Lots of people buy turkey at Christmas but how do you know what type to buy? What size? Fresh or Frozen? Our tips will help you decide what to do.

Buying guidelines

• You should base the size on 1 to 1 ½ lbs for every person who will be eating the turkey.
• To reduce the cooking time you get buy two smaller turkeys providing you have enough oven space.

Frozen turkeys

• You can buy a frozen turkey up to six months in advance but any if you leave it any longer than that it will lose some of its flavour.
• It is cheaper to buy a frozen turkey than a fresh one and you can buy them all year round.
• Make sure you put it in the freezer as soon as you can after buying it.
• You should never cook a frozen bird. Always allow time for it to be defrosted. You should allow 24 hours for every 4/5 lbs. Make sure there are no ice crystals anywhere on the turkey before you cook especially inside it, the body should be completely soft. It can be defrosted in the fridge or submerged in cold water.

Fresh turkey

• A fresh turkey needs to be bought as late as possible. It should be cooked within two days of buying it so plan this carefully when deciding which to buy.
• Store it in the fridge until you are ready to cook it.
• A fresh turkey costs more but this is because you don't have to worry about it thawing.
• You can usually order your turkey in advance from your local butchers to avoid disappointment on the day.