Frozen Turkey

[hammerman]

I don't have a spare freezer so when would be the earliest i could buy an 8KG frozen turkey

We will be eating it on Boxing day....would i get away with buying one 5 or 6 days before and then keeping it in a cold fridge ?

[Buenchico]

An 8kg turkey takes about a day and a half to defrost at room temperature, so it probably takes around twice that in a fridge. Thereafter though, the people who produce 'bootiful' turkeys say that it should be cooked within 24 hours:
http://www.bernardmatthews.com/christmas_defrosting.aspx

So buying it around 4 days in advance might be sensible but I doubt that 5 days would be a problem.

[hammerman]

Thank you sir, you're a star as usual

[gollob]

5 days would be OK . Do not put in in a fridge, put it in a garage or shed outside where it will thaw much slower

[janbee]

8kg? OMG, who are you inviting round for Chrissie dinner,? The Dagenham Girl Pipers? That's a LOT of turkey leftovers for sarnies, curries, dog food etc.
Enjoy your Christmas dinner hammerman. Happy Christmas xx

[hammerman]

Haha, thanks janbee. Got 15 for dinner on boxing day. Made some room in the freezer yesterday and bought a frozen one.

happy christmas to you and yours too