When to Buy a Christmas Turkey: Your 2025 Guide to Fresh, Frozen & Foolproof Food Safety
Searches for “when to buy a Christmas turkey” peaked on 2nd November, showing that once Halloween is over, Brits’ focus turns to Christmas and the preparation it entails.1
To help make preparations easier and ensure Brits don’t miss the deadline, Rachael Kiss from Alliance Online shares her expert tips on when to order your Christmas bird and the key differences between fresh and frozen.
When’s the best time to buy a Christmas turkey?
Frozen turkeys are perfect for a convenient Christmas – just make sure you get them by 14th December
Frozen turkeys are a convenient and more affordable option for a festive feast. The majority of supermarkets will stock frozen turkeys in the lead-up to Christmas, meaning there’ll be plenty of opportunity to grab your turkey in December. If you plan to order online, be sure to stay organised, as some supermarkets have a cut-off date for choosing turkeys as part of your online order. For Tesco online orders this year, it’s 14th December, for Asda the cut off is 15th December and for Morrisons it’s the 16th December2.
Supermarkets typically start stocking turkeys in early December, so the only thing you’ll need to prepare ahead of time is your freezer space to store the bird.
What are the benefits of a fresh turkey?
Fresh turkeys are limited in numbers, so you’ll need to ensure you order ahead of time to secure yours before they run out. Butchers will start advertising their turkey availability any time from the first weeks of November, so be quick if you want a locally-sourced turkey for your festive feast this year.
Fresh turkeys are typically sourced from local butchers, meaning the price will be higher than that of a frozen turkey. Fresh turkeys are easier to cook, as you’re removing the need to allocate ample time for the bird to defrost. Because of the freshness, you’ll be able to start seasoning and marinating the bird, if desired, as soon as you receive or collect it from your butchers. By opting for a fresh turkey, you won’t need to worry about storing it, as they are typically ready for Christmas Eve.
Food safety tips for frozen turkeys
If you’re opting for a frozen turkey this year, ensure the bird is fully defrosted before starting the cooking process. Plan ahead with this, as the larger the bird, the longer it will take to defrost – it’s recommended to allow 10-12 hours per kg.2 Always defrost in the fridge, ideally at the bottom, in a container to avoid any juices spilling onto other food items. When cooking, the turkey juices shouldn’t have any pink or red in them when the thickest part of the bird is pierced with a clean knife or thermometer.3 When cooking the turkey, you should look for a 75°C cooking temperature to ensure the bird is cooked thoroughly.
A top tip would be to cook your stuffing in a separate dish, rather than inside the turkey⁴. This slows down the cooking time and might make your turkey cook unevenly and not all the way through.
When handling a raw turkey, ensure to always wash your hands before and after to avoid cross-contamination with other foods or utensils. You should always use different utensils for different food items to further avoid contamination. You should never wash your turkey, as this increases the risk of contamination and spreading harmful bacteria by water splashing onto work surfaces and utensils.
From turkey sandwiches to turkey curry, there seems to be an excess of turkey that isn’t eaten on Christmas Day. To help keep the turkey succulent, cover and refrigerate it, or carve and store in an air-tight container, two hours after eating to avoid it drying out. Only reheat turkey once, and ensure it’s piping hot when you do so. Leftover turkey can last for up to four days, so manage your leftovers wisely!
Rachael Kiss finishes with:
“Knowing your options for Christmas turkeys is important, as more than half (52%) of adults will be eating turkey on Christmas Day this year.⁶ Understanding the differences between fresh and frozen turkeys will help you make the most of your budget, ensure your festive feast goes smoothly – and most importantly, for the chef to enjoy the day too!”
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