To beat the rush for the supermarket frozen turkeys i want to buy it
some days early and leave it outside in the shed.
I rang Tescos and they said we must cook it within 24 hours of
defrosting. But didn't they used to hang game outside for days some
years ago? Probably just playing safe with their advice?
Anyone know how many days early i could buy a medium sized frozen turkey.

john west wrote:
To beat the rush for the supermarket frozen turkeys i want to buy it
some days early and leave it outside in the shed.
I rang Tescos and they said we must cook it within 24 hours of
defrosting. But didn't they used to hang game outside for days some
years ago?

Well yes but the game was handled in a very different way from a processed
supermarket turkey. Given the risks of giving family/friends food
poisoning over the festive season, I really wouldn't risk it.

Much better to pop down to M&S on the 24th where you'll find lots of
greatly discounted fresh turkeys.

Tim

--
Please don't feed the trolls

In article ,
john west writes:
To beat the rush for the supermarket frozen turkeys i want to buy it
some days early and leave it outside in the shed.
I rang Tescos and they said we must cook it within 24 hours of
defrosting. But didn't they used to hang game outside for days some
years ago? Probably just playing safe with their advice?
Anyone know how many days early i could buy a medium sized frozen turkey.

Freezing it damages the cell structure, and after thawing,
bacteria can move much faster through the damaged cell structure.
The bacteria of concern here are those that produce toxins
which are not destroyed by cooking, such as staphylococcus
(all bateria will be destroyed by cooking properly, but they
may have damaged the meat beforehand, possibly leaving it toxic).

A fresh bird will keep longer at fridge temperatures than a thawed
one, although outdoors is currently too warm to be a fridge.

Some supermarkets (and most butchers if you still have one) will
let you book a fresh one to pick up a couple of days before
Christmas, although it may be too late to do that now.

If storage is a problem, in theory you could insulate it a
sleeping bag or similar to try and keep it frozen for longer
(make sure it's in a liquid-sealed bag so no meat juices will
leak into the sleeping bag). The thawed out portions should
remain around 0C, providing a reasonable bulk of ice remains.
Then take it out to thaw fully 24h before. Still not a guarantee
you won't be strapped down to the toilet seat right past the new
year though. If you have a suitable thermometer, wrap it up with
the bird, so you can see what temperature it is when you unwrap it.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

On Saturday, 17 December 2016 13:07:15 UTC, Andrew Gabriel wrote:
Some supermarkets (and most butchers if you still have one) will
let you book a fresh one to pick up a couple of days before
Christmas, although it may be too late to do that now.

My local turkey farm still has white turkeys available and collection is possible from the farm on 24th Dec.

http://www.gartmornfarm.co.uk/produc...e_white_turkey

M&S last order for christmas was 15 Dec. I think after the Great Turkey Riots they only have turkeys to order?

Tesco usually have quite a lot reduced on 24 Dec.

Owain

john west wrote:
To beat the rush for the supermarket frozen turkeys i want to buy it
some days early and leave it outside in the shed.
I rang Tescos and they said we must cook it within 24 hours of
defrosting. But didn't they used to hang game outside for days some
years ago? Probably just playing safe with their advice?
Anyone know how many days early i could buy a medium sized frozen turkey.
Last year when I had 10 to feed for Christmas Dinner, i cooked the
turkey the day before, carved it cold and only had to reheat it on the
day. It was just as good to eat and on the day left the oven free for
roasting veg etc, was a whole lot less stress and gave me time to
socialise as well as cook.
I don't see why you should not buy Wednesday, thaw as you propose, cook
Friday, carve and keep well wrapped in the fridge until re-heating
(thoroughly) on Sunday.

wrote in message
...
On Saturday, 17 December 2016 13:07:15 UTC, Andrew Gabriel wrote:
Some supermarkets (and most butchers if you still have one) will
let you book a fresh one to pick up a couple of days before
Christmas, although it may be too late to do that now.

My local turkey farm still has white turkeys available and collection is
possible from the farm on 24th Dec.

http://www.gartmornfarm.co.uk/produc...e_white_turkey

M&S last order for christmas was 15 Dec. I think after the Great Turkey
Riots they only have turkeys to order?

Tesco usually have quite a lot reduced on 24 Dec.

I wouldn't bet my Christmas on it though

each year I have been to the local supermarket and picked up the overstocked
Christmas bargains at very reduced prices.

