12 tips to salvage a Christmas dinner disaster — and save an overcooked turkey
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Hosting at Christmas is all fun and games until the smoke alarm goes off and you realise you’ve forgotten about the turkey. Even if you plan ahead of time, so many things can still go wrong on the day, bringing extra hassle and anxiety when all you want is to spend time with your loved ones.
![[Roasting Turkey in the Oven for Holiday Dinner]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-1281409635.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Almost half of Brits stress over Christmas dinner, with a survey by Samsung Series 7 Bespoke AI Oven finding that 27% find the cooking process the most challenging part of the festivities. Try not to fear, though, as we’ve cooked up a little something too: a troubleshooting guide to resolve all the most common dining dilemmas you might encounter at this time of year.
![[Woman basting turkey in roasting tin for Christmas dinner]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-1393667169-1.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
So whether you need to make your meal stretch further after an unexpected guest turned up, you’ve run out of oven space or can’t get your roasties right, we’ve got you covered. According to AEG, turkey is the most troublesome menu item for 22% of Brits, and Google Search data from the past four Christmases shows that Brits have searched for ‘how to cook a turkey’ almost 90,000 times.
![[Man holding serving dish with roast potatoes and a sprig of holly for Christmas dinner]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-1393670160.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
But what about when you’ve already started the process and think you’ve messed things up?. If your bird has come out of the oven on the dry side, you just need to revive it with some hydration. Ina Garten recommends doing this by placing the sliced turkey on an ovenproof plate with a quarter of an inch of gravy. The Barefoot Contessa chef then puts the platter in the oven at 160°C for between 15 and 30 minutes, heating it up and allowing the moisture to soak into the meat. Make sure you make extra gravy for serving too, as it can hide a multitude of sins.
![[Pigs in blanket]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-1425569372.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
