For most of the year, supermarket shoppers walk, with barely a sideways glance, past the various turkey offerings in supermarket aisles and butcher shops. Until December, that is, because that’s when turkeys take centre stage.
Because what is lunch on December 25 without this big bird as the centrepiece? Say Christmas lunch to any Brit, and we’re pretty much all conjuring the same image: a table set with platters of honey-kissed carrots and parsnips, golden roasties crisped up in goose fat, sprouts made tantalising with pancetta, pools of cranberry and bread sauce, and mountains of pigs-in-blankets orbiting the centrepiece, a golden brown turkey.
Beyond our borders, other nations do December 25 a little differently. It’s a suckling pig for Argentina, while Down Under - where it’s high summer in the Southern Hemisphere - Aussie revellers tuck into Yuletide feasts of juicy prawns, lobster and other fresh seafood. Elsewhere in Europe, Scandi nations tend to favour entire sides of salmon, pork and beef, as well as luxe game like duck, goose and rabbit.
We have one Henry VIII to thank for the British fixation on eating festive turkey. The Tudor king made the bird his Christmas feast’s star after the Americas were discovered, where it’s a native animal.
Meanwhile, Queen Victoria went one better and tucked into a roast swan for her Christmas Day lunch (occupational perks, one imagines). Pub quiz groups, thank us later.
For readers who have the honour of hosting the big day but have never cooked an entire turkey before, it can be quite an undertaking.
A whole bird takes all morning to cook, so prep the night before and start early - no later than right after the morning’s frenzied present opening - if you want to get everyone seated at a decent hour. Roasting a whole bird is also a great idea if you’re planning to make Boxing Day sandwiches, curry a la Mother Bridget Jones, or want to freeze them for easy January suppers.
It doesn’t have to be a slog; for those with fewer mouths to feed, a turkey joint or crown gives the same impressive effect with a drastically shortened cook time, and a pre-prepared version gets things going even quicker still.
See the best deals on Christmas turkeys below
Best Whole Turkey Bird Deals for Christmas 2024
Hosting lunch this year? For ravenous appetites and enough leftovers to fuel a small army, a whole turkey is a smart buy.
However, the extravagance comes at a price: you’ll have to start first thing. If this is your first time cooking a whole bird and you’re the squeamish sort, many turkeys now come with the giblets removed so you can skip the unpleasantries and get cracking with the rest of the meal.
Gressingham Whole Turkey, 5kg, Serves 8-11 (Frozen) - £24.97, Amazon
Daylesford Organic Whole Christmas Turkey - £145, Daylesford
Abel & Cole Large Turkey, High Welfare, Non-Organic, KellyBronze® (6-7kg avg) - £105, Abel & Cole
Thanksgiving Free Range Bronze Turkey, Large, 7kg - 7.99kg - £150, F&M
Tesco British Frozen Extra Large Basted Whole Turkey Bird 7.0-8.8Kg - £30, Tesco
M&S Our Best Ever Slow-Cooked Turkey (Serves 8-10) - £85, M&S
Medium Duchy Organic Bronze Whole Turkey with Giblets - £53, Waitrose
Best Turkey Crown Deals for Christmas 2024
Less time-consuming than cooking a whole bird, crowns are the main portion of the turkey only minus the wings and legs. It’s the most economical option for small families or anyone attempting the meal with only a mini oven to work with. They’re easier to carve, cost less energy to cook and there’s less waste too.
But that does also mean fewer leftovers to pick at come Twixtmas. If you’re hoping to make Boxing Day sandwiches or turkey curry afterwards, buy a whole bird.
M&S Collection Oakham™ Slow-Cooked Stuffed Turkey Crown (Serves 6-7) - £65, M&S
Daylesford Organic Organic Christmas Turkey Crown 4kg-5kg - £140, Daylesford
Donald Russell British Slow-cooked Turkey Crown in Gravy - £80, Donald Russell
Glorious Treacle Glazed Turkey Crown - £60, Waitrose
Sainsbury's slow cooked turkey crown with bacon and stuffing - £45, Sainsbury's
Pipers Farm Free Range Turkey Crown - £93.50, Pipers Farm
DukesHill Free Range Bronze Christmas Turkey Crown 5kg - £145, DukesHill
Best Turkey Joint Deals for Christmas 2024
Catering for three to five diners, a joint is the choice cut for an intimate Christmas dinner. Some come pre-stuffed, while others are wrapped in slices of pancetta so they emerge from the oven with a delightful crispy, salty top.
Do check the meat is cooked thoroughly by piercing the plumpest part with a knife: if the juices run clear, ready the crackers because Christmas lunch is about to land.
Waitrose Butter Basted Turkey Breast with Stuffing Balls - £35, Waitrose
DukesHill Large Stuffed Turkey Breast - £75, DukesHill
ASDA Extra Special Boneless Turkey Breast Joint with Pork, Orange, Cranberry & Mulled Wine Stuffing & Marmalade & Cranberry Glaze - £28, ASDAM&S Collection Slow Cooked Turkey Breast Joint Frozen - £35, Ocado
ASDA Extra Special Turkey Hasselback with chestnut stuffing & a sage & shallot crumb with honey butter - £20, ASDAFree Range Jewelled Fruit Stuffed Turkey Breast Joint - £40, Waitrose
Tesco Finest Easy Carve Turkey with Pork, Cranberry & Chestnut Stuffing - £40, Tesco
Farmison & Co Easy Carve Bacon Wrapped Turkey With Cranberry & Caramelised Red Onion Stuffing - £95, Farmison & Co
Best turkey alternatives for Christmas 2024: beef, fish, smoked ham and more
Want to skip turkey altogether this year? There are plenty of extra special alternatives (or indeed, additions) to your festive feast, from a rack of Welsh lamb and free-range goose to a Salmon & Champagne Wellington. Add the trimmings and you may find you won’t even miss the traditional option.
Fortnums Sussex Wagyu Forerib of Beef, 4.5kg - £300, F&M
DukesHill Half Boneless Candied Orange & Honey Glazed Christmas Ham - £80, DukesHill
Beef Wellingtons with Truffle 2 x 260g each - £40, Donald Russell
F&M Christmas Turkey Wellington - £85, Fortnums
DukesHill Sirloin Roasting Joint 2kg - 65, DukesHill
Donald Russell Whole Scottish Creel Caught Lobster, 500g - £50, Donald Russell
Donald Russell Whole Scottish Salmon Side, 1kg - £45, Donald Russell
Pipers Farm Properly Free Range Whole Goose - £106.10, Pipers Farm
Tesco Maple & Bourbon Crackling Gammon Joint 2.8kg - £25, Tesco
Tesco Finest Chef’s Collection Black Treacle Butter Aged Côte de Boeuf 1.5-2.0kg - £70, Tesco
