Eating goose? | TheaterFire

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LordAnchemis@reddit

Turkey for Christmas is a 'relatively' new thing

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Not at Christmas but I have had goose, duck, guinea fowl and ostrich steak. Of those, ostrich is probably my favourite. It is like beef but with less fat, more tender and with a slightly sweeter taste.

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slimeycat2@reddit

More like duck, if you can find Chinese BBQ goose near you its a winner.

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Worryguts49@reddit

Goose tastes much better than turkey, as in it actually tastes of something. My grandfather got one from his brother's farm in Ireland every Christmas. After having goose every Christmas as a child, turkey was a huge disappointment.

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VirtualMatter2@reddit

As a German who has lived in the UK for years I agree that I prefer the goose, still common for Christmas there, turkey in comparison is dry and tasteless.

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HMSWarspite03@reddit

Cook the turkey upside down and about 30 minutes before it is done, poor at least half a bottle of a good dry reisling in the body cavity, it moistens the meat and makes excellent gravy.

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Inevitable-Push5486@reddit

Whereas in Germany goose is the popular choice, right?

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ZealousidealAd6382@reddit

Yes German food is so much better all the year round but at Christmas they like to step it up a bit with Goose.

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VirtualMatter2@reddit

Goose is the most popular in Germany, yes. Then duck for smaller families. I have seen supermarkets trying to sell turkeys and some people eat them, but I saw a lot of them on sale after Christmas, it didn't really catch on that much.

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nigeltheworm@reddit

Try brining the turkey before you roast it, it will taste better and be much more moist. Goose is still better though.

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BearsBeatsBtleStarG@reddit

How do you brine it? I'd have to use ny bath >.<

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nigeltheworm@reddit

I use a Coleman cool box.

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Unlikely-Ad5982@reddit

Due to the oven blowing up on Christmas morning I once barbecued the turkey. Best tasting turkey we ever had. But goose still better. Just doesn’t feed as many.

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jonewer@reddit

I've made really good turkey using a combination of brining, injecting butter, smoking, and using a Meater.

Overall, it's just not worth the faff. I'd rather make a couple of guinea fowls.

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Visible-Management63@reddit

I had turkey at a work Christmas do, once. It was amazing. Perhaps that's how they prepared it.

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blessings-of-rathma@reddit

Turkey is just so lean that you need to do something to keep it from being dry. Brining is a good option. I learned from my MIL to weave together strips of bacon and drape that over the breast part of the turkey before roasting.

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nigeltheworm@reddit

It is easy to do, Alton Brown's brining recipe works very well.

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EastAd7676@reddit

I’m not a Brit, but an American of German and English descent and our families have always had goose at Christmas and other special occasions other than Thanksgiving. I raise the geese myself now. It’s much more flavorful than turkey.

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VirtualMatter2@reddit

Having your own geese is the best! You know what they eat and can make sure they had a happy life.

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HeidiDover@reddit

The only time I tasted goose was when my German neighbor roasted one. It tastes rich. It doesn't taste like poultry to me.

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feral_witch@reddit

Are waterfowl considered poultry?

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HeidiDover@reddit

I do not know. I just lumped in all waddly birds together, I guess. They sometimes have frozen duck and goose in the poultry section during the holidays. It's the only time I ever notice them here.

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MontyDyson@reddit

Poultry is anything reared for its meat (from the waterfowl group). Swans are waterfowl but they’re illegal to eat in the UK (Russia and China disagree and you can).

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feral_witch@reddit

I figured someone would know Google was giving me conflicting answers. The higher fat content in ducks and geese must have something to do with the fact that they're water birds though. I'm genuinely curious about this and may end up going on a very weird poultry deep dive 😅

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MontyDyson@reddit

I think I’ve tried them all (even pigeon) but I can’t say that there’s that much difference. A lot of the time they’re covered in a sauce or gravy which alters the taste anyway. I don’t really eat that much meat past chicken these days anyway. I’m not vegi but do prefer the diet.

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feral_witch@reddit

I prefer duck or goose or even game birds like grouse to chicken or turkey overall. I think they do have more flavour, but then I'm not much of a sauce person either. I'm not sure I could even be a vegetarian.

TIL the higher fat content is partly because of the cold water and partly because they are migratory as well. They need fat for long distance travel.

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VirtualMatter2@reddit

It's a stronger taste. I would say in between duck and chicken, more towards duck.

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MailatasDawg@reddit

Thanksgiving turkey has a reputation for being dry and tasteless because it's being prepped and cooked by people who cook a big bird like that 1 time a year and have no idea what they're doing.

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VirtualMatter2@reddit

That's probably true and it's actually the same for goose, but I had it a few times at restaurants or catering in company dinners, and it was still not great.

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Nolsoth@reddit

Kiwi here, we ate goose a lot growing up (we had them as pets and would cull them on farms). Hard to get down our way these days.

But Jesus they are bloody delicious.

Turkey is fucking awful, we also had turkeys on our land and thet were not eaten often as they are just terrible meat.

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wookieesgonnawook@reddit

Do you know what species of goose you use? Coming from America all i can think of is Canadian Geese and I don't think that's right.

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Dapper-Message-2066@reddit

If you think Turkey doesn't taste of anything then you must have damaged your sense of taste/smell!

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BobbieMcFee@reddit

It is often dry and tasteless - but when well cooked it's most and lovely. Just a shame that's rare.

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one_pump_chimp@reddit

If it's dry and tasteless you have overcooked it.

No different to overcooking beef, chicken, pork or even a goose

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PatchyWhiskers@reddit

It’s easy to overcook because it’s so large. You can end up with it raw in the middle and overcooked outside if you are not an experienced cook.

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BobbieMcFee@reddit

I've never cooked it. I much prefer Lamb if I'm cooking.

