Irish people 'worried' as they're warned over potential Christmas turkey disaster

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.

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.

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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 www.safefood.net/Christmas/Shopping 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 www.safefood.net/Christmas/turkey-cooking-calculator 

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.

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 www.safefood.net/Christmas