Buying a turkey
Choosing your Christmas centrepiece is easy with our tips to help you pick a traditional turkey. Whether you're comfortable cooking at Christmas or you're new to hosting, browse our guide for buying the best bird for your festive table.
Whole turkeys
With its glorious golden skin and choice of both breast and leg meat, a whole turkey promises to please everyone. It's perfect for large families and ideal for a Boxing Day curry or chunky leftover sandwiches.
Turkey crowns
Without legs and wings, a crown is great for fans of succulent white meat and easy carving. They're perfect for smaller get-togethers, or if you're planning on serving a choice of mains.
What size turkey should I buy?
As a general rule, allow about 450g (raw weight) of turkey per person. If you want lots of leftovers or know there are some big eaters, allow 500–600g per person.
| Weight range (kg) | Approximate servings | Approximate cooking time |
|---|---|---|
| 2.50-4.49 | 6-10 | 2hrs 10mins-2hrs 50mins |
| 4.50-5.99 | 11-14 | 2hrs 50mins-3hrs 44mins |
| 6.00-7.49 | 15-18 | 3hrs 45mins-4hrs 14mins |
| 7.50-9.00 | 19-22 | 4hrs 15mins-4hrs 45mins |
Freshness guarantee
Fresh turkeys from our Festive Food to Order range are guaranteed to last until 26 December when stored correctly. Always store your fresh turkey at 4°C or less at the bottom of the fridge, or freeze it as soon as possible before the use by date. Keep the bird in its original packaging.
More from our ultimate Christmas turkey guide
Get top turkey tips and essential know-how to prepare your turkey. We'll help you produce easy-to-carve, tender meat with bronzed skin for the big day.