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one_pump_chimp@reddit

Yes, I like lamb too. Also need to avoid overcooking it. The leg of lamb my gran used to dish up had always been in the oven and hour too long

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Dapper-Message-2066@reddit

Even when it's try, it still has a taste.

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Ghanima81@reddit

Yes, it does, but still much less tasty than goose.

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BobbieMcFee@reddit

But a much reduced taste.

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Dapper-Message-2066@reddit

The taste is the same, it's just much less enjoyable to eat because of the dryness

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Sudden-Requirement40@reddit

Posh people eat goose. Not as much meat on one and it's more expensive. If you were having 10+ ppl I think it would be hard with goose. I've never had it and I know more ppl in Scotland that have a Chinese takeaway than I met there that had goose at Christmas. Only people I have met have been southerners

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Lloytron@reddit

We had it once for Xmas and it was bloody lovely (and goose fat toasties are divine) but it was gone in one sitting.

No leftovers for boxing day or anything.

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Super_Ground9690@reddit

We did the same. Cost a fortune, total faff to cook, not much meat. Delicious though.

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slade364@reddit

Yep, we have one every Christmas. Last year it was £114, I'm pretty sure.

We usually do a beef rib on the 24th and, combined, they'll do 4 people comfortably for a few days.

And cheese. Lots of cheese.

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AlGunner@reddit

How much? We had one from Lidl a couple of years ago that was £30. Theyd sold out last year so we got a large free range one from Sainsburys that was £60.

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slade364@reddit

It was definitely over £100. It came from a butcher.

I try not to buy meat from a supermarket tbh.

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AlGunner@reddit

I have a food intolerance to corn which tends to be used in feed, preparation or packaging, often as a cheaper options to the alternatives. I buy whatever meat I can eat without reacting so very, very limited.

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UKTim24530@reddit

You must be in the US or southern Europe because corn (maize) is NOT a cheaper option in the northern areas of Europe. Not sure about Canada, is it hauled up from the Southern neighbor?

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AlGunner@reddit

Oh, so youre an expert on the hundreds of food additives made from corn are you? Im in the UK and in the past have contacted manufacturers about what source they use for derivates that can have different sources and usuaally corn is used due to wider availability and price.

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slade364@reddit

I'm surprised a food intolerance can still be present in the meat you eat.

How do you which meat you can eat from a supermarket?

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Dry_rye_@reddit

If it was £114 I presume that was very large, fresh, ordered through a butcher, possibly organic and probably you live somewhere were food is often a but pricier anyway.

They've sold whole frozen goose in lidl the last two Christmases and it like £20-£30

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Evening-Tomatillo-47@reddit

They're a lot cheaper at the park! You do have to fight it though

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Quentin_Tarantinio@reddit

Yeah but they’re stringy bastards though, not a lot of meat on the bones

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RochePso@reddit

I got one in Lidl a couple of years ago, after Christmas. It was the only one left at the back of the freezer and there was no sticker price for it on the shelf.

When the staff couldn't find the price on the shelf or the till they just looked at me and said "a tenner?" And I paid and gtfo before they changed their mind!

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greendragon00x2@reddit

I've cooked it twice and this sums it up. You do get about a pint of goose fat off it. You can keep it in a jar in the fridge for a long time. Makes the absolute best roast potatoes.

I cannot be arsed cooking the goose anymore. So I just buy a jar of goose fat. Way easier.

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shgrizz2@reddit

I wouldn't say it's a total faff, it's impossible to dry out and just needs a bit of scoring. Dealing with all the fat can be an issue, it's a greasy bird.

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CyberMonkey314@reddit

I didn't find it a faff at all. If anything it's easier than turkey and far tastier, especially paired with something like clementines. "Dealing with the fat" was more or less cooking the goose on a rack and draining the fat off at some point to roast the potatoes, and saving the rest for swimming the channel on New Year's Day (or perhaps I just roasted more things, I forget now)

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Adept-Panic-7742@reddit

Goose fat is the best for roasties I think. Bought only ever bought the fat.

Not sure I've ever had goose at Xmas. Usually go for pork haha. Nothing like picking at the crackling for days... Hours.

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xtemperaneous_whim@reddit

Bought only ever bought the fat.

Explain yourself you buying maniac!

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Adept-Panic-7742@reddit

Haha, ok I wrote bought firstly as a typo, I meant but.

But yes, it's great for roasties!

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UnderstandingFit8324@reddit

You can buy goose fat in jars to cook spuds in

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Mental_Body_5496@reddit

God I love fresh cooked crackling i could probably live off it !

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SafeDivide2403@reddit

Sooo my advice (and it depends on number obviously) but a large goose is not as large as a large turkey. So what I do is two medium geese and they just about fit in the oven (or two ovens slow cook overnight and they will stay hot for ages) and that seems to have plenty

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feuchtronic@reddit

I did one a couple of years ago, didn't enjoy it much, very fatty with no leftovers for sandwiches which is my favourite part of Christmas food. It cost a small fortune and stank the house out. Had a cockerel last year, was much better.

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andi-amo@reddit

Absolutely. We've had goose a couple of times at Christmas. Much less meat and more expensive than something factory-farmed

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smiley6125@reddit

I get bored of Turkey as have it at the mother in laws on xmas eve and don’t want to be stuck with leftovers. This could be a good alternative. Otherwise this year I’m going with a rib of beef.

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alienjupe@reddit

Same here! Cost a fortune as well. Would have it again if I was feeling flush. (And a small gathering so I can get leftovers!)

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Specific-Sundae2530@reddit

Used to be able to get them in Lidl pretty reasonable price

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paper_truck@reddit

Same. Went in the oven huge, came out small. Tastes stronger than turkey. It’s definitely a leftover from times past, Dickens and all that. Good to try once!

