Christmas Turkey Recommendations
Discussion
Hi All,
For the first time at Christmas this year we are just spending Xmas day just the 4 of us 2 adults and 2 children. Any recommendations on ordering a turkey online or in store and what "type" to get. Not bothered about turkey legs, so looking at a crown, butterfly or whatever else they call it these days!
Thanks!
For the first time at Christmas this year we are just spending Xmas day just the 4 of us 2 adults and 2 children. Any recommendations on ordering a turkey online or in store and what "type" to get. Not bothered about turkey legs, so looking at a crown, butterfly or whatever else they call it these days!
Thanks!
Some will say much of a muchness and its in the cooking, bringing and all that kerfuffle which can't be ar*ed with, which is true to an extent, but currently working our way through a variety from these guys each year:
https://peeles-blackturkeys.co.uk/turkeys/
they used to have a 6th variety.
2 down so far, both have been superb having a bit of flavour deep in the breast which i don't typically find...
these are also praiseworthy but not as good as above imo, probably because i terrify the birds on the mtn bike occasionally
https://www.christmas-turkey-essex.co.uk/
www.banburysturkeys.co.uk
not a fan of kelly's
for something really good get a goose form these guys:
https://seldomseenfarm.co.uk/
not tried their turkeys.
https://peeles-blackturkeys.co.uk/turkeys/
they used to have a 6th variety.
2 down so far, both have been superb having a bit of flavour deep in the breast which i don't typically find...
these are also praiseworthy but not as good as above imo, probably because i terrify the birds on the mtn bike occasionally
https://www.christmas-turkey-essex.co.uk/
www.banburysturkeys.co.uk
not a fan of kelly's
for something really good get a goose form these guys:
https://seldomseenfarm.co.uk/
not tried their turkeys.
I am so over costly turkey, its pretty dull whatever, to me the delighted of Xmas turkey is the stuffing, pigs in blankets etc the actual turkey is not that important .
M&S crown frozen £25 does the job well enough.
https://www.ocado.com/products/m-s-british-oakham-...
M&S crown frozen £25 does the job well enough.
https://www.ocado.com/products/m-s-british-oakham-...
We bought a frozen Aldi turkey a couple of weeks ago, so that we could make turkey stock ready for the big day (ridiculous in itself, but I love sauce making, so the xmas gravy is something I take great pride in)...
Anyway we obviously had a whole turkey to eat as I really only wanted the carcass and wings for the stock.
So I deboned the whole lot, brined half of the bird for 6 hours in a 10% brine, then rolled breast and legs separately. They each then got cooked, some sous-vide (breast) and some in the oven (Legs).
The brining massively improved the overall flavour of the meat (obviously, it's seasoned all the way through). The only thing I will change for xmas is reduce the brine to 5% as it was a bit too much for most people at 10%.
I wont be wasting £100+ on a bird this xmas, a cheap one cooked well will beat an expensive one badly treated.
Anyway we obviously had a whole turkey to eat as I really only wanted the carcass and wings for the stock.
So I deboned the whole lot, brined half of the bird for 6 hours in a 10% brine, then rolled breast and legs separately. They each then got cooked, some sous-vide (breast) and some in the oven (Legs).
The brining massively improved the overall flavour of the meat (obviously, it's seasoned all the way through). The only thing I will change for xmas is reduce the brine to 5% as it was a bit too much for most people at 10%.
I wont be wasting £100+ on a bird this xmas, a cheap one cooked well will beat an expensive one badly treated.
Yeah, similar to the above for me. Over the year's depending on the state of our family finances we've had everything from the free-range organic hand reared heritage bread from a local artisan farmer down to a frozen supermarket own brand bird with lots of others inbetween. We cook them all the same way every year and I reckon in a blind taste test we'd be hard pressed to tell the difference between any of them.
To take out the palaver of defrosting it we have settled on a Lidl fresh one for the last few years, in store from about the 18th December and normally £30 ish for about a 16lb big one. We then use the £100 or so saving versus a farm shop to pay for the rest of the dinner.
To take out the palaver of defrosting it we have settled on a Lidl fresh one for the last few years, in store from about the 18th December and normally £30 ish for about a 16lb big one. We then use the £100 or so saving versus a farm shop to pay for the rest of the dinner.
For years we had a fish and shellfish Christmas meal. Then wife and child decided to go back to traditional and we've been having turkey for a year or two. I do my best, but my heart's not in it, and like others struggle to see much difference between premium and boggo.
A decent sized turbot though, now that's a celebration. Ho hum.
A decent sized turbot though, now that's a celebration. Ho hum.
nikaiyo2 said:
I am so over costly turkey, its pretty dull whatever, to me the delighted of Xmas turkey is the stuffing, pigs in blankets etc the actual turkey is not that important .
M&S crown frozen £25 does the job well enough.
https://www.ocado.com/products/m-s-british-oakham-...
