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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:
ISpyNoPlumPie · 19/12/2023 20:48

I’ve got a big beef joint in the fridge - bought two days ago from the supermarket, not the butcher. It’s got over two weeks on the date.

I would also refreeze the pigs in blankets. The risk of food poisoning is in not cooking things properly and then not cooling and storing them properly. It sounds like they’ve been kept cool so it shouldn’t be an issue.

caringcarer · 19/12/2023 20:52

OP I bought a huge beef joint yesterday and came back and immediately froze it. I bought a frozen turkey crown and took it to my son's to go in his freezer because mine is full now. Take out to defrost on Saturday morning then place it in the fridge. It will be fine to cook on Xmas day.

LimePi · 19/12/2023 20:52

@Namechangedagain20

of course freezing and defrosting affects the taste of meat 🙄
meat that wasn’t frozen is always much nicer

Lunde · 19/12/2023 20:53

What does the use by date on the label say?

Soontobe60 · 19/12/2023 20:53

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?

No. The beef would have been slaughtered several days before purchase - and we pay more for beef thats been hung for 28+ days!

Lovemusic82 · 19/12/2023 20:56

Beef lasts quite a while, some people like it more when it’s older. It will be fine cooked pink too. If it was Turkey or pork I would be more concerned. Pigs in blankets can be frozen or you could eat them now and replace?

bellac11 · 19/12/2023 20:57

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.

Its incredible that you're the first poster to say this and everyone else just ignoring that.

Useless father

Nice way to talk about someone whose chipping in and supporting with the provisions.

There'll be nothing wrong with the food in the freezer.

Your attitude OP, is a different matter

Original poster
Smerk · 19/12/2023 20:59

I guess I included "useless" for context. Because he is. And it affects whether I listen to his advice on food safety. Which I don't.

The posts on here have been helpful though.

OP posts:
MammaTo · 19/12/2023 21:02

No I think I’d play it safe and try and buy more and just write off what your dad has already bought.

Wexone · 19/12/2023 21:05

what's your issue with freezing meat ? God we wouldn't eat dinner at all if didn't freeze meat. would love to have fresh meat every day but its not practical. I have just cooked stew from defrosted frozen beef and have just taken out pork steak of the freezer to defrost and cook tomorrow. bung everything in the freezer it be grand

Tacotortoise · 19/12/2023 21:11

MammaTo · 19/12/2023 21:02

No I think I’d play it safe and try and buy more and just write off what your dad has already bought.

Why? What a bloody waste.

PhulNana · 19/12/2023 21:17

Smerk · 19/12/2023 20:59

I guess I included "useless" for context. Because he is. And it affects whether I listen to his advice on food safety. Which I don't.

The posts on here have been helpful though.

I think you should tell him you think that, and give him the chance to find some company that appreciates him next Xmas. Beef isn't cheap, madam.

Lunde · 19/12/2023 21:20

How is it packed? My butcher vacuum packs meat which means it can be in the fridge for 7-14 days. You need to check the date.

I bought my Christmas ham last Thursday and my pigs in blankets yesterday and they both have dates in early January as they are vacuum packed

HopingForRainbow2021 · 19/12/2023 21:23

I had just come on to say exactly this! Some of the replies here have had me doubting my sanity!

HopingForRainbow2021 · 19/12/2023 21:23

That was a reply to the PP who bought their turkey today with a best before date of 26th dec x

Eminybob · 19/12/2023 21:24

MadamVastra · 19/12/2023 20:18

I bought my turkey today with a use by of the 26th if anyone is interested 😂

Same! Although I'm now doubting if this was a good idea?
But as PP have said, one I buy on Xmas eve has probably been hanging around in a supermarket warehouse freezer anyway right?

thebutcherswife · 19/12/2023 21:26

I own a butchers and can confirm what a lot of posters have said, don’t freeze the beef, there’s really no need and if you freeze it and it’s not been vacuum packed then you’re at risk of freezer burn. If its wrapped in plastic take it out and let some air get to it, either on a plate wrapped in paper or in a Tupperware tub. Don’t worry about the colour going a bit darker. The older beef gets, the more tender it becomes as the fibres in the meat breakdown. You can cook it as you normally would, so if you like it pink it’s fine.

Livingoncaffeine · 19/12/2023 21:26

TroysMammy · 19/12/2023 20:01

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

I think this is the best idea I’ve ever seen on mumsnet or anywhere drools

JoyeuxNarwhal · 19/12/2023 21:28

Cook the pigs then freeze. Out to defrost the night before and reheat on the day.

Fresh meat frozen then defrosted is different to buying frozen meat that's cooked from frozen.

And if money isn't an issue and you were expecting him to let you down, why tf did you delegate this to him anyway @Smerk?

Nononsensemumsy · 19/12/2023 21:29

If money’s no object as you say, could you buy everything again then if the pigs and beef look iffy on Christmas morning you've got replacements ready. Or just swap them out without telling him.

2dogsandabudgie · 19/12/2023 21:34

I always buy Christmas joints early and freeze them. I bought pigs in blankets about a month ago and they are currently in the freezer.

MeinKraft · 19/12/2023 21:35

Beef, gammon and something else, lamb possibly is half price on Clubcard if you have a Tesco nearby. You could stick a gammon in slow cooker the night before and say you just fancied it.

justasking111 · 19/12/2023 21:35

Shade17 · 19/12/2023 20:00

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

Mine is in the fridge in the garage. Beef tastes better under the 21 day system. Pigs in blankets nah not keen.

Original poster
Smerk · 19/12/2023 21:37

He didn't let me down last year and he insisted we use his butcher and let him buy the meat otherwise he'd be turning up empty handed. I was worried and I did offer to do it myself several times over the last week when he went quiet, but didn't press too hard as I've injured my foot so it would be a hassle.

Good point about the packaging - god knows. I'll pick it all up tomorrow and get it back here. Better than picking it up when I'm collecting dad on Xmas morning and rolling the dice. I'll check if it's vacuum packed, unwrap it if not, probably buy a backup joint, probably cook the pigs tomorrow and replace them for Tues.

I spoke to mum and she absolutely will not eat anything refrozen and she's worried about the beef as well so that's made the decision for me. I know that my older guests are very cautious about food safety due to health issues so it would feel wrong to do anything else.

Thanks for your help everyone!

OP posts:
Bellie710 · 19/12/2023 21:38

I work in a butchers, the beef will be absolutely fine if its on a plate and not in a plastic bag but personally I would just freeze it and take it out and put it in the fridge on Saturday night to defrost for Monday.

As for the pigs in blankets I would throw them back in the freezer but if you don't want to do that you can cook them then freeze them and defrost on the day to cook again.