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You are here: Home / Other / Top tips for the perfect Christmas turkey and what to do with all those leftovers

Top tips for the perfect Christmas turkey and what to do with all those leftovers

Published on December 15, 2014 by Helen 8 Comments
Last Updated on October 23, 2020

We all want that perfect Christmas.   A beautifully decorated house.   Enviable presents that are a surprise, or just what we asked for depending on the gift giving abilities of our nearest and dearest.   And, of course, delicious food.

Defrosting your turkeyTo aid with the food the folks at internet butchers, Donald Russell,have produced an interactive guide to cooking your Christmas turkey.

Firstly if you have bought a frozen turkey you must defrost it properly before cooking, if not you risk food poisoning, which is not fun and certainly something that you do not want at Christmas.   It takes far longer to defrost a turkey in the fridge than you might think – 7 – 10 hours per 500g, that is at least 72 hours for an average turkey.    Christmas falls on a Thursday this year,  you want to start thinking about defrosting times this coming weekend.

More tips on food safety and turkeys here.

Turkey Carving TipsEveryone wants their turkey to look attractive on the plate – so make sure whoever is nominated to carve has a quick look to remind themselves how to carve attractive slices of meat.  You do need a good knife (which has been sharpened) and a carving fork.

Once you have enjoyed Christmas, the presents, drinks and the food the there is the matter of leftovers, I love cold turkey and ham served with the left over trimmings and lots of different chutneys and pickles for a day or so after Christmas, then it is time to get inventive with the leftovers.

Once you have removed the meat from the carcass you can make stock – I break the carcass up enough to fit into my slow cooker, cover with cold water, add a carrot, stick of celery and a few peppercorns and cook on low for at least 4 hours.   Strain and pour into a bowl in the fridge.  Once the fat has solidified skim it off and discard.  Use the stock immediately or ladle into containers and freeze.

Easy Leftover Turkey Recipes 

Here are some more ideas for using that leftover turkey – remember that you can also substitute turkey in any recipe that uses leftover chicken!  

  • Leftover turkey curry
  • Leftover turkey pasta bake 
  • Leftover turkey biryani 
  • Leftover turkey stuffed baked potatoes
  • Leftover turkey soup 
  • Leftover turkey pies
  • Leftover turkey frittata
  • Leftover turkey croquettes
  • Leftover turkey slaw

What is your favourite way to use up leftover turkey?

This is a sponsored post for Donald Russell

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  1. Camilla @FabFood4All

    The whole of Christmas can depend on someone remembering to defrost a turkey – I’ve heard so many stories of missed dinners at Christmas! Thanks for including a link to my Scrumptious Turkey Pie:-)

    Reply
    • Helen

      Was it in Adrian Mole where they shoved the turkey in the bath with the shower head inserted into the cavity to defrost it?

      Reply
  2. Sarah Maison Cupcake

    That’s really useful to see a defrosting time by weight, I could have done with knowing that when I dealt with my first frozen turkey recently. Thanks for the wraps mention :)

    Reply
    • Helen

      I had no idea it would be more than 72 hours. That is a very long time.

      Reply
  3. Kavey

    I liked the tip it from Paul Kelly at Kelly Bronze to remove the skin and put or back in oven for extra cooking, Esther than overcook turkey till skin crisp and brown.

    Reply
    • Helen

      Yes, I remember that one. We also cooked a turkey with an orange once which was also very good.

      Reply
  4. Bintu @ Recipes From A Pantry

    Cranberry turkey coleslaw – that sounds really really good.

    Reply
    • Helen

      A lighter way to get rid of those last leftovers Bintu!

      Reply

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Headshot of Helen Best-Shaw, Food Blogger at Fuss Free Flavours I'm Helen, full time freelance food writer, photographer and blogger. On this site you will find my fuss-free recipes, travel and reviews. Learn more here
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