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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:
SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 20/12/2023 15:31

@Smerk - sausages and bacon usually have really long sell-by dates, in my experience - we have had both in the fridge for more than a week before now, and they have been fine.

As others have said, beef is better when it is aged, and I’m sure it will be fine - especially as the butcher has said it will be OK - he will really know what he’s talking about, and it wouldn’t be good for business if he gave people bad advice on storing the meat they buy from him, and it went bad.

Bromptotoo · 20/12/2023 15:31

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.

I bought a turkey joint on Monday. The label said use by 23rd but I doubt that, provided it was refrigerated and properly cooked, it would have made me ill on the 25th.

As it happens I froze it but that's becuase we're off in the caravan for Christmas and I can't rely on the fridge being as cold as at home.

bouncydog · 20/12/2023 15:43

I really don't understand all the ones saying they wouldn’t eat frozen beef. DH buys a whole rib of beef 3 weeks before Christmas, cuts it into joints and pops it in the freezer. He takes it out to defrost on Christmas Eve and nobody has ever told him they knew it had been frozen. Usual comments are how fantastic a meal it is!

mustardrarebit · 20/12/2023 16:00

I bought our beef from costco today. Use by date is 3rd Jan. I'd say you'll be fine.

madamepopov · 20/12/2023 16:01

In fairness, we have absolutely no idea of the back story here. Everyone is ripping in to the op with no idea if her dad is being unfairly maligned or if he has repeatedly let her down over the years. Maybe she uses the word useless because he's called her that as a child? Maybe he has form for acting like he's saving the day when he's the one that cocked it up in the first place.
It reminds me of my ds being really mean to his little sister yesterday while attempting to correct her much smaller act of rudeness...

WhatWillAPearDoAtNight · 20/12/2023 16:02

People saying cook the beef then freeze it? That sounds disgusting - how would it be nice and pink in the middle? Surely it resembles a dry old piece of leather if you do this???

MikeRafone · 20/12/2023 16:03

I was in Sainsbury this morning looking at joints of beef in the fridge compartments, they were labelled Best before dates after xmas

The butcher has told your father the joint of meat will be fine

why do you think the meat will "turn" before Boxing Day?

Cerealkiller4U · 20/12/2023 16:11

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?

The beef will be fine!! Blimey beef lasts for ages.

the pork id cook then put it in the fridge

notmorezoom · 20/12/2023 16:17

@Smerk I really don't get the issue. Put it in the freezer, take it out 24 hours beforehand to defrost, or 36 hours if you're worried. What is the problem?

Bromptotoo · 20/12/2023 16:28

MikeRafone · 20/12/2023 16:03

I was in Sainsbury this morning looking at joints of beef in the fridge compartments, they were labelled Best before dates after xmas

The butcher has told your father the joint of meat will be fine

why do you think the meat will "turn" before Boxing Day?

The last sentence covers it. Some meats, particularly poultry, can harbour nasties like salmonella though proper cooking will see them off. Others like beef and lamb are much less likely to harbour stuff and if they do it's on the outside. Even those who like our beef or lamb rare sear it to start off.

AIUI a lot of meat, not just game, is hung for a period between slaughter and sale. A couple of days extra in a fridge won't make any difference.

Seaweed42 · 20/12/2023 16:33

Why don't you ring the butcher where it was bought and ask them?
So you have if from the horses mouth.

If needs be the butcher might take back the meat and store it in their cold storage for another few days.

I presume we are talking a lump of beef not in a vacuum wrapper but wrapped in greaseproof paper?

thebestinterest · 20/12/2023 16:35

I find that beef starts to turn brown by the 3rd day, so I hear you. I’d do as everyone else is suggesting and cook pigs/freeze. Beef may or may not hold up, so maybe cook that as well and just rebuy Xmas day protein? Lesson learned. If you are hosting, never, ever, ever trust others to deliver on the key ingredients of your party! In this case, food! Specially meat…

rb124 · 20/12/2023 17:07

I think Dad needs some basic lessons in how long fresh food really lasts!

BIossomtoes · 20/12/2023 17:09

rb124 · 20/12/2023 17:07

I think Dad needs some basic lessons in how long fresh food really lasts!

In which case so do all the supermarkets because they’re selling beef today with best before dates after Christmas.

Doggymummar · 20/12/2023 17:11

My delivery arrived today all meat was best before 28 December vacuum sealed and to be stored between 0 and 4 according to the butchers instructions. I magine yesterday would be bb 27th so plenty fine for Christmas day. We cook ours on Christmas Eve anyway as we only have one oven

Shade17 · 20/12/2023 17:12

Why don't you ring the butcher where it was bought and ask them?
So you have if from the horses mouth.

This. My trusty butcher keeps pieces of beef for up to 3 months and they’re amazing. If I told him I was concerned about keeping a piece of beef for a week after buying it he’d probably piss himself laughing 😆

Raizin · 20/12/2023 17:17

Calm down. It'll be fine.

Jingleballs2 · 20/12/2023 17:20

BIossomtoes · 20/12/2023 17:09

In which case so do all the supermarkets because they’re selling beef today with best before dates after Christmas.

Show quote history

In proper packaging though, not just a piece of beef from the counter (we're assuming) it's completely different

anybloodyname · 20/12/2023 17:27

Please don't call your father useless
I don't care about your Xmas dinner but I do care about you being unkind
Even if he frustrates you sometimes , makes poor decisions, causes you grief .. just be kind , he won't be here forever

BIossomtoes · 20/12/2023 17:32

Jingleballs2 · 20/12/2023 17:20

In proper packaging though, not just a piece of beef from the counter (we're assuming) it's completely different

Show quote history

I can’t imagine that a bit of plastic and a polystyrene tray extends the life of a piece of beef by much.

Motherofasmallpony · 20/12/2023 17:52

OP it will be absolutely fine! That’s why beef is hung for days/weeks - the longer the better. And the butcher would know. We always get our rib of beef well in advance. Enjoy the beef! Xx

Teateaandmoretea · 20/12/2023 18:03

bouncydog · 20/12/2023 15:43

I really don't understand all the ones saying they wouldn’t eat frozen beef. DH buys a whole rib of beef 3 weeks before Christmas, cuts it into joints and pops it in the freezer. He takes it out to defrost on Christmas Eve and nobody has ever told him they knew it had been frozen. Usual comments are how fantastic a meal it is!

Totally agree, it’s really bizarre. I’d pop it in the freezer if it was me.

bellac11 · 20/12/2023 18:06

Jingleballs2 · 20/12/2023 17:20

In proper packaging though, not just a piece of beef from the counter (we're assuming) it's completely different

Show quote history

Proper packaging?

What does this mean?

The age of the beef is the age of the beef. Years ago, we bought meat, bread, fish and veg in paper bags/wraped in paper

coffeeaddict77 · 20/12/2023 18:09

I think it is safe to refreeze everything although I'm not sure if it effects the taste.

saffy2 · 20/12/2023 18:25

In my experience ‘useless fathers’ don’t fork out for decent meat for a meal and attend Christmas with their children.
my dads Christmas present from me from last year is still sitting at my sisters house where he didn’t turn up last year to pick it up, I hadn’t seen him for about 6 months before that, and haven’t seen him since…my youngest daughter 5, doesn’t know who he is 😂😂😂😂😂
that’s a useless father…