Supermarkets open on xmas eve?

Hi all,

We are flying in to Dublin on 24th Dec at around 5:30pm. Would there be any supermarkets open to buy a frozen turkey or two to cook up the next day? If so what and where?

Any help appreciated.

Matt

Any particular part of Dublin?

They'll be open on Christmas eve but will generally close early (and keep in mind that "early" in Ireland is probably earlier than what you're used to).

Not sure what kind of turkeys will be left even if any of the supermarkets are still open by the time you get out of the airport :)

We fly into Dublin airport and are then picking up a car, so can go anywhere. So from what you are saying should I assume no shops will be open past say 6pm on xmas eve?

You will find that most (the vast majority) of the shops will pack up at around 16.30 at the very latest. Some of the little corner shops and mini-markets will be open till later. Spar will be your best bet for a turkey at that time of the day.
Good luck.

Why dont you pre order one at a local butcher and get them to deliver it to where you are staying xmas eve?

That's a good suggestion.
Try "Brady's Butcher". They have 3 shops in the city, so should be able to help.
Just fire up Google - and type in Brady's Butcher. They're no.1 at the top of the Google list. Everything's there, phone numbers, addresses, email contacts.... Yummy.

I'm not convinced that it's a good idea to buy a frozen turkey at that time on Christmas Eve for cooking the following day. Sounds like a sure way of getting food poisoning. A turkey takes ages to thaw. Buy fresh.

Not correct - Post #7#.
A turkey can be cooked from completely frozen on a medium heat, as long as there are no giblets inside - in a plastic bag. If it's cooked right through, then there is no risk whatsoever of food poisoning - unless the meat wasn't fresh when it was first frozen.

Yes, of course a turkey can be cooked from frozen. However, if you look at any government food safety websites and literature, they say always thaw the bird first, and that is what is taught on food safety courses. I prefer to trust, and pass on, the advice of professionals in the field rather than risk buggering up someone's health anonymously from a safe distance.

It's up to you, OP, but I advise you to read this first before taking the chance of ruining everybody's Christmas. Besides, you're more likely to find fresh turkeys at a reduced price on Christmas Eve than frozen: the shops have got to get rid of them.

I'm with tonyb on this one, I think you should allow a frozen turkey at least 24hrs to defrost before cooking it, also if you are arriving into Ireland at 17:30hrs by the time you clear passport control / baggage reclaim / customs and then collect the car, you are leaving it a wee bit too tight to locate a supermarket. If you do cook it from frozen on a medium heat it should be ready to eat around new years eve.

Good point about opening times, littlefox. If my memory serves me correctly, most main stores closed at around 6.00 p.m. (18.00) on Christmas Eve in Dublin when I was last there at that time of the year. Smaller, family-run shops closed even earlier. So yes, OP, your assumption in #3 is probably correct.

I'll leave you to your opinions on the turkey cooking. However.... Oh - never mind.

Tesco would probably be your best bet as the 24 hour ones close around 6 or sometimes 8. check out tesco.ie. I dont fancy your chances of getting a frozen chicken tho.

best of luck

happy christmas

Try and order one. Shops close early on Christmas eve, usually hours before the official closing time, approximately around 1630.

Just buy a frozen one at home and bring it with you. It'll be defrosted by then.