I have never found the same thing twice

tim




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On Saturday, 17 December 2016 11:44:28 UTC, john west wrote:
To beat the rush for the supermarket frozen turkeys i want to buy it
some days early and leave it outside in the shed.
I rang Tescos and they said we must cook it within 24 hours of
defrosting. But didn't they used to hang game outside for days some
years ago? Probably just playing safe with their advice?
Anyone know how many days early i could buy a medium sized frozen turkey.

When meat has been frozen, the cell structure is broken down and food poisoning bacteria can run through it very quickly when thawed.

On Saturday, 17 December 2016 16:51:41 UTC, tim... wrote:
Tesco usually have quite a lot reduced on 24 Dec.
I wouldn't bet my Christmas on it though

I suppose if a turkey is mandatory for christmas it's unwise to rely on reductions. I'm quite happy with a chinese buffet multipack if that's what's knocked down to 20p.

Owain

On Sat, 17 Dec 2016 09:35:48 -0800 (PST),
wrote:

On Saturday, 17 December 2016 16:51:41 UTC, tim... wrote:
Tesco usually have quite a lot reduced on 24 Dec.
I wouldn't bet my Christmas on it though

I suppose if a turkey is mandatory for christmas it's unwise to rely on reductions.

I've never gone with this 'mandatory thing and will generally be
eating whatever I'm given (if out) or fancy. ;-)

I'm quite happy with a chinese buffet multipack if that's what's knocked down to 20p.

Good man. ;-)

It's funny, because we don't 'do' Xmyth ((no religious so) no cards,
tree, decorations, presents or 'special' food etc), we don't have any
of the hassles of 'defrosting Turkeys' or worrying if it will be
alright on the day.

And before you know it, sanity returns to the world ... no, forgot,
January sales and holiday adverts ... ;-)

Cheers, T i m

john west wrote

To beat the rush for the supermarket frozen turkeys i want to buy it some
days early and leave it outside in the shed.

I rang Tescos and they said we must cook it within 24 hours of defrosting.

Yes, that is the safest approach.

But didn't they used to hang game outside for days some years ago?

Yes, but that wasnt with modern factory operations producing
the turkeys where they end up riddled with salmonella etc.

Probably just playing safe with their advice?

Nope, the problem is real with modern turkeys and other factory
produce poultry which end up riddled with salmonella etc.

Anyone know how many days early i could buy a medium sized frozen turkey.

There is no nice tidy number except that 24 hours one.

On 17/12/16 12:44, Tim+ wrote:
john west wrote:
To beat the rush for the supermarket frozen turkeys i want to buy it
some days early and leave it outside in the shed.
I rang Tescos and they said we must cook it within 24 hours of
defrosting. But didn't they used to hang game outside for days some
years ago?

Well yes but the game was handled in a very different way from a processed
supermarket turkey. Given the risks of giving family/friends food
poisoning over the festive season, I really wouldn't risk it.

Much better to pop down to M&S on the 24th where you'll find lots of
greatly discounted fresh turkeys.

Tim


So you don't have freezer space to leave it until the afternoon before,
to commence the defrost?

Don't do what you are proposing:

1) The meat has been frozen - on thawing, the cells are damaged (by ice
crystals) and spoil much faster than fresh meat;

2) The hung game was hung immediately after killing. That turkey was
killed, handled in various ways for an indeterminate time before being
frozen. You don't have all the parameters.

3) Game birds, IIRC, tend to be more like duck - darker meat. White meat
is the worst for food poisoning.

I'm cooking a Waitrose (Heston) turkey crown this year, same as last
year. That can be bought a few days ahead (if you book it online) and
kept in the fridge. It's more compact than a whole bird, cooks quicker
and still looks mostly the part when served. Highly recommended...

On Sun, 18 Dec 2016 00:07:14 +0000, Tim Watts
wrote:

On 17/12/16 12:44, Tim+ wrote:
john west wrote:
To beat the rush for the supermarket frozen turkeys i want to buy it
some days early and leave it outside in the shed.
I rang Tescos and they said we must cook it within 24 hours of
defrosting. But didn't they used to hang game outside for days some
years ago?

Well yes but the game was handled in a very different way from a processed
supermarket turkey. Given the risks of giving family/friends food
poisoning over the festive season, I really wouldn't risk it.

Much better to pop down to M&S on the 24th where you'll find lots of
greatly discounted fresh turkeys.

Tim


So you don't have freezer space to leave it until the afternoon before,
to commence the defrost?

Too many Tims on this thread :-)

"Tim Streater" wrote in message
.. .
In article , Scott
wrote:

On Sun, 18 Dec 2016 00:07:14 +0000, Tim Watts
wrote:

On 17/12/16 12:44, Tim+ wrote:
john west wrote:
To beat the rush for the supermarket frozen turkeys i want to buy it
some days early and leave it outside in the shed.
I rang Tescos and they said we must cook it within 24 hours of
defrosting. But didn't they used to hang game outside for days some
years ago?

