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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:
TheseLegsDefinitelyUsedToBeLonger · 20/12/2023 13:43

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

This post is MOST unfair @LittleMousewithcloggson ... I now want those for breakfast tomorrow! 😂

Milkybarsareonmeeeee · 20/12/2023 13:46

But fresh OP im
jsit out my butchers and was told not to buy anything just now for Xmas day.

HaddawayAndShite · 20/12/2023 13:52

Smerk · 19/12/2023 21:43

How is it a waste if everything gets eaten, just on different days?

It is a waste if the joint turns I suppose, but then that's not really on me.

Money is not an issue but the waste makes me sick.

mmhm.

BaconMassive · 20/12/2023 13:53

It'll be fine.

wasanneofcleves · 20/12/2023 13:57

It will be absolutely fine. I've just bought my turkey today. Had the 25th on it.

Sgtmajormummy · 20/12/2023 13:59

Plastic wrapped roast beef joints (the sort you get from the supermarket) need to be out of the plastic 3 days before, so Thursday, to air dry the surface in the fridge, get a good fried crust and avoid grey roast meat.

From the butcher, ask the butcher.

Umidontknow · 20/12/2023 14:00

If you are that worried freeze the beef and eat the pigs. Pigs in blankets are hardly hard to get hold of. If he is that "useless" don't ask or agree to him getting the meat in the first place 🤷‍♀️

Lilacanemone · 20/12/2023 14:00

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?

I wouldn’t refreeze if they have been defrosted. Use them now.

BeadedBubbles · 20/12/2023 14:03

CandyLeBonBon · 19/12/2023 22:00

Also, can I just ask opwhat she thinks happens to beef when it's 'aging' for 28 days?

Does she realise it's not in freezer?

It's in a special air drying fridge at my local farm shop.

Melodyy · 20/12/2023 14:06

I cannot even count the amount of times I've defrosted and re-froze meat.
The meat will be FINE OP.

femfemlicious · 20/12/2023 14:07

I'm wondering as well. I only put meat in the fridge if I'm eating it the next day. I always freeze meat

Dartmoorcheffy · 20/12/2023 14:16

Cook the pigs, freeze then reheat from frozen on the day.

Meat will be absolutely fine if kept below 4 degrees until next week.

I've been a chef over 30 years. There is no need to waste anything.

If you are still in doubt about the beef then cook it on Saturday. it will be fine to eat on Tuesday still.

Lulalola · 20/12/2023 14:20

I never understand these types of threads. Ask for advice, argue with everyone that gives you advice you don't agree with, and then decided to go with what you were going to do anyway

Why even bother asking in the first place

ManateeFair · 20/12/2023 14:23

The butcher said it'll be fine.

The butcher is correct. Stop worrying about it and stop calling your dad useless.

Dustybarn · 20/12/2023 14:23

I went to the butcher today to order a leg of lamb (Christmas) and some lamb chops and pork-based sausage for a barbecue on Saturday. He asked if I wanted to take it now as it’s already in. I left it with him as his cold storage arrangements are no doubt more consistent than mine but based on his response, fresh meat bought now should be good at Christmas.

Mountainpika · 20/12/2023 14:30

Bought our Christmas beef today. Butcher vacuum packed it for me without my asking.

Isabella31 · 20/12/2023 14:37

Xmas is 4 days away as long as its all in the fridge it will all be good to eat done worry, I bought a big joint of beef last week and the date on it is the 30th December so kept it in the fridge and will cook it xmas day too 😁

Bromptotoo · 20/12/2023 14:38

Just freeze the stuff now. If it's been in a cold fridge that should be fine.

Imisssleep2 · 20/12/2023 14:39

If the beef joint wasn't frozen then it will prob be fine as they hang it for a few weeks as it is. I was gobsmacked to learn my turkey I ordered from a free range farmer was hung and waiting to be plucked on like the 4th December and would still be good for us to eat 3 weeks later! But the pigs in blankets if frozen need cooking and eating asap and replacing for sure. White meat is always alot more dodgy than red as it is

Thereseq · 20/12/2023 14:43

Eat the pigs freeze the beef. I have mine in freezer for 2 weeks. I always freeze meats.

Ginnnny · 20/12/2023 15:10

Chase him up to get the job done then berate him for getting the job done... If money isn't an issue, sort it yourself. Why didn't you sort it yourself in the first place?!

ChocolateCinderToffee · 20/12/2023 15:22

Smerk · 19/12/2023 22:02

I don't think butchers "age" meat by wrapping it in plastic and shoving it in my dad's fridge behind the yoghurt. I bloody hope not anyway.

Console yourself with the fact that this comment made me roar with laughter!

CharlotteBog · 20/12/2023 15:24

I bought our turkey crown from the butcher yesterday and he told me it'll be fine in the fridge until Christmas.
We have some beef (not for Christmas) which has a sell by of 30th Dec.
Trust your Dad and butcher.

Deliadidit · 20/12/2023 15:28

If any of my adult DC called me useless I wouldn’t be hosting them at all!

banjocat · 20/12/2023 15:30

I don't think it's fair to call your dad 'useless' if the butcher told him it would be fine.