First time with a frozen turkey! Eeeek

[Stella_11]

I have always had a fresh turkey for Christmas. Full bird, never a crown. I am (or was) a self-confessed turkey snob. I have spent an absolute fortune on turkeys over the years.
Well, this year we are just back from staying with family in Florida and we enjoyed Thanksgiving for the first time. OH's Aunt used a frozen turkey that she bought from Walmart. I was absolutely amazed at the price she paid. It was like $15! And it was a big old bird! It was absolutely delicious!

This year, I have decided to follow her lead. I have gotten a frozen bird from Tesco, I paid the princely sum of £21 and I am absolutely bricking it. What was I thinking? It is 9.4kg I have just taken her out of the freezer and put her in the fridge in my garage to defrost.

Does anyone else use a frozen turkey?

[Ryles]

Yep every year! Just bought mine today from Lidl’s for the pricely sum of £11.99 😂. I over cook my turkey every single year so don’t think it’s worth spending a lot.

[megaflyer]

I have never bought frozen poultry and fortunate to have a local organic butcher near me but during the week there was a discussion on Radio 2 Jeremy Vine about “fresh” versus frozen fresh have been killed up to 6 weeks ago and are hung to tenerdize and give the birds flavour. Frozen are just that - killed and immediately frozen but the added water makes them moist (if they don’t inject water to the meat it won’t freeze or something )

Fresh costs more due to the care and space it ties to hang them to mature .

But all parties in the discussion agreed that both birds really taste the same if cooked properly and not overdone .

Interesting debate - maybe get it on catchup

[Mr Tom Morrow]

OP. Are you having the turkey before Xmas?

Seems awful early to defrost it otherwise.

[megaflyer]

Originally Posted by Mr Tom Morrow

OP. Are you having the turkey before Xmas?

Seems awful early to defrost it otherwise.

See more...

Good point as aren’t they suppose to be cooked immediately and not kept chilled once defrosted ?

[archibald]

We converted to frozen a couple of years ago. It's a pain in the backside to defrost, but we are all surprised at how good it is. Prior to this we had fresh, sometimes very fresh (live collection).

[archibald]

Originally Posted by Mr Tom Morrow

OP. Are you having the turkey before Xmas?

Seems awful early to defrost it otherwise.

See more...

It takes days for a big bird to defrost in the refrigerator, ours is out today too.

[Mr Tom Morrow]

Originally Posted by megaflyer

I have never bought frozen poultry and fortunate to have a local organic butcher near me but during the week there was a discussion on Radio 2 Jeremy Vine about “fresh” versus frozen fresh have been killed up to 6 weeks ago and are hung to tenerdize and give the birds flavour. Frozen are just that - killed and immediately frozen but the added water makes them moist (if they don’t inject water to the meat it won’t freeze or something )

Fresh costs more due to the care and space it ties to hang them to mature .

But all parties in the discussion agreed that both birds really taste the same if cooked properly and not overdone .

Interesting debate - maybe get it on catchup

See more...

I Googled what you said about early slaughtering. Never knew this. Wow!

Doesn't worry us though as we gave up on turkey maybe 10 years ago.
Firstly I tended to over cook it
Neither of us like the dark meat
Got bored with it and didn't want it a 2nd day
It was tasteless

Beef all the way now.

[masterchef]

Originally Posted by Mr Tom Morrow

OP. Are you having the turkey before Xmas?

Seems awful early to defrost it otherwise.

See more...

On the contrary that is about right for a 9.4kg turkey.

[Gryff]

A frozen turkey should be defrosted in the fridge 24 hours for every 5lbs of weight
According to DS1;2 one is a manger for Aldi and other/was a butcher
So out today is about right