Will this work? turkey question

annie123

I am cooking 2 full xmas dinners this year one on 25th (just the 4 of us at home) and one on 28th (8 to 10 inc other family members)

Can I buy 1 large turkey crown cook on 25th and chill or freeze the rest and re heat for the 28th?

The 2nd dinner I'm cooking at my MIL house (larger than mine so room for everyone) so if I could just bring it, that would help great deal with time.

ifonlyitwaseasier

can't see why not, i think i'd freeze it and then reheat in gravy so it's lovely and moist iykwim

:-)

annie123

Reheat in gravy now thats a good idea:D
Thank you

sooty&sweep

Hi

Just a thought but will one turkey crown feed 12 - 14 ?

However I agree with the others that I'd reheat in the gravy. You could slice and freeze covered in the gravy so you would then take out of the freezer the night before and then reheat.

Pitlanepiglet

No problem with freezing, I wouldn't keep it chilled til the 28th if I was serving it to lots of people (although we eat ours from the 25th for up to 5 days so I don't know why I think it's different!). I'd also slice it and then reheat it in gravy.

Might it be worth buying a big proper turkey rather than a crown for first time round so that you get more meat on it and can use the bones for soup etc?

zippychick

Yep I would go for the turkey too rather than a crown. Make amzing soup, pies (jamies tyrkey and leek), and much much more. Mmmmm.

annie123

I never get the size right, I'm a veggie but the rest are all meat eaters, only thought of a crown so everyone gets some breast meat, but dont want to not have enough for everyone, that would be bad.

The 2nd meal has my MIL...good cook, my SIL...great italian cook and an uncle who is a retired chef, one of them does the cooking but this year due to age and or health problems for them, its my turn:eek:

Maybe if I cooked 2 crowns a bigger one and a smaller one? whilst as a veggie, I have no problem cooking meat, doing things with bones is beyond me:eek:

ChapelGirl

So you have 14 meals to cater for, including 1 vegetarian (you)?

I am no expert on mass catering but I think even with 2 full-sized turkey crowns you might be pushing it a bit. Perhaps you could phone your uncle the retired chef and ask him about quantities?

How about doing a roast capon for the 4 of you and a whole turkey for your 2nd dinner? Then any left-overs from your 1st meal can be added to the 2nd one and nobody will be any the wiser.

If you don't like handling bones you are at a bit of a disadvantage, I'm afraid, since you can't really make a decent chicken or turkey stock without meat bones and stock is the basis of proper gravy. If I haven't any stock in the freezer or a carcasse to use I buy some chicken wings and roast them in the oven before adding them to the stock pot.

Do you have a carnivore friend or relative who would be prepared to help you with that bit?

csarina

I cooked a Christmas lunch for 15 2 years ago and there was plenty of meat on a turkey crown. I cooked it and sliced it with a slicer, there was enough left over for people to take some away for sandwiches and I had several packs in the freezer as well.

I have another one to cook this year although there will only be 4 of us I guess our guests will take some home and we will use some for a cold platter Boxing day, the rest will be put up in sperate parcels and frozen for meals or sandwiches for later.

sandy2_2

If you can I´d reheat in a clear broth, (either veggie water or chicken bone), then use that to make the gravy. That way the meat will still stay white
sandy