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RabbitSipsTea@reddit

Goose is nothing like turkey! It’s very common in Asia too.

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UKTim24530@reddit

Goose was the traditional bird for dinner but Turkey was bred to give more meat for the same sized bird so became a much cheaper option. Having said that there are still people who raise geese every year at Christmas and I, for one, had a goose for Christmas dinner every one of my last 10 years in England.

As for taste, it's much better than turkey. A meatier, more flavoursome, richer taste than turkey. If you can imagine the difference between farmed duck and turkey, then double that difference, you'll know what a well raised goose tastes like.

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bunglemullet@reddit

UK here ..Goose is great …. try it …. Like Beef, It was replaced as the bourgeois Christmas standard, by turkey, relatively recently but cook it on a rack,not in its juices, otherwise it can be very greasy

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sottopassaggio@reddit

What's it cost across the pond? Seems very expensive to even get in the US. Like 100 or so for a bird.

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Illustrious-Divide95@reddit

Turkey, not being native to the UK is a relatively recent tradition. Roast Beef and Roast Goose would be the more common centrepiece until 19th century when Turkey gained popularity due to its cheaper price (per weight) and its size to feed large Victorian families.

Goose and Beef remained popular but lost out to Turkey massively in the 20th C. - but are now regaining some of their popularity for Christmas dinner as people want more flavour and find Turkey hard to cook without getting dry.

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Cheese-n-Opinion@reddit

I'm not sure the non-native-ness is all that relevant. It's non-native in the same way the potato is - we've been farming turkeys in the UK since the back-end of Tudor times.

I think the idea of there being a specific seasonal meat is quite a modern idea and a product of the abundance we're accustomed to. Until recently, for most people the Christmas meat was whatever you had access to.

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trysca@reddit

Turkeys have been eaten in Britain since Tudor tumes Articles | https://news-archive.exeter.ac.uk/disciplines/archaeology/articles/title_630327_en.html

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PassiveTheme@reddit

But there's a difference between being eaten by aristocracy/royalty and being eaten by every day people

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OwlNumber9@reddit

I came here to say this. I live in a bit of Yorkshire where there are loads of Stricklands. Impressed that so early on, one guy went to the Americas and just as the pilgrims were really getting over the initial pestilence and dying he said "sod this for a laugh, I'm getting the next boat back. And I'm taking half a dozen of those fat birds with me."

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AnxiousAppointment70@reddit

We have any roast joint except turkey. It's too bland and dry. We have lamb, pork, beef, duck or salmon (or for a larger gathering I'd do 2 of those for choice) we did have goose once at my parents' house. A lot of fat and juice came out to the point that it overflowed the roasting tin. The only reason I don't get goose is the cost.

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One-Hand-Rending@reddit (OP)

This was a great answer. Thanks.

Turkey isn’t bland and dry if you brine it correctly before the holiday. I soak mine in salt water and cider (apple slices, orange slices, cloves, etc) for 24 hours before it goes in the oven.

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AnxiousAppointment70@reddit

I did find a way to make it nicer by turning it over to make the juices go back into the upper parts and shoving butter under the skin but it's still not as good as all the others.

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IBenjieI@reddit

Very rich meat, very “gamey”. Fatty, but very delicious!

The fat also makes THE best roast potatoes.

I’ll fight anyone who doesn’t agree. 🤺

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MagnetAccutron@reddit

It’s a relic. Tasty meat. But greasy.

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Dapper-Condition6041@reddit

Americans aren’t smart enough to eat goose or duck…

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One-Hand-Rending@reddit (OP)

That’s great. Thanks for the laugh. 😂

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mornnx1@reddit

Goose was the traditional Christmas "meat" course in England for a very long time because they were cheap to raise and keep. I'm not sure when the turkey became the more popular, but I know why. Turkeys have more meat on them , which means they go longer meal wise now turkeys are cheaper and Geese are more of a luxury meal.

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Large-Lettuce-7940@reddit

we often have goose & turkey & beef on christmas day. a little of each and lots of left overs cant beat it

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mralistair@reddit

it's more like duck than turkey

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thatcrazyhorse@reddit

We have goose at Christmas, tried it one year, way tastier than Turkey and now always do that for the big day.

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BkSusKids@reddit

We always had goose for Christmas dinner when I was a kid, but we aren’t British. I grew up in DC but we now live in NY. I think my grandmother liked the idea of it and started doing it. They are incredibly fatty and a pain to cook. The meat is richer than turkey or duck. They are tasty but not really worth the effort imo.

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Even-Highlight-294@reddit

It's more traditional in Germany. I make it and we love it. Soooo much nicer than turkey.

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the_speeding_train@reddit

I can’t count how many times I’ve encountered British people eating good for Christmas dinner because it’s ZERO.

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Chance-Albatross-211@reddit

I’ve cooked goose for more than one Christmas dinner, it is bloody lovely! So much tastier than turkey.

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BarkingMad14@reddit

Goose was more readily available in the Victorian era for all. Now its more of an upper-class food. Turkey became the Christmas dinner staple due to how comparatively cheap they are to raise.

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Robbylution@reddit

And we've bred turkeys to be meat balloons, where geese for whatever reason are harder to breed large.

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BigBunneh@reddit

Geese mate for life, unlike turkeys. A gander is far less likely to move from his life mate, and will pine for a long time if he loses her. Turkeys don't care about that, so will happily breed with anyone, to create the next generation. I'm speaking as someone who has geese, and the distress sound is heart-breaking.

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Cybermanc@reddit

So we should eat a mated pair as kindness? I'm down for that.

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BigBunneh@reddit

Holding wings in the tray? 😬

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trysca@reddit

I used to work with a chap from norfolk whose teenage summer job was turkey masturbator - turkeys are generally artificially inseminated

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BigBunneh@reddit

Wow - that's kinda niche!

