Is there a noticeable difference between a fresh and a frozen turkey?

[DorrisM]

For all the years that I've hosted Christmas I've always bought a fresh turkey from a local butchers or farm shop, which costs £££. I'm not convinced that anybody could tell the difference between a fresh and a frozen turkey and whilst I'm fortunate enough t be able to pay for a fresh one I resent paying more if it's unnecessary. The money I'd save could be spent on the dc's or even God forbid not spent at all so January wouldn't be so much if a stretch.

However I have actually tried a frozen bird since I was a child, so don't know If I've just dreamt this up. Is frozen really a bad thing?

I always have frozen. I have had fresh in the past.

My frozen turkey is always nice.

I don't think fresh ones are worth the expense.

Had both, can't tell the difference in taste, tbh I'd save the money ...

Apparent not Morrison s frozen turkey

The frozen ones are a bastard to defrost, and ime the outside is smelly while the inside is still solid.

And with the risk of food poisoning from turkey being what it is, I would feel more comfortable with a fresh one.

If money is an issue then it's a no brainer to go for a frozen Turkey. Why leave yourself short for January just to go for a fresh Turkey.

I would make some really nice stuffing, the jewelled stuffing wrapped in Parma ham always looks nice and then with all the other bits and bobs like bread sauce and cranberry sauce i'd be surprised if anybody noticed or cared whether it was fresh or frozen

The last time we had a fresh turkey its skin was green on christmas morning. That was an expensive mistake never to be repeated.

I think fresh ones can be a rip off - I bought a very expensive free range turkey once and was not impressed; I like the frozen 'butterball' ones

I don't think I've ever had a fresh turkey for Christmas dinner. If I have, I haven't noticed it being any nicer.

There is so much on your plate that any difference won't be noticed (if that makes sense).

I usually cater for between 14 - 20 on Christmas Day. We have had both in the past, no difference at all in taste and no-one has ever mentioned it.

This year, it's just me, DH and DC's. we are having a turkey crown with stuffing inside it, probably a frozen one because I am not planning to hit the shops at all on Christmas eve am hoping to be drunk instead

Frozen turkey defrosting. How long for & where, please?

There is so much on your plate that any difference won't be noticed (if that makes sense).

That reminds me of when I was helping at an old folks' Christmas lunch years ago, as I cleared the plates I asked one gentleman if he had enjoyed it, he said it was lovely, 'there wasn't any turkey on the plate but I still enjoyed it' .

I always buy frozen. My BIL spent a frigging fortune on an organic blah blah blah super dooper turkey the year before last. No difference as far as I could tell.

Ha ha Ragwort - what a lovely man. Made me feel a bit tearful though.

Frozen is best - you get loads more for the money and it is the way you cook it that makes it nice.

Defrosting - in the fridge for a 2-3 days should do it.

Not in front of the heater in the sitting room in the evening on Christmas Eve, so that the cat can eat it. Still, she only ate a bit off the leg and we cut it off before the guests arrived......

I've bought all sorts of turkeys: bronze, free range, organic, ordinary, economy. I think they all vary and there isn't much to chose - I think the best turkey I ever had was an Asda one for less than £20 which tasted better than the specially ordered one via a famous cookery writer's source the year before and which cost £80. And that was years ago.

IME once you serve it up with lovely gravy, bread sauce, cranberry sauce and all the trimmings it all blends into one flavour anyway. I stick to an ordinary supermarket range now and don't go overboard - certainly don't spend more than £40.00. It's more than good enough for cold meat on boxing day and once it's in a pie with a nice sauce and the leftover ham the next day who could possibly tell.

On the frozen point I have been known to buy one for £5 in Sainsburys at about 4pm on Xmas Eve and bung it in the freezer until Easter and it eats fine. I've just never been brave enough to risk waiting for the Christmas turkey but every year for the last five or six there have been reduced turkeys in my local supermarkets.

Oh yes, my mum swears by a butterball for big family occasions/buffets outside Xmas when the fresh ones aren't in stock - taste fine to me. I think it's all a big marketing ploy.

OTH I can't see any difference between a Sainsbury's basics chicken for £4.50 and a free range specialist one for £12 + either.

As long as it's defrosted In good time then I'd go with frozen. It's all in the cooking and other christmas meal foods.

The first year we hosted christmas we bought a frozen turkey, followed the defrosting guidelines, went to cook it christmas morning, still bloody frozen. We had to frantically defrost in the microwave not recommended so we could eat before bedtime. Luckily nobody died

I used to buy fresh from MandS. Very very expensive. Now I get a frozen turkey crown from Aldi for a tenner. Bargain! Just defrost on Xmas Eve. As it's a crown it doesn't take too long to defrost.

I'm glad I asked you've all confirmed my suspicions and that good housekeeping link that Darksparrow linked to just shows that actually it's just luck of the draw. Frozen it is for me this year.

Agree - no difference; done both ends of the spectrum here.