

Original poster
Smerk · 19/12/2023 20:01

I know it's a minor issue in the grand scheme of things but it would be a major issue if we woke up on Christmas day with unusable meat and no way to replace it.

So are we agreed that none of it is going to last? I'm not overreacting?

OP posts:
TroysMammy · 19/12/2023 20:01

Cook the pigs and a baked camembert and use them as dippers in the cheese.

WhiskersPete · 19/12/2023 20:02

Beef is actually nicer aged a bit - has more flavour

ArcticBells · 19/12/2023 20:03

RosesAndHellebores · 19/12/2023 19:58

What's wrong with putting the beef in the freezer and defrosting the day before it's cooked? I do it all the time. I'd also have put the pigs back in the freezer. They'll be fine if properly cooked.

This. So long as cooked in a really hot oven they'll be fine

SprogTakesAQuarry · 19/12/2023 20:03

It will be fine.

if you’re worried, whack in freezer and then take out on Xmas eve.

Arrestedforit · 19/12/2023 20:05

If his fridge is running at about 4 degrees everything will be fine. The beef would be sitting in the butchers fridge at same temperature and will just continue to mature. The pigs in blankets are made from cured meat nd again, nothing to worry about, unless the fridge is running warm.
I definitely wouldn’t freeze a good joint of beef.
if you’re nervous about the pigs you could cook freeze and reheat but I wouldn’t bother.

Arrestedforit · 19/12/2023 20:06

Smerk · 19/12/2023 20:01

I know it's a minor issue in the grand scheme of things but it would be a major issue if we woke up on Christmas day with unusable meat and no way to replace it.

So are we agreed that none of it is going to last? I'm not overreacting?

No not agreed, the beef will be perfectly fine

Original poster
Smerk · 19/12/2023 20:08

Ok so we refreeze the pigs now, leave the beef and check his fridge is 4 degrees. Get the pigs out on Xmas eve.

Can we still have a medium joint (pink) or do we need to make it well done to be safe?

OP posts:
Kittenkitty · 19/12/2023 20:10

Ask any butcher and they’ll confirm the meat will be fine by Christmas.

I don’t know what the backstory is but you sound really critical and ungrateful calling him useless and saying it’s his one contribution when in fact it’s quite a decent contribution.

5foot5 · 19/12/2023 20:10

RosesAndHellebores · 19/12/2023 19:58

What's wrong with putting the beef in the freezer and defrosting the day before it's cooked? I do it all the time. I'd also have put the pigs back in the freezer. They'll be fine if properly cooked.

Yes this.

I have already bought all the meat for the Christmas period and have it in the freezer. This includes a turkey and for later in the week a beef joint. If it is a big joint it probably needs up to two days to defrost in the fridge.

Arrestedforit · 19/12/2023 20:11

Smerk · 19/12/2023 20:08

Ok so we refreeze the pigs now, leave the beef and check his fridge is 4 degrees. Get the pigs out on Xmas eve.

Can we still have a medium joint (pink) or do we need to make it well done to be safe?

Yes, do that. Running warm would be 10 degrees or so.
if his fridge is full of stuff that can be kept at room temperature, like jam, pickles, mustard or veg and fruit, perhaps take that out so there is a decent air flow.

Arrestedforit · 19/12/2023 20:12

And don’t call your father useless. That’s uncalled for just because you sound like a novice.

5foot5 · 19/12/2023 20:13

Kittenkitty · 19/12/2023 20:10

Ask any butcher and they’ll confirm the meat will be fine by Christmas.

I don’t know what the backstory is but you sound really critical and ungrateful calling him useless and saying it’s his one contribution when in fact it’s quite a decent contribution.

Oh yes and this. You say "his one contribution" like he is turning up with a bottle of sweet sherry or a bag of satsumas or something, rather than, arguably, the main component of the meal!

Arrestedforit · 19/12/2023 20:15

And cook it how you like it. Medium rare sounds delish, I’ll be round on Tuesday for left overs 😉

Original poster
Smerk · 19/12/2023 20:16

Just FYI, he is absolutely useless (think Frank from Shameless) and this is why I second guess everything he does.

OP posts:
Spirallingdownwards · 19/12/2023 20:17

A pound to a penny if you buy beef Christmas Eve it is already sat in a fridge somewhere.

TimeFlysWhenYoureHavingRum · 19/12/2023 20:17

Most of the steaks you can buy now are 28 day aged. The good ones even longer. Beef will be fine in a cold fridge for a week.

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