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cnbcwatcher@reddit

I wonder how he described that job on his CV? 🤣

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tr0028@reddit

Well I can't bloody eat one now lol

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BigBunneh@reddit

Oops 🤣

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LuccaQ@reddit

I was thinking maybe I’d try making a goose for the first time this Christmas until I read this 😭

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BigBunneh@reddit

I know - we keep chickens, duck, geese and sheep, and these days I tend to eat pork 🫤 No way I'm getting a pig!

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Bulletsoul78@reddit

Mmmmm delicious meat balloons 🤤

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Conscious-Cake6284@reddit

Do people actually do Turkey in the uk? We always did chicken and a roast ham or beef or something.

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No_Bullfrog_6474@reddit

i’ve only ever had turkey for christmas dinner and most people i know always have turkey too! and that’s what school christmas lunch would be

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GreatChaosFudge@reddit

Yes, turkey is by far the most common Christmas food. Until I went veggie I didn’t eat anything else for lunch at Xmas.

Which is strange, because turkey is actually pretty horrible (and I thought so even before I switched) - like eating cardboard.

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WhaleMeatFantasy@reddit

We still do goose sometimes. I prefer that. But it’s bloody expensive and you don’t get much meat.

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ItemAdventurous9833@reddit

Turkey ain't traditional, they aren't even native to the UK

Goose is lovely, I've had it twice at Christmas back when I still did Christmas roasts

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Randster78@reddit

It can be harder to get hold of and is more expensive than turkey, but my wife and I try and get it every Christmas. Tastes so much better (more similar to duck than turkey) and we get a years worth of goose fat for cooking after its done!

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probablyaythrowaway@reddit

We usually have ham.

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rabbitsagainstmagic@reddit

Tofoose tastes better than Tofurkey.

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Actual_Cat4779@reddit

That's interesting. I didn't know it was that common. Turkey is much commoner. But I've had goose and it's much tastier than turkey.

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mrfluffypants1504@reddit

I've never had goose for Christmas dinner. Usually it's turkey, chicken, beef or duck. I have tried a small amount of goose once and it was gross. I also don't like my potatoes or anything cooked in goose fat. I don't really like most game meat - I only like farmed duck as wild duck has a much stronger taste. I don't even like venison. Now I'm wondering why I've written a whole paragraph of different meats 🍖 🤔

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No-Key-7768@reddit

I used to raise goslings ready for the UK Christmas market. I had to stop when the cost of living crisis hit the UK as too few people could afford them anymore and the cost of rearing them went t through the roof. They are much more expensive to raise than turkeys and the profit margins, even before the crisis, were tiny.

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EconomicsPotential84@reddit

It's not very common anymore, but it was peak popularity during the Victorian era. The images and symbolism of the Victorian era greatly influenced ideas about Christmas, and a lot of what we do today was because of it.

Interestingly, the whole Christmas tree and roast goose thing, as well as Santa, are German in origin and slowly trickled down from the Windsors (previously Saxe-Coburg) as the nobility and later the middle and lower classes emulated the traditions of the royal house.

It's not at all like turkey. It is a game bird and tastes as such. Think Duck, or Pheasant.

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VirtualMatter2@reddit

Goose is still the most common Christmas food in Germany.

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googooachu@reddit

Some of our traditions came over from Germany with Prince Albert and were popularised.

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dayofthe_misanthrope@reddit

This is the reason British men wear a shiny silver earring through their bellend for the entirety of Advent.

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googooachu@reddit

Such festive joy for all

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ChaosCockroach@reddit

Is it why they spend so much time in the can?

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Financial-Couple-836@reddit

Germany is one of the best places to have goose too, I had it in Cologne and it was great. OP could go to some Christmas markets and have some Gansebraten while they were there.

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TheRemanence@reddit

Father Christmas existed in some form for centuries before this in emgland. The closest to now is 15th century English concept. This version is not related to st nick. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Father_Christmas

St nick/santa and father Christmas have now murged somewhat but it is false this was one of the things brought in victorian times. Essentially st nick is an import, father Christmas isn't.

Goose and other game were common roast foods in England before victorian era. You may be right about a Christmas link.

You are right about the tree thing.

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blamordeganis@reddit

Father Christmas was basically the patron saint of PAAARRRTYYYY

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Adrian69702016@reddit

Until well into the early 20th Century, a goose was the traditional Christmas roast, not a turkey which eventually supplanted it.

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lfreyn@reddit

Yeah it predates eating turkey, turkey only became the norm in the 50s. Though it isn’t that common any more, it wouldn’t be weird to have a goose at Christmas. It’s nothing like turkey, it’s a dark meat and very rich and fatty, somewhere between duck and beef.

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Practical-Promise-44@reddit

Goose is so much nicer than turkey, we have goose every Christmas

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Farty_McPartypants@reddit

Historically, goose was the poor man’s Christmas dinner, while the rich ate turkey.

Now most eat turkey.

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EntireFishing@reddit

An Hungarian goose?

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Error_7-@reddit

Not a Brit but why is it surprising? And it doesn't taste like turkey at all

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CindersHonner123@reddit

Goose was a bird commonly kept by the 'working man' or more easily accessible and affordable for the populice.

However, turkey farms have been way more prevalent and affordable in the last 100yrs so most british people will have Turkey.

Movies tend to stereotype everything and stick to it not to 'jarr' the audience.. So the british will probably always have Goose at Christmas on film.

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Nikolopolis@reddit

Jesus Christ, another moronic Yank.

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macey63@reddit

We have a goose every Christmas and when ever we can get one

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Polly265@reddit

Germans eat goose at Christmas but in my experience Brits eat turkey, goose is more expensive than turkey which may play a part.

