42% of Irish Mums Are Stressing About Christmas Dinner But Help Is Here

Right, hands up if you're already feeling that low-key panic about Christmas dinner? You're not alone. According to new research from Safefood, 42% of us are worried about getting everything ready on time on the big day. And honestly, can you blame us? Between the school nativity run-throughs, last minute present wrapping and trying to remember who doesn't eat sprouts this year, it's a lot.

The good news is that Safefood has launched their Christmas campaign this week with Chef Adrian Martin, and they're basically here to hold our hands through the turkey trauma. Because let's face it, that bird is the star of the show for almost 90% of Irish homes this year.

Getting into the festive spirit with a cozy Christmas sweater.

The Turkey Troubles Are Real

Fresh turkey is winning the popularity contest this year, with 76% of home cooks opting for it over frozen. The survey also found that turkey crowns (33%) and whole turkeys (32%) are the most popular choices, followed by boned and rolled varieties at 17%. But here's the thing… knowing which one to buy is only half the battle. Actually cooking it without turning it into shoe leather or serving it undercooked? That's where things get tricky.

Add to that the fact that one in five of us are worried about the price of food this Christmas, and suddenly you've got a recipe for stress that has nothing to do with Mary Berry.

Your New Best Friend: The Turkey Cooking Time Calculator

This is where Safefood's Turkey Cooking Time Calculator comes in, and honestly, it's a game changer. You just pop in the time you want to sit down to eat, answer a couple of quick questions about your turkey's weight and what kind of oven you've got, and boom. It tells you exactly what time you need to start cooking. No more standing in the kitchen at 6am wondering if you should've got up earlier, no more frantically googling "how long per kilo" while the in-laws are due in an hour.

They've also got a Christmas Dinner Food Planner that helps you work out how much food you actually need. Because we've all been there, haven't we? Either buying enough to feed a small village or running out of roasties halfway through. With 21% of cooks concerned about food costs this year, getting the portions right matters more than ever.

The Meat Thermometer Trick

Now here's something that'll take all the guesswork out of whether your turkey's actually cooked: a meat thermometer. Trish Twohig, Director of Food Safety at Safefood, is a big fan. "I would recommend that people use a meat thermometer this year to check the thickest part of the turkey has reached 75 degrees Celsius. This is the foolproof way of knowing it's fully cooked and safe to eat."

So how do you use one? Take your turkey out of the oven and stick a clean thermometer probe into the thickest part. For a whole turkey, that's between the breast and the leg. For a crown or boned and rolled turkey, aim for the centre. When it hits 75 degrees, you're golden. Job done.

Don't have a meat thermometer? No panic. Cut into the thickest part and check there's no pink meat, the juices run clear and everything's piping hot.

The Leftover Champions

And then there's the bit we're all secretly looking forward to: the leftovers. The survey found that 49% of us reckon a turkey, stuffing and cranberry sandwich is the ultimate way to use up what's left. Honestly, there's something about eating your Christmas dinner between two slices of bread on St Stephen's Day that just hits different.

Safefood's website has loads of leftover recipes if you want to get a bit fancier than a sandwich, but let's be real… that first cold turkey sandwich while still in your pyjamas is peak festive living.

With nearly half of us cooking for between five and eight people this Christmas, getting the timing and portions right can feel like project management. But with Safefood's tools and a bit of planning (and maybe a large glass of something nice while you're at it), you've got this. The Turkey Cooking Time Calculator and all their Christmas advice is over at safefood.net/christmas.

Now if they could just invent something that stops the kids eating all the Quality Street before Christmas Day, we'd really be sorted.