Waitrose frozen turkey crown also £25, I noted earlier. Some sort of price-fixing cartel?M&S crown frozen £25 does the job well enough.
https://www.ocado.com/products/m-s-british-oakham-...
Or don’t bother with a turkey at all, I haven’t for years, it will be a cheese and charcuterie board for us again, takes 15 mins, we can graze to our heart’s content, and will have seafood pasta or maybe a decent beef stew for Boxing Day ( helps that my wife is Jewish, so equally not bothered about turkey!)
Audis5b9 said:
We bought a frozen Aldi turkey a couple of weeks ago, so that we could make turkey stock ready for the big day (ridiculous in itself, but I love sauce making, so the xmas gravy is something I take great pride in)...
Anyway we obviously had a whole turkey to eat as I really only wanted the carcass and wings for the stock.
So I deboned the whole lot, brined half of the bird for 6 hours in a 10% brine, then rolled breast and legs separately. They each then got cooked, some sous-vide (breast) and some in the oven (Legs).
The brining massively improved the overall flavour of the meat (obviously, it's seasoned all the way through). The only thing I will change for xmas is reduce the brine to 5% as it was a bit too much for most people at 10%.
I wont be wasting £100+ on a bird this xmas, a cheap one cooked well will beat an expensive one badly treated.
100 quid on a turkey , you're kidding right ?Anyway we obviously had a whole turkey to eat as I really only wanted the carcass and wings for the stock.
So I deboned the whole lot, brined half of the bird for 6 hours in a 10% brine, then rolled breast and legs separately. They each then got cooked, some sous-vide (breast) and some in the oven (Legs).
The brining massively improved the overall flavour of the meat (obviously, it's seasoned all the way through). The only thing I will change for xmas is reduce the brine to 5% as it was a bit too much for most people at 10%.
I wont be wasting £100+ on a bird this xmas, a cheap one cooked well will beat an expensive one badly treated.
dave123456 said:
Regbuser said:
Local butcher does a capon, which we've had for the last few years. For us, beats turkey.
YepGot two free range chickens instead, tbh one would have been enough, but there wouldn't have been any leftover for a pie;)
Have also done goose for a smaller group - 5 or 6 as I recall. Fat makes geat roasties!
Turkeys much of a muchness ime. Need careful cooking to avoid getting tough and dry. I wouldn't spend £100 on one.
For me Xmas lunch is all about the gravy and trimmings, the meat itself is somewhat secondary.
dontlookdown said:
Need careful cooking to avoid getting tough and dry. I wouldn't spend £100 on one.
For me Xmas lunch is all about the gravy and trimmings, the meat itself is somewhat secondary.
I totally agree with the cooking part, since I started smoking my Christmas turkey on the bbq it has been a totally different thing and well worth the effort. For me Xmas lunch is all about the gravy and trimmings, the meat itself is somewhat secondary.
I’m not sure the turkey is secondary but for sure all the other bits are absolutely essential
.I’m £90 for ours i think, absolutely love Turkey/Christmas dinner.
Some folks say there’s no/little difference but some don’t notice the difference in other things.
My Turkey will have been growing since July & grown slowly with access to the outside world the texture is different than mass reared in a shed. The preparation is also different, it’ll be “game hung” between killing & preparing for me which develops a more flavourful bird.
Some folks say there’s no/little difference but some don’t notice the difference in other things.
My Turkey will have been growing since July & grown slowly with access to the outside world the texture is different than mass reared in a shed. The preparation is also different, it’ll be “game hung” between killing & preparing for me which develops a more flavourful bird.
Truckosaurus said:
Audis5b9 said:
....a cheap one cooked well will beat an expensive one badly treated.
Wisest words on the thread.I always think turkey is somewhat dull in itself, the glory of the Xmas dinner is the side dishes, sauces, drinks, etc.
We're only 4 around the table on the day, so are going to have a good quality large chicken - with all the extras, obvs
AndyAudi said:
I’m £90 for ours i think, absolutely love Turkey/Christmas dinner.
Some folks say there’s no/little difference but some don’t notice the difference in other things.
My Turkey will have been growing since July & grown slowly with access to the outside world the texture is different than mass reared in a shed. The preparation is also different, it’ll be “game hung” between killing & preparing for me which develops a more flavourful bird.
Yep. There is much of a muchness generally but find a good supplier and it really makes a difference, unless you ruin it in the cooking. Peeles have been really nice and I'm not a Turkey fan usually, can take or leave.Some folks say there’s no/little difference but some don’t notice the difference in other things.
My Turkey will have been growing since July & grown slowly with access to the outside world the texture is different than mass reared in a shed. The preparation is also different, it’ll be “game hung” between killing & preparing for me which develops a more flavourful bird.
All that said it can vary and been very meh about Kelly's bronze which are meant to be rolls Royce.
Gassing Station | Food, Drink & Restaurants | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff