Freezing Turkey

[originalang]

I won a fresh turkey crown in a trolley dash just before Christmas- use by date 12th Dec. As we were having Christmas dinner out I froze it with the intention of using it for Easter. I'm having doubts now about the time lapse being safe, can anyone advise please, many thanks.

[Zeddy]

If you froze it before its Use by date, it really won't be a problem. Just make sure to defrost and cook thoroughly!

[originalang]

Thanks Zeddy for your advice, put my mind at rest.

[samuel23]

Err ~ I'm not so sure about that Zeddy. I've just got a new freezer, and the guidelines only recommend keeping poultry for a maximum of three months. However, we got some frozen chicken breasts from Tesco the other day and the 'use by' date was September so I'm sure it'll be fine.
Whilst we were changing the freezer we had a joint of beef that was nearly a year old and it was ok.

[Snowy Owl]

I'll go with Zeddy on this one. If you froze it quickly after you got it, wrapped it well to prevent freezer burn and there's been no problem with your freezer....no problem. I was always told that if something was OK when it went in to the freezer, then (within reason) it should be OK when it comes out.

I'll add to this that we're having turkey for Easter too! We were given one at Christmas and, like you, were out on the day. Froze it the day we got it and we're really looking forward to it!

The thorough defrosting before cooking is ESSENTIAL, so allow plenty of time and then treat like a fresh bird. Keep it in the fridge after it has defrosted and make sure that it is cooked right through.

[NiceCupOfTea]

It'll be fine. We're not dead in our family yet, and we buy a spare turkey at Christmas for Easter every year. Even this year, we didn't have turkey but still bought one for the freezer.

[Zeddy]

Samuel23, the guidelines are in relation to quality more than freshness. A raw chicken/turkey cannot get any rawer in the freezer, whilst the freezing action slows down bacterial growth to almost zero at temperatures around
-25oC. If left in there long enough, it will become one tough bird, but then we all know a few of them? ;)

[Alibobs]

It will be fine - just thaw and cook it as per instructions

[Dee Sa]

you will be okay. Thaw thoroughly and do not stuff the bird, leave the cavaity bare and that way it will cook more evenly.

[originalang]

Thanks everybody, think we'll go for gold at Easter. It wouldve been a shame to have to throw it out given it was a prize but at the same time didnt want to poison everybody!

[NiceCupOfTea]

You enjoy - glad you're using it. We do the same most years and we're not dead yet!