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TheHarlemHellfighter@reddit

Yall ain’t doing the turkey right if you’re turkey is dry and tasteless

😂

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BlackberryNice1270@reddit

Did goose once, it's really good, but very expensive.

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Doogerie@reddit

I can honestly say I have never eat goose apart from goose fat on roasted potatoes. I have had duck before and that’s to die for.

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AmaroisKing@reddit

My mum was always ready to try anything but we never had goose.

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letmegetmycardigan@reddit

My boyfriend’s family regularly has goose for Christmas dinner. One year the fat from it spilled over the sides of the baking tray and caught fire in the oven 🫣😂

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batscurry@reddit

It's like a more delicious duck. The point of a goose is the leftover fat that drains out and you cook with it the rest of the year. The bones make amazing stock too. We have it whenever we can in the winter.

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Shawn_The_Sheep777@reddit

I’m working class and have never known anyone eat goose ever

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OkTask9452@reddit

It's not common in the UK anymore, most people eat turkey but goose is 948.9x nicer than turkey

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MinimumGarbage9354@reddit

We have goose alternate years. It's problematic cooking due to amount of fat that renders

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PutridForce1559@reddit

Yes and yes. Less meat, better taste. Lots off goose fat to roast your spuds for the next ten roast dinners.

Do not overcook it (if you poke it where the meat is thickest the juices coming out should be clear, not bloody, that’s when you take it out)

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Plot_3@reddit

Goose is not eaten as commonly at Christmas in the UK as turkey, but it is still eaten. I prefer it and have done it a few times.

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Less_Coyote7062@reddit

We just don’t get goose in the regular grocery store so on the states at least not in California. I’d like to have goose for Christmas dinner one time but I’m not gonna mail order it. That’s just too much work.

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OK_LK@reddit

I'm 49 and in the UK and I've never had roast goose

I have had goose fat roast potatoes and vegetables though

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MadChart@reddit

I find it strange that you can buy goose fat in UK supermarkets no problem, but rarely an actual goose. Do they just ring them out and throw them away?

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Economy_Judge_5087@reddit

The one time I had goose at Christmas, it came out of the oven swimming in about an inch-deep pool of melted fat. Trust me. There’s a LOT left over.

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MadChart@reddit

I know. My point is what happens to the goose meat when all our supermarkets sell is goose fat.

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UnSpanishInquisition@reddit

Cos goose fat can be stored and frozen easily in jars after tge winter goose harvest I imagine. They probably take fat off every bird through the meat processing.

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-OutFoxed-@reddit

The use of fats are more common in the UK because we use them in prepping various dishes or vegetables so it't not surprising you can find jars of various animal fats in supermarkets as they're a cooking staple.

Goose however is not a popular meat here, so supermarkets won't stock something that likely won't sell but will go off while it sits there for days. You're more likely to find it in specialist supermarkets or better still a local butcher or farm shop, that's where people tend to go for the less common meats like Goose, Venison, Rabbit and other game.

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Dogsafe@reddit

I think you basically get loads of feathers and fat but not much meat on a goose, so maybe it's more profitable to take those and use the rest as filler in dogfood or something.

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MadChart@reddit

I was concerned that might be the case. Seems a waste considering how good they are to eat.

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mad_saffer@reddit

They are bred and raised for Christmas usually. But you can get them from decent Butchers year round

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Comcernedthrowaway@reddit

Tastes better than turkey but it’s so greasy.

Hardly anyone I know eats it. We only tried it the one year, and that was only because our daughter had an obsession with dickens at the time and had begged to have goose for Xmas dinner instead of turkey or ham.

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Greendeco13@reddit

My granny preferred goose or duck to turkey. I've not had it for years. She did say it was harder to cook though as more fatty. Her roast potatoes though were legendary.

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No-Name6082@reddit

The thing to bear in mind here is that goose is MUCH MUCH better tasting than turkey.

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kaykenstein@reddit

Im from the US Midwest and we grew up eating goose and duck all the time, but just because we were poor and my step dad hunted our meat lol

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Hairy_Inevitable9727@reddit

My mum did it once and she said never again the grease got everywhere. Tastes good though

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Raised_by_Geece@reddit

I wouldn’t recommend it.

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cnbcwatcher@reddit

I've had goose for Christmas dinner a few times and it's alright but there's never much meat on them and not even scraps left over for the crows. It's rather expensive for what it is. It tastes similar to duck but richer and more 'gamey'. It's an acquired taste

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Sxn747Strangers@reddit

I have never seen or heard of goose being sold in nearly 50 years.

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gotcha640@reddit

I've cooked goose in Texas. Local grocery butcher had a few frozen, meat market could order fresh from their supplier.

I basically did it as a stunt. I also had turkey, most of the adults tried the goose but I think most of it got tossed.

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Sunshinetrooper87@reddit

I had goose for xmas dinner. Its lovely as is the goose fat for roasties.

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Patch86UK@reddit

I've done goose for Christmas for the last 5 or 6 years. It's excellent. Rich like duck, but milder and less gamey, more substantial. It also makes litres of fat which are excellent for roasting vegetables.

Goose is pricey, but having it just once a year makes for a much more special meal than yet another turkey, pork or beef roast.

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Whithorsematt@reddit

We've had them a few times at Christmas. There's not as much meat for a bird of a given weight as a turkey would have.

Meat tastes great, and the fat makes for amazing roast spuds.

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sir_thrillho@reddit

It's not something we typically do anymore tbh. Unless you're big posh fancy.

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Questingcloset@reddit

Out of interest were all these films and books set in Victorian times?

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SnooBooks1701@reddit

It's very old fashioned, like Victorian old fashioned. Most families have turkey

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SorbetOk1165@reddit

Love a goose for Christmas.

