How big a goose do you think I need?

[chicaguapa]

There will be 4 adults and 2 children, one of whom eats like a sparrow. I'm balking at the cost of a whole one and wondering if I can get away with a half goose? We won't need any leftovers and I thought I can maybe bulk it out with veg & stuffing.

What do you think? Thanks.

We had seven kilo one last year (I think), it shrank alarmingly in the cooker and lost gallons of fat.
I should think you can get away with half a goose if it is available.
Bread sauce is also a good filler upper and children do seem to like it.

You will probably be ok if you have loads of side dishes and no desire for leftovers. I would second Kreecher in saying that they shrink hugely and have much less meat on the breast than appears due to a huge chest cavity.

I used to do geese for christmas. Most are of similar size. The meat to bone ratio is very small hence big cavity, strong bones and very little meat so one bird will do the whole family and really there will be no leftovers thats one of the reasons why people choose a goose over a turkey.

The meat is very rich so a large breast slice will easily feed an adult (with a few shreads of leg meat).

ALways collect the fat and store in the fridge - its amazing! also use for the roast spuds.

I dont think anyone would do half a goose, very expensive to rear, eat loads and very specialised slaughter and dressing. You would expect to pay around £40 - £70 per bird. I wouldnt touch a frozen one from the supermarket - god only knows who these have been reared. Geese adore being outside in the sun and wondering around the fields. A very posh bird, stunning to rear and lovely to eat.

Goose does not go far. I've done it (and regretted it) and I cannot remember the size. There was a thread about this recently, can't remember how long ago, someone trying to feed 12 people off one goose (impossible!).

Only do a goose if you REALLY want a goose, IYSWIM. Don't just do it to do something "different" because you fancy a change. It is a complete faff and a pain in the arse and requires a lot of attention and time on a day when you have plenty else to be doing and might actually want to relax (a little bit!) in there somewhere.....

Oh, and, of course (but you'll know this) it utterly destroys your oven/kitchen. The clearing up is bleugh.

Thanks for all your answers. DH has been wanting a goose for years and is refusing to have a turkey this year, though he says he'll consider a duck if easier/cheaper. Waitrose do half a goose so it is available. Hmmm... still mulling it over.

Another alternative would be to do a roast chicken alongside nominally as an option for the children but also as a less rich alternative (and it would eke it out)

I'd get one about this big.

Lol Tech! Thanks Employment, that's actually a really good idea as DC would probably prefer the chicken anyway.

my aunt bought a 10lb goose for 5 of us and it was far too big.

You can never have too big a goose IMO. Have goose every year and it loses pounds and pounds of fat. Leftover goose is far nicer than leftover turkey

I come from the school of thought that always provides too much for fear of providing too little though, so probably best just ignore me

Make sure it fits in your over though

what about doing a ham as well? Bit less rich and still festive.

it really depends, geese can have a lot of fat. geese that are free range generally have more meat than geese that are barn raised.
my parents and inlaws usually have goose for christmas and a large free range (=meaty) bird can feed 6 adults, loads of side dishes served though.

Any standard goose will fit in an oven. They arnt that big! and for hassle, its no different to turkey - with turkey you have to be very precise not to overcook - at least a goose stays moist.

If hubby fancies a goose then why not? No harm in trying. Just get a good receipe - try Goodmans Geese.

As with any poultry you get what you pay for. A proper traditionally farmed freerange goose will be far superior to a mass (and gross) mainly barn reared bird and god only knows the misery the bird has been and what crap its been fed. Farmgate/farmers markets always best.

geese are much easier to cook. they don't need basting all the time like a turkey as the meat is quite fatty. (and it tastes much nicer than turkey anyway...)

The only problem with geese is the plucking...

Actually, catching it wasn't that easy either!

good that waitrose does that bit for us

Well I won't be doing it again - poachers did them all last year!

very

for the geese,
for the poachers (some were very tough old ganders!)
or
for my dinner plate?