Cooking the turkey on Christmas eve

[JudyC]

I've always cooked our turkey Christmas day like my Mum did, but our family dynamics and traditions are changing. I'm thinking if I cook it on Christmas eve I could be freed up Christmas morning, and maybe even fit in a trip to the pub 😁 What does anyone else do, do.you slice the turkey and warm it in the oven wrapped in foil . Is it still as good this way. I don't see why not as we often have a small second dinner with it boxing day, and often I enjoy that even more than Christmas day.

[Donz1979]

We cook it xmas eve but carve xmas day, we get a turkey crown.

[MarkUK]

For us it’s the best meal of the year and a time when we splurge on a Bronze Turkey. Theres no way in hell I would cook it the previous day but each to their own. I love the smells of it roasting on Christmas morning as well.

[JudyC]

Originally Posted by MarkUK

For us it’s the best meal of the year and a time when we splurge on a Bronze Turkey. Theres no way in hell I would cook it the previous day but each to their own. I love the smells of it roasting on Christmas morning as well.

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Was thinking I could cook a ham Christmas day and of course the roast veg and roast potatoes I normally do for nice cooking smells 😋
Just the idea of not needing to be around the kitchen all Christmas morning seems attractive

[MarkUK]

Originally Posted by JudyC

Was thinking I could cook a ham Christmas day and of course the roast veg and roast potatoes I normally do for nice cooking smells 😋
Just the idea of not needing to be around the kitchen all Christmas morning seems attractive

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We do a ham a on the 23rd which we eat as cold meats. Turkey is best served 60-90 Mins after it’s cooked as at that point it’s the most moist. Then next day it would be much dryer but you could save some stock and heat that up (piping hot) and pour over it.

[happytraveller]

I know people do it the day before and are happy with it. I have thought about it, but I worry it will be rubbery like others I’ve had that were so Ive never been brave enough to do it 😂

[JudyC]

Originally Posted by happytraveller

I know people do it the day before and are happy with it. I have thought about it, but I worry it will be rubbery like others I’ve had that were so Ive never been brave enough to do it 😂

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That's my thoughts as well. Maybe the pub Christmas eve instead is a better idea

[littlelish0544]

I only cook the Turkey and roasties and yorkshires on the day. Gammon done overnight in slow cooker rest of veg cooked day before and warmed in oven on the day

[HelenLime]

Life is too short to not do what you want to do. Your enjoyment of the day is far more important than whether the turkey is good vs perfect.

Give it a whirl this year and see what happens 😊

[DisneyDaffodil]

We have always cooked ours on Christmas Eve, and only once in nearly 40 years of marriage had a dry turkey (Christmas 2023 - not sure what went wrong that time).

We cook our turkey very slowly which I think helps. It smells wonderful Christmas Eve, and puts us in the mood for Christmas Day, plus we get a hot turkey sandwich for supper on Christmas Eve