Completely different taste to a turkey and so much juicier too!

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Yolandi2802@reddit

You’ve obviously never read Dickens.

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londonsummerhaiku@reddit

It tastes nothing like turkey, which in my opinion is tasteless. It’s very traditional in a few European countries and I grew up with goose for xmas. It is delicious but the calories…

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HandOne4272@reddit

In Britain Goose WAS the traditional Christmas bird for centuries. In Tudor times they ate Swan which has been illegal now for a long time. You can still get goose for Christmas, it’s lovely just very fatty, like duck.

There’s a traditional British Christmas rhyme we still say with the children as Christmas is getting near ~

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat Please put a penny in the old man's hat If you haven't got a penny, a ha'penny will do If you haven't got a ha'penny then God bless you!

In English English ha’penny is pronounced hape-nee.

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wonky-hex@reddit

It used to be a thing, now it's not so much of a thing but still a bit of a thing

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Funky_Owl_Turnip@reddit

It's delicious but, as others have noted, not enough meat on it to justify the faff. A large duck, however? Now you're talking.

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Ok-Machine-3727@reddit

It was traditional years ago. Way before Turkey was.

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Dnny10bns@reddit

More like a duck. Very fatty, but really nice. Geese fat is also great for roast potatoes.

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SirTallTree_88@reddit

About 2010, the three bird roast was popular in the UK, which was Goose, Pheasant and Chicken, or variations of that with Turkey and other game birds. You still see them occasionally and I know you can get Goose in specialist butchers, normally game butchers, but I don’t remember it ever being widespread. Although as others have mentioned roast potatoes cooked in goose fat are highly prised and easily available, as is jars of goose fat if you want to do your own, especially at Christmas.

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Kjrsv@reddit

Goose fat potatoes, yeah. I've never heard or met anyone have goose for christmas. It wouldn't surprise me that some people do (sounds lovely) but I've never heard of it.

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blackleydynamo@reddit

It was the traditional Christmas meat in England until the Victorians. It's easier to cook than a big turkey too; it's fattier, so it doesn't dry out.

I've had it a few times, and definitely prefer it.

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MiddleEnglishMaffler@reddit

It's a relic from the Victorians. Most ate goose before you lot and your Thanksgiving turkeys were thought to be better. There are some rich people who can afford a goose for Christmas, but we don't really eat them here much as they are expensive. The fat for roast potatoes is more common.

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Elegant-Ad-3371@reddit

Goose and/or duck. Every year.

It's lovely!

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CyberMonkey314@reddit

My parents-in-law ordered a goose to feed the extended family for what turned out to be COVID Christmas. Instead they clandestinely gave us half (using their porch as a sort of airlock) and we cooked the halves separately.

I found a recipe whose first line was "cut the goose in half" which proved very useful - I roasted it with clementines and a bit of cinnamon and it turned out amazing. Nothing at all like turkey, more like a massive duck. The house smelt wonderful for ages as we worked (a bit too quickly) through the leftovers. I think the last thing we made with them was some gyoza.

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One-Hand-Rending@reddit (OP)

That’s a great story. Thanks for answering

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oooohshinythingy@reddit

I’m in uk and I’ve never heard of anyone I know having goose at any time

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Holiday-Poet-406@reddit

Had it twice, can't say I'm a fan. Much sooner eat duck or chicken.

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Equivalent_Parking_8@reddit

We used to have it every year when I was a kid. It's not like Turkey at all more a gamey duck.

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ImpossibleAd436@reddit

I've never had goose in the UK, but I once had it in Hungary (leg of goose with onion mash, red cabbage and goose liver pate) and it was absolutely delicious!

FWIW.

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cactusnan@reddit

Beef used to be popular at Xmas sadly turkey became fashionable.

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AdmirableCost5692@reddit

does not taste anything like turkey. I've made it for Xmas. it was amazing

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Burned_toast_marmite@reddit

We usually have goose. Absolutely delicious. Way better than turkey.

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The__Groke@reddit

We had it once, my dad thought it would be a nice change. It was ok but once all the fat had rendered the amount of meat was tiny so we were all a bit gutted and never did it again.

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ShopGirl182@reddit

It's wayyy nicer than Turkey but too expensive and hard(ish) to source so it isn't eaten regularly. I've only ever seen one in the supermarket at Christmas time.

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OranginaOOO@reddit

We roasted a goose in the US a few years ago. Not a lot of meat on one bird. You can usually find geese and ducks around the holidays.

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loki_dd@reddit

Goose is great but it's a big bird with very little meat. It's like greasier duck. Turkey lasts for days

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Cr0wsbeforeh0ez@reddit

My family always has goose for Christmas lunch.

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Alternative_Smile483@reddit

I’ve never heard of Goose on Christmas Day in the UK. It’s always been Turkey

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Quick-Low-3846@reddit

When I worked on a farm in the 90s I was responsible for 96 goslings. Over the year they grew to full sized geese. Then between Christmas and New Year we hooked them up on a washing line by their feet, slit their throats and chopped off their heads, dipped them in a vat of hot wax, removed the wax and all the feathers, then finished prepping them. Apart from the ones we had, all were sold in the farm shop within one day. They were bloody tasty.

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PressureNecessary979@reddit

It tastes like duck and is delicious. We have it every year

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AnxiousAppointment70@reddit

Not many people do but once people have tried it they tend never to buy turkey again.

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engineerogthings@reddit

It tastes nothing like turkey

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LilithXCX@reddit

I cooked goose for Christmas one year, and used to buy goose fat to roast the potatoes. It’s not something that is an aren’t often but is available.

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notneb56@reddit

Going back to UK Victorian literature:

A town/city grown goose is the centrepiece of a Sherlock Holmes story.

If you could afford it, a goose was the standard bird to have on Christmas Day.

