WWYD ref turkey for full Xmas dinner (turkey + trimmings) on 28 Dec

[nannyl]

This year my family are coming to stay with me after Christmas and we are doing the full turkey + all the trimmings etc on 28 Dec. (10 people)

WWYD about the turkey?
I'm assuming that even if i got a turkey on 24 Dec it might be off by 28 Dec?
Yes I COULD buy one and freeze for a few days and then defrost.
but then why not just buy a frozen turkey?

If I went into a supermarket on 27 Dec are they even likley to have fresh turkeys available?

I'm thinking if I'm going to freeze a fresh turkey I might as well save some £ and just by a frozen one?

(I do a Sunday Roast every week and have literally never bought a frozen joint, but do occasionaly freeze and defrost a fresh joint)

If it makes a difference I'm a pretty decent cook and will be cooking it overnight in my Aga, and serving with all the poncy (home made) trimmings.

All of the fresh turkeys I have ever cooked in my aga (normally a waitrose "normal" turkey) have been delicious. This year my Waitrose Xmas delivery slot is 21 December (so no way will the turkey I have already put in my basket last, fresh) but I also have Ocado booked on 23 Dec (but still, might not last until 28 Dec..... although the bird will be entering the Aga around 10pm on 27 Dec, to cook overnight)

Another option (which I will probably do anyway) is get a Waitrose / Ocado delivery on 27 Dec, but I don't belive whole turkeys are available for delivery on this date.

Christmas eve will be a "family day with immediate family" and I would rather not be visiting a supermarket finding a turkey with a long date, on this day; partly because I live in the sticks and it would take up a large part of my afternoon...... or I could go at silly-o-clock in the morning when my teens will still be asleep....

Given the bird is entering the oven around 22.00 on 27 Dec would you chance a fresh bird with this useby date not being off? (I've read far too many threads about off turkeys which are still in date) (I do have a large fridge which I keep at 3 degrees and another option could be to adjust my fridge to run even cooler for a few days)

Does it have to be turkey and not a different meat if it does just buy a frozen one

Yes, I definitely plan to cook a turkey for our family Xmas dinner. :)

I think when I’ve bought supermarket turkeys they have a use by of at least Boxing Day. Could you cook it over night on the 26th and reheat it, sliced in gravy, on the 28th if the date isn’t long enough? Cooked it will last well in the fridge.

Frozen turkeys will need to defrost completely before cooking, I’ve never done one personally but find the cheaper supermarket birds a bit drier and with less flavour.

id chance a fresh one on the 23rd.

Are you having turkey for breakfast? Why cook at 10.00pm?

Personally, I’d just get a frozen one

Do you have a local farm shop (I mean an actual farm with a shop, not pretend farm shop) where they raise and prepare their own birds? If so that would be my first port of call to see what they would recommend.

I’d opt for frozen, all fresh ones will be in the “production process” a few days before Christmas so most are dated 26th. You could if brave try the shops at 3pm Christmas Eve, I’ve picked up fresh turkeys for £5 that were originally £80 then froze them

Why don’t you just buy a frozen turkey? We buy one every year from an online butchers and it’s always delicious.

Could you order one from your local butchers to collect on the 27th?

I would either get a frozen one or buy fresh and freeze at home. It’s just not worth the worry

We‘ve had frozen turkeys for years. Fresh from our butcher were no way 4 times as nice to make it worth the price. If you do buy frozen, make sure to check defrost times as it’s always longer than you think, and put a reminder in your diary!

Frozen.

If you really prefer a fresh bird, I think you could have success buying a fresh turkey between Christmas and new year though, as a lot of people do another Christmas dinner on new year's day. I don't think fresh are better than frozen though, it's how you dress it and cook it.

I think you could save ££ by buying one in M&S, Tesco etc on Boxing Day, freeze it if you have to or buy frozen abs defrost.

That's really risky shops usually now reduce these things late on Christmas eve to get rid of them there is a good chance she wouldn't be able to get one boxing day.

Because it's the best way to cook a turkey in an aga.
It means you have the space (and most importantly the heat capacity) for the other things on the actual day.

It will cook in the simmering oven overnight and be delicious.

You don't cook in an aga, in the same way as you would with an oven / hob

I thought that most of the shops were closed on boxing day this year?

Honestly I have bought fresh super expensive, good quality frozen and cheap as chips frozen over the years and they have all been fine.
Don't forget to start the defrosting in good time though, and to plan your fridge space.

I think that's less risky than you think because they will have some frozen ones left if the fresh have all gone.

No

I work in a supermarket and we haven't had any turkeys left on boxing day for atleast about 5 years they will literally sell them of for a few quid before closing on Christmas eve. Obviously every ship and area is different. Its like easter eggs you use to be able to get them cheap after easter but now if you wait to long they're gone

Haven’t you answered your own question? Buy frozen?

Aldi Lidl and Sainsbury's (the 3 I have within a reasonable drive) are all closed on boxing day.

Just checked.

Was pretty sure they are in fact closer on boxing day

Are you sure as Sainsbury's announced that all there big stores will be open 9-6 boxing day

Aldi and lidl are usually closed but the big four are always open boxing day

Buy a frozen one

Order one from an online butcher and specify the date of delivery.