Defrost Reminder

 

From cosy get-togethers to the main event, make sure your festive favourites are perfectly prepared. Keep your festive plans stress-free with our handy defrosting guide, so your food’s always ready to serve when you need it.

 

Turkey for 2

Turkey for 2

For best results:
Remove from packaging, place in dish and cover. Defrost for at least 12 hours in the fridge. Ensure it is fully defrosted before cooking.

Full cooking instructions

Turkey for 4

Turkey for 4

For best results:
Remove from packaging, place in dish and cover. Defrost for at least 48 hours in the fridge. Ensure it is fully defrosted before cooking.
Defrosting at Room Temperature▾

If you don’t have the time or space to defrost your COOK turkey for 4, 6, 8 or 12 in the fridge, you can do it overnight at room temperature. We don’t love recommending defrosting at room temperature as it’s more complicated than in the fridge, but if you follow these guidelines carefully it’ll be just fine.

  • You need to remove your turkey from all its packaging, place on a dish or tray with sides and cover loosely with clingfilm. Obviously, it needs to be out of reach from any pets.
  • The turkeys for 4, 6, 8 and 12 will all defrost overnight (10-12 hours) at room temperature. People's definition of room temperature varies wildly: in a cold conservatory it might not fully defrost; next to a hot radiator it might not be safe to eat. By room temperature we mean 18 to 20°C.
  • Your turkey needs to be fully defrosted before you start cooking, and you can test this easily with a skewer…
  • …At the same time, you don’t want the centre of your turkey to get warmer than it is the fridge (3-5˚C). A thermometer probe is advised to get this right. If it’s defrosted hours before you plan to start cooking, you can always pop it in the fridge.

That's it! Then just follow the usual cooking instructions.

Full cooking instructions

Turkey for 8

Turkey for 8

For best results:
Remove from packaging, place in dish and cover. Defrost for at least 48 hours in the fridge. Ensure it is fully defrosted before cooking.
Defrosting at Room Temperature▾

If you don’t have the time or space to defrost your COOK turkey for 4, 6, 8 or 12 in the fridge, you can do it overnight at room temperature. We don’t love recommending defrosting at room temperature as it’s more complicated than in the fridge, but if you follow these guidelines carefully it’ll be just fine.

  • You need to remove your turkey from all its packaging, place on a dish or tray with sides and cover loosely with clingfilm. Obviously, it needs to be out of reach from any pets.
  • The turkeys for 4, 6, 8 and 12 will all defrost overnight (10-12 hours) at room temperature. People's definition of room temperature varies wildly: in a cold conservatory it might not fully defrost; next to a hot radiator it might not be safe to eat. By room temperature we mean 18 to 20°C.
  • Your turkey needs to be fully defrosted before you start cooking, and you can test this easily with a skewer…
  • …At the same time, you don’t want the centre of your turkey to get warmer than it is the fridge (3-5˚C). A thermometer probe is advised to get this right. If it’s defrosted hours before you plan to start cooking, you can always pop it in the fridge.

That's it! Then just follow the usual cooking instructions.

Full cooking instructions

Turkey for 12

Turkey for 12

For best results:
Remove from packaging, place in dish and cover. Defrost for at least 72 hours in the fridge. Ensure it is fully defrosted before cooking.
Defrosting at Room Temperature▾

If you don’t have the time or space to defrost your COOK turkey for 4, 6, 8 or 12 in the fridge, you can do it overnight at room temperature. We don’t love recommending defrosting at room temperature as it’s more complicated than in the fridge, but if you follow these guidelines carefully it’ll be just fine.

  • You need to remove your turkey from all its packaging, place on a dish or tray with sides and cover loosely with clingfilm. Obviously, it needs to be out of reach from any pets.
  • The turkeys for 4, 6, 8 and 12 will all defrost overnight (10-12 hours) at room temperature. People's definition of room temperature varies wildly: in a cold conservatory it might not fully defrost; next to a hot radiator it might not be safe to eat. By room temperature we mean 18 to 20°C.
  • Your turkey needs to be fully defrosted before you start cooking, and you can test this easily with a skewer…
  • …At the same time, you don’t want the centre of your turkey to get warmer than it is the fridge (3-5˚C). A thermometer probe is advised to get this right. If it’s defrosted hours before you plan to start cooking, you can always pop it in the fridge.

That's it! Then just follow the usual cooking instructions.

Full cooking instructions

Turkey thigh

Turkey thigh

For best results:
Remove from packaging, place in dish and cover. Defrost for at least 48 hours in the fridge. Ensure it is fully defrosted before cooking.
Defrosting at Room Temperature▾

If you don’t have the time or space to defrost your COOK turkey for 4, 6, 8 or 12 in the fridge, you can do it overnight at room temperature. We don’t love recommending defrosting at room temperature as it’s more complicated than in the fridge, but if you follow these guidelines carefully it’ll be just fine.

  • You need to remove your turkey from all its packaging, place on a dish or tray with sides and cover loosely with clingfilm. Obviously, it needs to be out of reach from any pets.
  • The turkeys for 4, 6, 8 and 12 will all defrost overnight (10-12 hours) at room temperature. People's definition of room temperature varies wildly: in a cold conservatory it might not fully defrost; next to a hot radiator it might not be safe to eat. By room temperature we mean 18 to 20°C.
  • Your turkey needs to be fully defrosted before you start cooking, and you can test this easily with a skewer…
  • …At the same time, you don’t want the centre of your turkey to get warmer than it is the fridge (3-5˚C). A thermometer probe is advised to get this right. If it’s defrosted hours before you plan to start cooking, you can always pop it in the fridge.

That's it! Then just follow the usual cooking instructions.

Full cooking instructions

 

Mains & Centrepieces defrost instructions

Browse Christmas Mains

Beef Wellington (6)

Beef Wellington (6)

For best results:
Remove from the box onto a plate on top of the silicone paper provided and defrost in the fridge for 36 hours.

Full cooking instructions

Marmalade & Honey Glazed Gammon

Marmalade & Honey Glazed Gammon

For best results:
Defrost in refrigerator only for at least 48 hours before cooking.

Full cooking instructions

British Sirloin

British Sirloin

For best results:
Remove the sirloin and sauce from all packaging (keeping the film on the sauce pot), place the sirloin in a dish and cover. Defrost both in the fridge for 48 hours. Bring to room temperature for 90 mins before cooking.

Full cooking instructions

Shoulder of Lamb

Shoulder of Lamb

For best results:
Remove the lamb and sauce from all packaging (keeping the film on the sauce pot), place the lamb in a dish and cover. Defrost both in the fridge for 48 hours. Ensure the lamb is fully defrosted before cooking.

Full cooking instructions

Rosemary & Sage Porchetta

Rosemary & Sage Porchetta

For best results:
Remove from all packaging, place in a dish and cover. Defrost in the fridge for 48 hours before cooking.

Full cooking instructions

Whole Stuffed Duck

Whole Stuffed Duck

For best results:
Remove the duck and sauce from all packaging (keeping the film on the sauce pot), place the duck in a dish and cover. Defrost both in the fridge for 36-48 hours. Ensure the duck is fully defrosted before cooking.

Full cooking instructions

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