The fact that they could be easily reared in the cities instead of farms/countryside was seen as an advantage.

Goose fat was rubbed on the back and front of children to protect them from the winter cold. Also, children were sewn into their underwear in the winter. I think brown paper (sort of greaseproof?) helped to keep clothes clean. We're obviously not talking about middle - or upper-class children. How do I know? My grandparents were born in the 1800s, and my parents in the 1920s. We were not well off.

A giant goose was part of the story in 'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens. It's quite a short story, and most films and tv versions follow it pretty well; even the Muppets.

Turkeys are not native to the UK. They were brought over from America. I understand that turkeys basically have more meat, particularly in their breast, than geese. They can be easily bred indoors and aren't as aggressive as geese can be.

There's still a market for goose at Christmas in the UK, but now it's mostly in middle/upper households/hotels.

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ljr69@reddit

Used to be a big thing but replaced by dry horrid turkey now. We last had goose for Xmas about 10 years ago. I remember it costing £80 so not a cheap option.

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ExampleMediocre6716@reddit

Goose is more expensive than a turkey for 75% less meat. No cold Goose on boxing day to go with your ham and I guarantee no one's ever made a Goose curry from left overs the next day either.

Basically you're spending £35 on a large ribcage.

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pintsizedblonde2@reddit

Every goose I've had was HUUGE! I guess it depends how many guests you have but we've always had plenty of leftovers. (I've fed Christmas goose to up to 6 people). You get less meat for the volume of the bird, I'll give you that, but it's still a lot more meat than, for example, a chicken.

Oh, and I've 100% made goose curry many times. Also goose soup, goose sandwiches, goose salad etc. and that doesn't even take into account the insane amount of roasting fat that comes off it. I filter it and it keeps for a year.

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Critical_Pin@reddit

I count no endless leftovers as a bonus and you also get a huge amount of goose fat for roasting potatoes.

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pintsizedblonde2@reddit

Used to be a big thing but then this exotic American thing called a turkey became very fashionable among wealthy Victorians. Then as they were in fashion and became cheaper as more and more turkey farms sprang up in the UK it became the thing to eat at Christmas no matter who you are.

Personally I dont like turkey so I've tried various alternatives, and I've got to say goose is by far the best. It's delicious! They are huge though so if we don't have guests we have venison instead.

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AgingLolita@reddit

It doesn't taste like turkey at all, it's reminiscent of duck or lamb, whereas turkey is reminiscent of balsa wood.

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grey-zone@reddit

My daughters view is that when you have chicken / turkey then they are just there as a backdrop. It’s the other stuff (roasties, veg etc) that are the main feature. When we have lamb etc then the meat is the main feature.

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wookieesgonnawook@reddit

I cook a huge turkey every year for Thanksgiving. I'm pretty sure I've never even eaten it on the day. I might have it as some leftovers during the week, but there's so much better stuff on the table to waste space on the turkey.

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grey-zone@reddit

Leftovers are the best.

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PigeonsOfDenmark@reddit

That's a very good comparison, especially the balsa wood

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timbono5@reddit

It’s a relic of the nineteenth century. A Christmas goose appears in stories by Charles Dickens and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

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CountTruffula@reddit

Rarely on a particularly special occasion maybe. It's like getting super fancy champagne when prosecco will do the rest of the time

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stronglikebear80@reddit

We have goose, duck and/or turkey every Christmas, its much richer and flavoursome than turkey but doesn't go as far which is fine as long as you don't mind not having leftovers for Boxing Day! It's not as popular as turkey but every supermarket sells them and not just at Christmas.

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skipperseven@reddit

Goose is soooo much better than turkey! We have it a few times a year and it is a real treat - personally I even prefer it to duck. It’s very fatty, so the meat bastes itself and the skin goes crispy… so good! Turkey and chicken are pretty good, but goose is in a different league.

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IntraVnusDemilo@reddit

My MIL once did a goose.... it was RANK!!!

Oily as F*** and she was like "I've ruined Christmas!!!"

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charlotterose23@reddit

I don't think I've ever had Goose but now I want to try it! I've had Duck though which I really enjoy. Hmm, might try it for Christmas this year!

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Main_Protection8161@reddit

It's fairly rare, we have cooked goose for Christmas, but don't know anyone else that has. It's very unlikely Turkey, duck is probably the "closest" comparison... which we've done for Christmas dinner on many occasions.

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Real_Ad_8243@reddit

I had it once ever, because I got an extra bonus from work and treated the family. It was really very nice, but I don't think it's worth the rather exorbitant cost against turkey or (my preference at least) a capon.

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Sonarthebat@reddit

It's not common these days. Most if us eat turkey.

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DaveDavidTom@reddit

My mum makes an absolutely incredible confit goose at Christmas. Submerge it in goose fat and spices in the slow cooker for about a day, then crisp the skin up in the oven at the end. The meat literally falls off the bone, it's so damn good. Have to have a bigger slow cooker than I do though, so I've never made it myself.

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Scienceboy7_uk@reddit

Traditional until that tasteless turkey made its way over

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Jack-Rabbit-002@reddit

I haven't tried Goose in all honesty but we don't really have a traditional Christ Mass anyway Either Chicken or Fish

I hope it doesn't taste like Turkey and before you jump me and say it's the way you cook it etc No I just don't like the taste of the bird and I can be pretty adventurous ......Dirty Turkey

Found out a weird fact the other day Turkey's originate in what is now Mexico

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shgrizz2@reddit

We do a goose every couple of years. Not hard to cook but very fatty, sort of the opposite problem to turkey, you're trying to get juices out of the meat otherwise it's greasy. But it is delicious, the fat is great for cooking. Not terribly expensive but costs a lot more than turkey per unit weight of cooked meat.