Well yes but the game was handled in a very different way from a
processed
supermarket turkey. Given the risks of giving family/friends food
poisoning over the festive season, I really wouldn't risk it.

Much better to pop down to M&S on the 24th where you'll find lots of
greatly discounted fresh turkeys.

Tim


So you don't have freezer space to leave it until the afternoon before,
to commence the defrost?

Too many Tims on this thread :-)

Your name not tim?

no, that's me!

tim




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I think you need to ask your friend Sal Monella.
Brian

--
----- -
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please!
"john west" wrote in message
news
To beat the rush for the supermarket frozen turkeys i want to buy it some
days early and leave it outside in the shed.
I rang Tescos and they said we must cook it within 24 hours of defrosting.
But didn't they used to hang game outside for days some years ago?
Probably just playing safe with their advice?
Anyone know how many days early i could buy a medium sized frozen turkey.

And of course cook it well. I ewould suggest getting rid of that awful
stuffing people use and use something I had at a local eating place, Apricot
stuffing. almost disolved to nothing but the Turkey was far less bland and
actually had juicy bits.

I'm not a foodie so i have no idea about how it was made etc, frist time I'd
encounterd it.
Brian

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This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
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Blind user, so no pictures please!
"Rod Speed" wrote in message
...
john west wrote

To beat the rush for the supermarket frozen turkeys i want to buy it some
days early and leave it outside in the shed.

I rang Tescos and they said we must cook it within 24 hours of
defrosting.

Yes, that is the safest approach.

But didn't they used to hang game outside for days some years ago?

Yes, but that wasn't with modern factory operations producing
the turkeys where they end up riddled with salmonella etc.

Probably just playing safe with their advice?

Nope, the problem is real with modern turkeys and other factory
produce poultry which end up riddled with salmonella etc.

Anyone know how many days early i could buy a medium sized frozen turkey.

There is no nice tidy number except that 24 hours one.

In message , tim...
writes
Too many Tims on this thread :-)

Your name not tim?

no, that's me!

tim

Wasn't me, anyway:-)

--
Tim Lamb

-)

I'm quite happy with a chinese buffet multipack if that's what's
knocked down to 20p.

Good man. ;-)

It's funny, because we don't 'do' Xmyth ((no religious so) no cards,
tree, decorations, presents or 'special' food etc), we don't have any
of the hassles of 'defrosting Turkeys' or worrying if it will be
alright on the day.

And before you know it, sanity returns to the world ... no, forgot,
January sales and holiday adverts ... ;-)

Cheers, T i m

....But surely this time of year - December is a Celebration of Robins.
Reindeer,Snow scenes,
Men in Red Nylon suits, Tinslel, Coloured Lights, Bing Crosby, TV
Presenters in silly Jumpers, Films on TV refelcting the previous concepts,
etc.
I wish we would be more honest and Call it Winer Festival. During the
Winter Festival, the Christians can celebrate Christmas.

In article 6,
DerbyBorn wrote:
-)

I'm quite happy with a chinese buffet multipack if that's what's
knocked down to 20p.

Good man. ;-)

It's funny, because we don't 'do' Xmyth ((no religious so) no cards,
tree, decorations, presents or 'special' food etc), we don't have any
of the hassles of 'defrosting Turkeys' or worrying if it will be
alright on the day.

And before you know it, sanity returns to the world ... no, forgot,
January sales and holiday adverts ... ;-)

Cheers, T i m

...But surely this time of year - December is a Celebration of Robins.
Reindeer,Snow scenes, Men in Red Nylon suits, Tinslel, Coloured Lights,
Bing Crosby, TV Presenters in silly Jumpers, Films on TV refelcting the
previous concepts,

don't forget the penguins

--
from KT24 in Surrey, England

On 18/12/16 13:07, DerbyBorn wrote:

...But surely this time of year - December is a Celebration of Robins.

A roast robin doesn't go far with guests...

On Sun, 18 Dec 2016 13:12:44 +0000 (GMT), charles
wrote:


It's funny, because we don't 'do' Xmyth ((no religious so) no cards,
tree, decorations, presents or 'special' food etc), we don't have any
of the hassles of 'defrosting Turkeys' or worrying if it will be
alright on the day.

