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Will small frozen turkeys be in short supply this year?

(81 Posts)
merlotgran Mon 26-Oct-20 11:53:13

We've just had our weekly Tesco delivery. I ordered a small 3kg frozen turkey as there will only be two of us this year and I'm buying things for the freezer gradually rather than worry about delivery slots closer to Christmas.

They were out of stock so Tesco sent a 3kg turkey crown!! Enough for 8-10 shock shock

I'm not complaining because they didn't charge me the extra £5 and all leftovers will be turned into dishes for the freezer but I'm wondering if the predicted small turkey shortage, due to abnormal demand, is already kicking in.

ClaraB Tue 27-Oct-20 12:31:38

Medium, Asda, frozen turkey arrived yesterday with our online shop, along with the small Christmas cake. If we do manage to get to our daughter's this year then we will have it another day.

pamcuthbert Tue 27-Oct-20 12:28:24

I'm lucky - I don't have to worry about this as I'm vegan & would never eat any animal or fish.
I find the whole idea of eating dead animals revolting I'm afraid.
I honestly believe anyone who has seen what happens in an abattoir would become vegan too.
So my Christmas will be cruelty free!

merlotgran Tue 27-Oct-20 12:16:22

or the tesco 'complete christmas lunch for two'??

Oh that has given me a good chuckle. Thanks, Nannan2

It's a source of amusement in our family that I insist on cooking everything from scratch, however, Lockdown meant I had a bag of Aunt Bessie roast potatoes (just in case), two Aldi ready meals and a pizza lurking in the freezer.

They're still there grin

Kim19 Tue 27-Oct-20 11:57:17

Many imponderables. If the bubble rule stays the same and if I am invited I fully expect some sort of unusual pasta dish. Suits me fine. Turkey? Not a chance.

Nannan2 Tue 27-Oct-20 11:43:20

Goergesgran- perhaps would have been easier (and more generous) to donate it to a food charity for homeless shelter or a foodbank or similar?

Nannan2 Tue 27-Oct-20 11:40:33

I think the 'small' tesco turkey would have still been too big anyway then Merlotgran- but as your so au faix with pheasant,duck etc. then that might have been a good alternative for you-or the tesco 'complete christmas lunch for two'??

Georgesgran Tue 27-Oct-20 11:38:47

Popped back in with a story about an enormous frozen turkey DD1 got from her employer one Christmas Eve. We didn’t need it, as we were already well prepared for The Day, but it was too big for the space available in the freezer.
DH put it in his Black and Decker workbench and with an electric saw attachment sawed it in half lengthways!! We wrapped the 2 pieces up - half a breast and a leg on each and had one for Easter and one at Thanksgiving. It was a bit messy, bits of frozen turkey flying around everywhere!

olliebeak Tue 27-Oct-20 11:37:55

There will only be two of us for Christmas Day. I don't bother buying a turkey - but I usually buy an Organic Corn Fed Chicken instead.

I find that a chicken has more meat per carcase than a turkey does, so I prefer to buy a better quality chicken than an average quality small turkey.

Caro57 Tue 27-Oct-20 11:36:46

....overall aren't we fortunate that we can afford to put food on the table, personally I am just truly thankful for that and don't care if I have a turkey or a tin of beans for Christmas

nipsmum Tue 27-Oct-20 11:28:30

If your are in doubt about supply and demand lots of the Supermarkets are selling Frozen turkeys now at very good prices. Buy now and save disappointment and worry about demand .nearer Christmas.

Tish Tue 27-Oct-20 11:25:21

Funny I was just thinking I hadn’t managed to get a cauliflower for weeks too....

Witzend Tue 27-Oct-20 11:21:56

I saw small frozen turkeys in my local (not huge) Asda the other day.

I once bought one when we were going to friends for Christmas, and I knew we wouldn’t be getting a Proper Christmas Dinner. Cooked it on about the 29th just for me and dh - loads of leftovers and plenty in meal-sized packets in the freezer.
To me it’s not Christmas (or Christmas week) without turkey and leftovers.

Craftycat Tue 27-Oct-20 11:02:40

ONLY good thing I can think of that is a nice thought about Christmas as I doubt we will be able to see family is that I will not have to cook a huge turkey & we can have something we prefer such as duck or goose!!

