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Best supermarket turkey?

  • 15-12-2015 12:48pm
    #1
    mapaca
    Registered Users Posts: 405 ✭✭


    Apologies if this has been asked before. I've not ordered a turkey from the butcher this year, planning on buying one fresh from the supermarket. What are your experiences of turkey bought in Tesco/Lidl/Aldi/Super valu, etc.? Any recommendations? Any ones to avoid?


Comments

  • #2
    Das Kitty
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 17,231 Mod ✭✭✭✭Das Kitty


    Went with Lidl last year. The only problem I had was that there were a few of feathers around the legs still in place. Nothing a tweezers couldn't sort. The meat was as good as a butcher bird.

    I'm looking for a ham, if anyone can recommend. Going to do the cola ham thing.


  • #3
    amen
    Registered Users Posts: 2,781 ✭✭✭amen


    Lidl Turkeys are tasty as are Dunnes Stores.

    Still love one from the butchers though.


  • #4
    Sunny Dayz
    Registered Users Posts: 5,301 ✭✭✭Sunny Dayz


    My mum has been getting her turkey in Supervalu the last few years, no complaints from her and it's a supermarket she doesn't really shop in.


  • #5
    Posy
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 27,523 Mod ✭✭✭✭Posy


    Das Kitty wrote: »
    Went with Lidl last year. The only problem I had was that there were a few of feathers around the legs still in place. Nothing a tweezers couldn't sort. The meat was as good as a butcher bird
    I got a free range bronze turkey in Lidl last year and it was great. :)


  • #6
    Radharc na Sleibhte
    Registered Users Posts: 2,534 ✭✭✭Radharc na Sleibhte


    Dunnes for the turkey and ham. I never shop there, find it far too expensive but I find the quality of these two unreal to be honest. You have to be in early to get the nice Turkey.


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  • #7
    freshpopcorn
    Registered Users Posts: 30,181 ✭✭✭✭freshpopcorn


    Last couple of years we've got ours in Dunnes and they were good. From what I can remember the Aldi fresh turkeys looked disappointing but I've had their frozen crowns and they were nice.
    Being honest I think your best bet is to have a look around all the supermarkets and pick one which looks best.


  • #8
    macnug
    Registered Users Posts: 619 ✭✭✭macnug


    Anybody know if you can buy turkeys right up until Christmas eve or do they run out of stock fast? Don't have a lot of room in the fridge to keep one for a couple of days.


  • #9
    Das Kitty
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 17,231 Mod ✭✭✭✭Das Kitty


    macnug wrote: »
    Anybody know if you can buy turkeys right up until Christmas eve or do they run out of stock fast? Don't have a lot of room in the fridge to keep one for a couple of days.

    They had heaps everywhere on the 26th last year.

    I'll be getting mine on the 23rd and storing it in the shed for a day. Pity the weather isn't a bit cooler, but what can you do?


  • #10
    spur
    Registered Users Posts: 119 ✭✭spur


    Got ours in Aldi last year - the bronze ones. And nicest turkey ever. It was first time not getting a butchers one. We bought one the day they came out and then on Christmas eve they were 1/2 price so we bought another and froze it and had it at Easter and it was equally as lovely as I'd remembered Christmas one. We're planning to do same this year.


  • #11
    byhookorbycrook
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Regional South East Moderators Posts: 12,475 Mod ✭✭✭✭byhookorbycrook


    I grew up as the daughter of a poultry farmer and poultry instructress. I would only buy from a butcher or a local farmer. Bronze turkeys will only be different if reared fee range and allowed to grow slowly.


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  • #12
    screamer
    Registered Users Posts: 6,131 ✭✭✭screamer


    They're all tasteless and resemble sawdust when cooked so what difference whether you pay 14 or 40 quid. I hate turkey give me a nice free range chicken and day.


  • #13
    byhookorbycrook
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Regional South East Moderators Posts: 12,475 Mod ✭✭✭✭byhookorbycrook


    screamer wrote: »
    They're all tasteless and resemble sawdust when cooked so what difference whether you pay 14 or 40 quid. I hate turkey give me a nice free range chicken and day.
    No, they are not, you may be overcooking the turkey. Do you brine it and use a turkey bag?


  • #14
    screamer
    Registered Users Posts: 6,131 ✭✭✭screamer


    byhookorbycrook wrote: »
    No, they are not, you may be overcooking the turkey. Do you brine it and use a turkey bag?
    Any turkey I've ever eaten in hotels other people's houses etc all the same tasteless sawdust. And don't get me started on the big disgusting grey meated legs........ yuck. Might be traditional but I don't get the obsession with this fowl foul. It'll be leg of lamb in my house this Xmas they can keep their overpriced overgrown turkeys.


  • #15
    Posy
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 27,523 Mod ✭✭✭✭Posy


    Each to their own I suppose- I think lamb, especially leg of lamb, is disgusting!


