English Label Apple Fed Cockerel

Description

Fancy a change to the traditional roast turkey this Christmas? Our free-range cockerels have a rich, gamey flavour and serve as a fantastic centrepiece for any Christmas dinner.

Fragrant and flavourful, roast cockerel makes for a great turkey alternative to try at Christmas. Our cockerels are allowed to roam the farm freely and reared on a healthy diet of grain and apples, ensuring the very highest quality.

With a uniquely rich flavour, a tenderness not unlike chicken and a size to rival a medium turkey, this free-range cockerel is a worthy contender for your Christmas dinner.

Cooking Tips

Cooking guidelines for your Adlington Apple Fed Cockerel
Pre-heat oven to 180ºC/375ºF or gas mark 5 (180ºC for fan assisted ovens)
Remove all packaging, weigh and place your Apple Fed Cockerel in a baking tray. Spread all over with butter and season with salt and pepper. Leave to settle for at least an hour at room temperature.
Calculate cooking time allowing 40 minutes per kg (e.g. a 3kg bird would take approximately 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours)
Place the cockerel upside down in a large roasting tin. This will ensure that the juices run in to the breast of the meat, keeping it moist
Loosely cover with aluminium foil
Roast the cockerel for the calculated time, basting occasionally with the pan juices
45 minutes before the end, turn the cockerel back up the right way, remove the aluminium foil & continue to cook until the skin becomes crispy
Ensure that the centre of the cockerel is piping hot and that the juices run clear
A minimum core temperature of 75ºC is recommended
Allow the cockerel to rest for 15 minutes before carving
Please note that these are guidelines only and you should refer to your oven manual for clarification. You must always ensure that the centre of the joint is piping hot before serving.

If using pop up timer, simply push all the way into the breast of the raw chicken, leaving the wider end protruding. Simply when the red button at the end pops out, the bird should be cooked. We advise to double check by pushing in a skewer and checking that the juices run clear as well.