Jaxjacky Tue 27-Oct-20 11:00:35

My friend works for a butcher, so already have two turkey breasts in the freezer, DD can have one if we can’t be together. Also got the sausage meat to make stuffing, my dear Dad’s secret recipe and the makings for the pigs, DG usually helps with them Christmas Eve. I’ve stored some potatoes grown this year, swede and parsnips hopefully to be lifted. If we deliver a ‘food parcel’ to DD and DS just before the day, so be it, he’s in her bubble, so image they’ll be together.

Fernhillnana Tue 27-Oct-20 10:46:40

Or maybe try something that isn’t a dead bird? I’ve always found it ironic that people celebrate birth by enjoying death. Weird.

aonk Tue 27-Oct-20 10:45:03

I’m still hoping at the back of my mind that there will be some relaxation of restrictions. If not I shan’t care about food. For me it’s all about family. I shall behave in the same way as every year. Presents will be bought in advance but I shan’t think about food until mid December. I’ll book a delivery slot for the basic groceries and pick up the extras at the shops.

jaylucy Tue 27-Oct-20 10:38:47

They did say a couple of months ago that turkeys might be in short supply due to an increased demand as people will possibly be able to meet in family groups.
It's a chance to try something else less traditional maybe like a goose or duck or even salmon for a change.
We do click and collect and I have found it annoying to not have my ordered hot chocolate and chocolate biscuits delivered because they were out of stock!

mancgirl Tue 27-Oct-20 10:27:40

Think I mentioned on the good morning thread a couple of weeks ago that the tesco delivery man told me to order the turkey early this year. Didn't think it necessary at the time but he may have been right. Not the end of the world, I think the family prefer roast beef or chicken to be honest!

Ladyleftfieldlover Tue 27-Oct-20 10:18:29

I have ordered a turkey crown from Waitrose to serve 9. We have no idea how many we will be, but a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 7 - leftovers can be frozen.

micky987 Tue 27-Oct-20 10:17:46

Lucky us...DH won our xmas turkey at golf again this year. Just before xmas you collect which ever one you want so I’ll Be there early to get a smallIsh one this year. Fingers crossed hell win the hamper again too. I love the idea of partridge though. Never tried it but would like to some time.

Nanny100 Tue 27-Oct-20 10:14:27

We’re in Tier 3 here in Liverpool and DD,SIL and GC are in Scotland, so it’ll just be us two.
Last night I pre ordered a large, free range, stuffed and bacon latticed chicken and some stuffing baubles (I like stuffing better than anything!) from Sainsbury’s. Collection is 23rd December, so I hope they don’t let me down!
I did hear potatoes may be in short supply, so I’ll do the par boil and freeze trick that I usually do the week before Christmas, which makes them extra crispy, cooked from frozen, but I’ll do it next week, to be on the safe side!
It seems reading other posts, that most of us will be either alone or just couples this year. Such strange times.

Quilty Tue 27-Oct-20 10:12:51

I think you would have been disappointed with a 3 kg turkey. We had one a few years ago (only 2 of us).
It was all bone and no meat. Far better with a crown. Enjoy!!!

GrammarGrandma Tue 27-Oct-20 10:09:19

We are not doing a traditional Christmas Dinner this year as moving house at some point in the next two months. So I thought we could donate a Christmas Dinner to a family in need. Turkeys would be too big for a family of four, so thought about a large chicken.

Calendargirl Tue 27-Oct-20 10:02:31

We had beef last year for 6 of us, DH and GS wanted turkey, but were outvoted.
So just a normal Sunday dinner really.
Can’t get worked up about what to have.

A few years ago, all of us were poorly at Christmas. I had been ill a couple of days before, but perked up by the great day.

The fresh turkey was put in the freezer, DH in bed all day, only had Lucozade, no idea what DS and family had at their home.

I had some bacon and fried eggs while watching Wallace and Gromit, South Pacific and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

A self indulgent day on my own, didn’t miss the big dinner at all.

25Avalon Tue 27-Oct-20 09:56:31

Cook are very good indeed. I have their meals quite often and am lucky where I live to get free home delivery if I spend £40.

For Christmas I am ordering free range goose breast. £20 with enough for 3. Just the 2 of us and fancied trying goose for a change without all the fat. May get turkey breast from same place to have cold on Boxing Day with bubble and squeak and home made pickles.