    Now let's try and get back on topic. :)


  • #16
    French_Girl
    Registered Users Posts: 715 ✭✭✭French_Girl


    screamer wrote:
    They're all tasteless and resemble sawdust when cooked so what difference whether you pay 14 or 40 quid. I hate turkey give me a nice free range chicken and day.


    Chicken? I could eat some chicken.


  • #17
    omicron
    Registered Users Posts: 814 ✭✭✭omicron


    Das Kitty wrote: »
    They had heaps everywhere on the 26th last year.

    I'll be getting mine on the 23rd and storing it in the shed for a day. Pity the weather isn't a bit cooler, but what can you do?

    No offence but from a food safety point of view that's a terrible idea! At the very least try get a polystyrene box and fill it up with ice to put it in.


  • #18
    Patty O Furniture
    Registered Users Posts: 5,133 ✭✭✭Patty O Furniture


    French_Girl wrote: »
    Chicken? I could eat some chicken.

    It's funny though, everything you taste these days, you think it tastes like... chicken :D:D

    Aldi/Lidl Turkeys etc are available i noticed in the brochures today from the 20th.


  • #19
    uck51js9zml2yt
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,268 ✭✭✭✭uck51js9zml2yt


    I'm gettting mine in Aldi/Lidl this year.

    I plan getting it Sunday/Monday and throwing it in the Chest Freezer for a few days. I'll take it out to defrost on Wednesday afternoon.


    I'll get a frozen one for new year.!


    I got a smoked whole smoked Gammon in Aldi this morning. Will boil it Christmas eve and then give it an hour in the oven Christmas day with honey/mustard/cloves etc.


  • #20
    cb123
    Registered Users Posts: 191 ✭✭cb123


    Order a rolled and boned turkey and ham in the butchers, but just seen the prices of the Aldi ones, tempted to cancel the butcher and go with Aldi. Any one have the boned and rolled stuffed turkey from there? Do they sell out fast, should I be there first thing tomorrow morning? Will it last til Christmas in the fridge?


  • #21
    uck51js9zml2yt
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,268 ✭✭✭✭uck51js9zml2yt


    cb123 wrote: »
    Order a rolled and boned turkey and ham in the butchers, but just seen the prices of the Aldi ones, tempted to cancel the butcher and go with Aldi. Any one have the boned and rolled stuffed turkey from there? Do they sell out fast, should I be there first thing tomorrow morning? Will it last til Christmas in the fridge?


    Buy it, freeze it and then defrost it in time for the oven.


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  • #22
    gowley
    Registered Users Posts: 629 ✭✭✭gowley


    Das Kitty wrote: »
    They had heaps everywhere on the 26th last year.

    I'll be getting mine on the 23rd and storing it in the shed for a day. Pity the weather isn't a bit cooler, but what can you do?

    We're they not closed on the 26th


  • #23
    freshpopcorn
    Registered Users Posts: 30,181 ✭✭✭✭freshpopcorn


    gowley wrote: »
    We're they not closed on the 26th

    A lot of Tesco's and Super Valu's are open on the 26th.


  • #24
    nc6000
    Registered Users Posts: 3,220 ✭✭✭nc6000


    byhookorbycrook wrote: »
    No, they are not, you may be overcooking the turkey. Do you brine it and use a turkey bag?

    First time I've seen a turkey bag mentioned anywhere. I might look into that. I'm presuming it keeps in any moisture so the turkey doesn't dry out.


  • #25
    Call me Al
    Registered Users Posts: 3,020 ✭✭✭Call me Al


    I used a tesco frozen bird and a turkey bag last year and never ever again to either of them. I haven't ordered my turkey anywhere yet so I think I'll just go for a supermarket fresh. I'll be happy with that. I have a €5 off €25 supervalu voucher so I'd consider there if I thought the turkeys were nice.
    And for the past two years I've oven baked my ham with a helping of cider for basting. Far nicer than boiling and finishing off in the oven.


  • #26
    leahyl
    Registered Users Posts: 14,244 ✭✭✭✭leahyl


    Turkeys in dunnes are usually marked down half price around 3/4pm christmas eve!! It's an annual tradition for my mum (and plenty of other customers!) to hang around the aisle where the turkeys are and wait for the guy to come and put the half price stickers on them!


  • #27
    Oasis1974
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,077 ✭✭✭Oasis1974


    leahyl wrote: »
    Turkeys in dunnes are usually marked down half price around 3/4pm christmas eve!! It's an annual tradition for my mum (and plenty of other customers!) to hang around the aisle where the turkeys are and wait for the guy to come and put the half price stickers on them!
    When security show you the exit I heard fist fights break out in the riot's.


  • #28
    uck51js9zml2yt
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,268 ✭✭✭✭uck51js9zml2yt


    nc6000 wrote: »
    First time I've seen a turkey bag mentioned anywhere. I might look into that. I'm presuming it keeps in any moisture so the turkey doesn't dry out.


    I always use a bag...keeps them moist and saves basting !


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