HELP ASAP WITH TURKEY!

[L00fah100]

I've just got some turkey legs and turkey mince which seems to have came chilled, can i put these in the freezer or will they be okay in the fridge, if so for how long?
If the turkey legs are frozen how long does it take to thaw them?

[ummmm]

Yes, freeze them.

[L00fah100]

Thanks but after 40 minutes od depacking and repacking my freezer ive had to throw away a load of ice cream and lollies to make way for my frozen food and there was literally no room for anything else!

How long is the minced turkey and turkey legs good for in the freezer? The mince is 500gms and i have four and the huge turkey legs are 650gms each!

I can never remember turkey legs being this big, they're literally the size of a small to medium chicken.

Also what can i do with them, how long and what temperature as i was going to steam them but they can't fit in the steamer. Is it possible to cut off all the meat without disturbing their tendons?

[L00fah100]

Sorry they're not in the freezer but in the fridge

[mccfluff]

i remember haveing turkeys klegs when i worked in teh oub - we needed a special cooekr for them.

defrost over night in the fridge and maybe cook them in a slow cooker, would they fit?

[L00fah100]

Not they're not frozen but are chilled.
I don't own a slow cooker so my have to resort to hacking off the meat and storing in a food bag, then again they keep moist and flavourful by cooking with the bone so maybe after i've had lunch i'll cook a couple

[JoolsTwo]

You could cut of the meat from the turkey legs and use it in a stirfry. To freeze them you could cut the meat of the bone and freeze it if space is tight. You can make casseroles with the meat too.

[L00fah100]

Thanks jimjools but there is literally no space in my freezer but there is space in my fridge, the turkey has a 20th July use by date, will it be okay?

[Anngel123]

My auntie keeps her cooked Christmas turkey in her gas oven (which has the pilot light only on) for four days after Christmas. Although I wouldn't recommend this, if the packaging say 20 July, and you haven't breached the packaging, then you will be fine to keep them until then. then you can cook them and keep for another two or three days. You can then use the cooked meat re-heated. Be warned though, the use by date on meat is definitely dependant on the packaging being perfect. Even a pinhole will mean air gets in to the protective atmosphere inside. Then , oh boy, will it stink!

[boxtops]

Yes, it will be fine. If in doubt, take the meat off the legs and cook it, then keep the cooked meat - we do this regularly with different meats and it's fine.

I've used mince which has been in the freezer 12 months - sometimes the quality decreases a bit, but we'll eat it.