And before you know it, sanity returns to the world ... no, forgot,
January sales and holiday adverts ... ;-)

Cheers, T i m

...But surely this time of year - December is a Celebration of Robins.
Reindeer,Snow scenes, Men in Red Nylon suits, Tinslel, Coloured Lights,
Bing Crosby, TV Presenters in silly Jumpers, Films on TV refelcting the
previous concepts,

don't forget the penguins

And the sound of mournful music played by a brass band while charities
plead for money .

G.Harman

wrote in news:l43d5c1kpprbl5pn5u6q9li1sabbnamd0t@
4ax.com:

On Sun, 18 Dec 2016 13:12:44 +0000 (GMT), charles
wrote:


It's funny, because we don't 'do' Xmyth ((no religious so) no cards,
tree, decorations, presents or 'special' food etc), we don't have any
of the hassles of 'defrosting Turkeys' or worrying if it will be
alright on the day.

And before you know it, sanity returns to the world ... no, forgot,
January sales and holiday adverts ... ;-)

Cheers, T i m

...But surely this time of year - December is a Celebration of Robins.
Reindeer,Snow scenes, Men in Red Nylon suits, Tinslel, Coloured Lights,
Bing Crosby, TV Presenters in silly Jumpers, Films on TV refelcting the
previous concepts,

don't forget the penguins

And the sound of mournful music played by a brass band while charities
plead for money .

G.Harman

I forgot to mention Coca Cola! The uproar in our town was amazing when it
was announced tha tthe CocaCola Lorry was not going to visit.

On Sun, 18 Dec 2016 13:07:26 GMT, DerbyBorn
wrote:

-)

I'm quite happy with a chinese buffet multipack if that's what's
knocked down to 20p.

Good man. ;-)

It's funny, because we don't 'do' Xmyth ((no religious so) no cards,
tree, decorations, presents or 'special' food etc), we don't have any
of the hassles of 'defrosting Turkeys' or worrying if it will be
alright on the day.

And before you know it, sanity returns to the world ... no, forgot,
January sales and holiday adverts ... ;-)

Cheers, T i m

...But surely this time of year - December is a Celebration of Robins.
Reindeer,Snow scenes,
Men in Red Nylon suits, Tinslel, Coloured Lights, Bing Crosby, TV
Presenters in silly Jumpers, Films on TV refelcting the previous concepts,
etc.

'Surely' ... only because someone tries to tell you / me it is. I
don't listen to them. ;-)

I wish we would be more honest and Call it Winer Festival.

Again, I don't do any 'festival' so others can call it what they like.

During the
Winter Festival, the Christians can celebrate Christmas.

Sure ... because I don't 'do' any religion I don't do any of the
shenanigans that go with them, in the same way I don't do birthdays or
'celebrate' anything really, or not in a way that others seem to want
(/ feel obliged) to do and often on mass.

At the same time I appreciate every day I wake up and that I enjoy
reasonable health and a reasonable life. ;-)

I don't 'believe in' marriage (as a construct) as it doesn't do
anything for me (in spite of being happily / legally 'married' for
nearly 30 years now). eg. We aren't still together because we are
married, we are still together because we want to be (therefore the
marriage bit is pointless, for the reasons most people seem to view /
treat it anyway).

The people who don't get any of that are the very people I'm talking
about ... who I believe in many cases just go along with it all
because they don't want to be considered strange or antisocial.

Her: I really don't want to go to the party on Saturday ...
Him: Don't go then?
Her: Don't be ridiculous, we can't not go!

Cheers, T i m

On 17-Dec-16 2:27 PM, Bob Minchin wrote:
john west wrote:
To beat the rush for the supermarket frozen turkeys i want to buy it
some days early and leave it outside in the shed.
I rang Tescos and they said we must cook it within 24 hours of
defrosting. But didn't they used to hang game outside for days some
years ago? Probably just playing safe with their advice?
Anyone know how many days early i could buy a medium sized frozen turkey.
Last year when I had 10 to feed for Christmas Dinner, i cooked the
turkey the day before, carved it cold and only had to reheat it on the
day. It was just as good to eat and on the day left the oven free for
roasting veg etc, was a whole lot less stress and gave me time to
socialise as well as cook.
I don't see why you should not buy Wednesday, thaw as you propose, cook
Friday, carve and keep well wrapped in the fridge until re-heating
(thoroughly) on Sunday.

Thanks to all. Bob how would you re-heat it? Back in the oven or in
a saucepan with boiling gravy or another way ?

On Sunday, 18 December 2016 13:07:28 UTC, DerbyBorn wrote:
I wish we would be more honest and Call it Winer Festival.


That's what it is for anyone with children.

Owain