Roast chicken instead of turkey?

[Shgytfgtf111]

Forgive me people for sounding like a complete moron but please bear with me as I don't eat meat so don't know the answer! I am cooking Christmas dinner for three adults (so not me) and was wondering if I got a chicken (or a couple of chickens) rather than a turkey would people be disappointed with chicken? Does it taste much less Christmassy than turkey?

My family likes to eat leftovers for a few days after Christmas, would there be leftover meat from chicken?

Chickens are so much cheaper than turkey but I dont want people to feel short changed.

Thanks all!

We do chicken cause it’s just the two of us and we prefer it, but I can see that some people may be disappointed if it’s not turkey. In your position I’d probable go for a turkey crown since you’re feeding a small number - gives the best of both worlds.

Ooh! One year we chickened out of cooking properly and got a (I think) Waitrose or M&S chicken or turkey in a bag – not boil in a bag, but it’s pre-prepared with butter and whatnot and you keep it in the bag in the oven, then just follow the instructions for cutting the bag off for the last bit to crisp up. So ideal for poultry novices, very moist, no need to touch the meat.

@TangledWebofMincemeatDeception 🥂to you, I’m a horror to be in the kitchen with. But at least I recognise this flaw and warn everyone to steer clear?!

We have Cockerel sometimes for Christmas day when it’s a small group, it’s lovely. Stronger taste but smaller than turkey.

@stuntbubbles it’s only DH and my daughter who also loves cooking who are allowed to help. Anyone else is very much a guest and will be bribed with drinks and nibbles to ensure they stay well away from the kitchen as I simply would not countenance anyone telling me what to do or offering sub-optimal ‘help’.

Ahhh the joys of Christmas!! 🎄

Thanks again everyone for taking the time to reply. I really appreciate it. To answer a couple of questions - I don't mind handling any meat really (I mean I don't love it but I'll do it), I just cant face putting my hand between the skin and the meat. I also do cook meat quite a lot for others but it's more a chicken breast, a whole chicken, a steak rather than something bigger like a turkey.

I am inviting a couple of family members who normally spend Christmas alone so I want to impress them and them not be disappointed. I think i will do a turkey crown and use foil or one of those bags someone kindy recommended and I'll use a thermometer to make sure it's bang on. Thanks all!

We hate turkey, a large chicken would be perfect although I'd go for beef if I had the option. Three people don't need two chickens! Or you could get a rolled breast turkey joint from the butcher, no bones to deal with if they really want turkey

We always have a large farmers top end free range chicken- none of us like Turkey

@Shgytfgtf111 If you can cook a chicken you can cook a turkey! Hope you’ll enjoy hosting, it sounds like you’re doing a lovely thin, ensuring they’re not alone. I’m sure they’ll appreciate it whatever you end up doing! 🎄

*thing

I loathe turkey, but quite like roast chicken, so I'd be happy.

Wtf is ‘suboptimal help’ 🙄🙏🏽☘️ The epitome of MN brown sky thinking

I really dislike turkey, think it’s got a horrible taste. Would never eat it now. We always have chicken, ham and confit duck!!

We always have a duck or a goose - turkey isn't as nice and is too big anyway, but chicken is too boring.

If they’re guests in your home and you’re cooking for them they should appreciate whatever you cook, especially as you don’t eat meat yourself. I think it’s the trimmings and extras that make a xmas dinner special anyway.

Well IMO the people who are disappointed can get lost and make their own. We are having a chicken and a small joint of red meat this Christmas because no-one can be bothered with doing a big turkey or (as we had one year as an experiment) a goose. We've done this before. But we're not a family that complains about food unless it's gone off, is very over- or under-done, really is beyond disgusting (rarely but there have been some experiments that weren't great) or has an allergen in that it shouldn't.

I read in the news that half the free-range turkeys have got bird flu; there's going to be a turkey shortage this Christmas and the cost will be high. Don't know whether the chicken supply is similarly affected.
You really don't need the leftover meat from a turkey if you are only feeding 3 meat-eaters but if you want to, get a small turkey crown ordered ASAP and hope it arrives. But if a chicken is cooked well and presented with lovely gravy and the expected trimmings and side dishes - ask them what they like to have - it's just fine as a Christmas meal.

@Shgytfgtf111 Marks & Spencer do chickens that are already prepped in the bag. You just put the whole thing in the oven on a tray, then cut the bag for the last quarter hour for it to crisp up. We like the one with sage and onion stuffing already supplied in it, and put it in the oven for a couple of hours on 160℃. It comes out literally falling apart, very tender and juicy. An average one between the three of us and the cat does one dinner plus a plate of leftover pieces and stuffing, so if you want it to go further a bigger one, or two, will be needed.

Jesus Christ what is it with the irritatingly, stubbornly unhumorously-inclined people everywhere today?? I’ve been sanguine so far on what seems like thread after thread but I’m getting fed up now. What the hell is wrong with people that one can’t just be a little bit tongue-in-cheek anymore?

JUST TO BE CLEAR THAT WAS A LIGHT-HEARTED, TONGUE-IN-CHEEK, ENTIRELY JOCULAR STATEMENT. Fuck me what has Mumsnet turned into?

@Shgytfgtf111 Sorry. Taking myself off MN now because it’s been nothing but stupidity today and I’m done.

I've never been tempted to try a capon. I thought the castration processes (both physical and hormonal) were made illegal in the UK a few years back which is why there are rarely sold in uk? Or have you imported/it is a rooster?

Can't remember the ins and outs but it is legal. Buying from a reputable breeder (as much as these things go. Google St Brides of Strathaven for info as I'm on my phone.

......our capon style chickens are popular for those who aren’t too fussed about turkey....

Look like is a cockerel/rooster they are selling as capon "style" as it hasnt been physically (cruel) or chemically (who wants that shit in their food!) neutered to give it the capon texture/flavour, but a free range bird sounds preferrable!

It is like calling all goose pate, pate fois gras style, it's a different taste and texture, and the latter is cruel - surprised they get away with calling it capon when it hasnt been caponised.

Strathaven is about 35 mins in the car from me so would be interested in a review after Christmas as an idea for something different next year.

My father does a really nice lemon whole chicken for crimbo, he does all the stuffing and pigs in blankets, and everything else to go with it.

the truth is no one is going to be impressed, but you can make it work. Most people see chicken as an every day meal a roast chicken maybe as a Sunday roast.

to give a comparison it’s like saying I don’t want to make a nut roast, do you think some quorn burgers will meet the need.the answer is yes, sure, you can make it work, but it’s not the same

Am sure I recall a thread in which a Mumsnetter admitted she had been serving her family chicken at Christmas for years, and no-one had noticed it wasn't turkey.

She got compliments from her family on what a great cook she was as it was tasty and not dry.

.....I didn't read the blurb closely. Hmm, must put my specs on and take a closer look.

Oh please have the chicken, turkey js so dreadful.

Any polite guest would be very pleasantly thankful for a delicious meal, irrespective of personal thought