Kiss dry turkey goodbye!
Your Christmas dinner just got an upgrade! 55% are worried about cooking turkey but Safefood is here to prevent a Christmas Day disaster!
04 December 2024: Christmas dinner is the centrepiece of festive celebrations, and the star of the show is undoubtedly the turkey. But a perfectly roasted, juicy turkey can quickly turn into a Christmas day disaster if not cooked properly. In fact, according to Safefood’s annual survey, 55% of people are worried about cooking their turkey correctly while a further 30% are worried about timing their turkey so that’s it’s ready with all the other dishes.
The survey also revealed that 60% of people start their Christmas dinner planning in early December with 26% starting it just a few days before the big day.1 In addition, the cost of living is still impacting on spend for this year’s Christmas dinner: more than 1 in 3 (35%) said they are shopping around for cheaper food options and 27% will be cooking a smaller-sized turkey.
This year, Safefood has the perfect tools to help home cooks make it a safe and tasty turkey for Christmas Day – the Christmas Dinner Food Planner can help reduce the stress of preparation and prevent food waste with 41% of cooks saying they’re cutting back on the amount of food they buy this Christmas.
There’s also Safefood’s Turkey Cooking Time Calculator to help get everything ready on time. Simply enter the time you want to eat dinner, answer a couple of simple questions about the turkey weight and oven type, and it will calculate when you need to start cooking.
Safefood also recommend using a meat thermometer which takes all the guesswork out of knowing when your turkey has reached the safe internal temperature of 75ºC.
How to use a meat thermometer
- Take your turkey out of the oven and insert a clean thermometer probe into the thickest part of the bird.
- In a whole turkey, the thickest part is between the breast and the leg.
- If you are cooking a turkey crown or a boned and rolled turkey the thickest part is at the centre of the joint.
- You can use a digital or dial meat thermometer.
- The turkey is fully cooked when the temperature reaches 75ºC.
- Always make sure you wash the meat thermometer thoroughly afterwards.
If you do not own a meat thermometer, you can check that there’s no pink meat, the juices run clear, and that the meat is piping hot when you cut into the thickest part.
Using a meat thermometer to check the thickest part of the turkey has reached 75ºC is the fool proof way to knowing it’s fully cooked and will be deliciously juicy!
Commenting on the research, Trish Twohig, Director of Food Safety with Safefood said, “With over half of people (55%) who are cooking Christmas dinner this year worried about either under- or over-cooking their turkey, we’ve got all the practical tools you need on how to cook what is probably the most anticipated meal of the year. Using a meat thermometer to check the thickest part of the turkey has reached 75ºC is the fool proof way to knowing it’s fully cooked and will be deliciously juicy! Visit safefood.net to find our Turkey Cooking Time Calculator which will also help you to set a schedule for cooking on the day.”
The Safefood survey also found that 43% will enjoy turkey leftovers for up to two days after Christmas. You can also find lots of turkey leftover recipes on https://www.safefood.net/christmas-leftovers
For further information please contact:
Wilson Hartnell:
Heidi Morgan
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: 087 297 2046 or
Annemarie Travers:
Email : [email protected]
Mobile: 085 732 5955 or
Safefood:
Dermot Moriarty
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: 086 381 1034 or
Hayley Linehan
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: 087 406 9110
Safefood’s Top Tips for Cooking the Perfect Christmas Dinner
Get your fridge festive ready: Ahead of the festive rush give your fridge a good clean with warm soapy water and re-arrange the shelves to make space for your turkey – you should store it on the bottom shelf.
How much turkey do you need?: Consider how many people you’re cooking for (children eat less than adults) and whether you want any leftovers. Here’s a guide to the size of turkey you'll need depending on the size of your party.
- 4-6 people: a 3-4 kg turkey
- 6-8 people: a 4-5 kg turkey
- 8-10 people: a 5-6 kg turkey
Don’t wash your turkey: Do not wash your turkey as this can spread harmful bacteria to your sink and kitchen surfaces - proper cooking will kill any bacteria. Handle your turkey as little as possible and remember to wash your hands and any surfaces/utensils with hot, soapy water before you handle anything else.
How long to cook your turkey? For cooking times to suit your turkey, Safefood have a handy turkey cooking time calculator on their website at :www.safefood.net/Christmas/turkey-cooking-calculator
To check your turkey is safely cooked, take it out of the oven and pop a meat thermometer in the thickest part of the meat between the breast and the leg; when it reads 75 degrees Celsius, it's safely cooked. If you don't own a meat thermometer, pierce the thickest part with a clean skewer or fork and check that it is piping hot, with no pink meat left and the juices run clear.
Using your leftovers: Always cover any leftovers and place in the fridge within two hours of cooking. Ensure any meat is cooled as quickly as possible – cutting it into pieces will help with this. Once in the fridge, any leftovers should be eaten within three days. When re-heating food, ensure it is piping hot all the way throughout and only re-heated once. Check out www.safefood.net/christmas-leftovers for some inspiration on leftover recipes.