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PinkElanor@reddit

I've only had goose for Christmas once, when we stayed with my posh auntie.

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me_thisfuckingcunt@reddit

We always have goose, perfect for two people, so delicious.

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SomeRannndomGuy@reddit

Goose tastes more like Duck than Turkey.

My family has had Goose a number of times for Christmas, but it isn't that common.

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Some-Air1274@reddit

It’s more of an English thing. I have always had a turkey at Christmas and Easter.

I’m from Northern Ireland.

Personally, having seen geese in person I’m not a fan of eating them, they’re too cute.

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Mikon_Youji@reddit

I have only ever known people to have turkey or chocken for Christmas over here, never goose.

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Gildor12@reddit

Where is over here?

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Mikon_Youji@reddit

The UK.

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notthiswaythatway@reddit

Goose is traditional but expensive only wealthy people have it, everyone else is on the cheap dry tasteless turkey ☹️

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CrazyPlatypusLady@reddit

I'm British born and bred. I've never tasted goose.

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Gazcobain@reddit

The goose! The goose!

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Zingobingobongo@reddit

We’ve had beef most years since establishing our own home. Thats it, this Reddit has convinced me to get a goose this year. Its been years since I had goose and now I’m irrationally over excited for a holiday thats 6 months away.

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daza666@reddit

Did it once. Goose is surprisingly expensive and I found it to be quite greasy. Might be a skill issue but I don’t have the time or money to find out.

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Zingobingobongo@reddit

Its very, special. Only had it a couple of times at big family Christmas dinners. Delicious! Especially compared to the nastiness that is turkey.

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sbaldrick33@reddit

I live in NY and I have never in my life heard of anyone having a goose dinner.

Yes. Funny how things are different outside the US, huh? You guys seem to have an infinite capacity for being surprised by that.

Is this a traditional thing in the UK

Yes.

or is it some relic of the 18th century?

What precisely is the difference between a "tradition" and "something left over from a previous century"?
Anyway, goose used to he the more affordable option, turkey used to be the more expensive option. Now it's the other way around.

I bet it tastes like turkey.

It does not. It tastes more like duck, but even then the analogy is not perfect.

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wookieesgonnawook@reddit

A tradition would be something that's still done, whereas a relic of a past age isn't done anymore, but we still read about it in books from the time. That's what they were asking, if you still eat them or if it just shows up in Dickens so everyone's heard about it but no one still does it.

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WhaleMeatFantasy@reddit

What precisely is the difference between a "tradition" and "something left over from a previous century"?

Very good.

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Individual-Island778@reddit

Had it once, one of the best Christmas dinners I've had!

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Bright_Name_3798@reddit

You've never met an avid Midwestern hunter! I have been offered wild goose and pheasant around Christmas time. Goose has a stronger taste than turkey. If you've had duck, it's closer to that than turkey.

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r_mutt69@reddit

I think it is something that used to be more popular. My dad’s family used to have goose when he was a kid. You can still order them from the butchers and some do but it’s usually turkey for most

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audigex@reddit

It was more common traditionally - pre-WW1 it was probably the most common meat for Christmas etc

In modern times it’s rarer. Some people still eat it, it’s not like RARE, but these days you’re much more likely to find turkey for a big holiday (Christmas, mostly) and chicken or beef the rest of the time (or lamb, gammon etc)

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Miserable_Mission_55@reddit

my mum has it every year- its pretty unusual she just thinks turkey is bland which is fair enough.

Its rich, tasty and makes a nice special occasion dinner.

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Johto2001@reddit

My girlfriend and I have had duck for Christmas several times in the past, and goose a few times. Neither taste like turkey, and both are tastier.

I'm a vegetarian now so I didn't eat meat last Christmas and won't this Christmas coming but my girlfriend will probably have some duck.

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SpringtimeCatitude@reddit

Goose is way nicer than boring Turkey, as is Pheasant and Guinea Fowl 😋😋

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narnababy@reddit

We had it a couple of times when I was younger. Seemed like a lot of faff, expensive, and the leftovers were shit on sandwiches for Boxing Day imo. Too much fat.

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Arnoave@reddit

My grandma did one once and it ended with her and my uncle having to bail out the lake of fat underneath every 20 minutes or it would overflow.

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Specific-Sundae2530@reddit

Only cooked it once. It's way tastier than turkey, nothing like turkey. Not a lot of meat on a goose but be ready with a deep cooking tin and some jars to put the huge amount of goose fat that will run off of it.

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Less-Helicopter-745@reddit

We have it for Christmas dinner every year. It tastes nothing like turkey - it's much better, and closer to duck than anything else. Trouble is that, like duck, you don't get much meat from one.

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Responsible_Bite_188@reddit

I love turkey and much prefer it to goose but lots of my posh mates do have goose at Xmas, it’s pretty traditional.

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diwalk88@reddit

My mum was German so we had goose with my Oma every Christmas Eve. It's delicious, tastes nothing like turkey. This was in Canada in the 80s and 90s, so it wasn't unheard of in North America.

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bofh000@reddit

Goose is so much juicier than turkey, if you go for fowl dinner, go for goose

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Spdoink@reddit

We had it up until the 90s. There are a couple of issues with it in the modern context.

It's a wet bird. I used to prefer it to turkey, but people are used to turkey and are more used to preparing it.
They tended to be smaller in my country. It's easy to forget, but portion sizes have pretty much doubled since then. You'd probably need two geese, which wouldn't be possible in most ovens.

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toonlass91@reddit

We’ve had goose a few times as my dad dislikes turkey. I think goose is the traditional one, but was overtaken in popularity by turkey

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GiftOdd3120@reddit

it's not common for most normal people. Most people eat Turkey and some other meat but lots of people don't even have Turkey nowadays. It's often a mixture of lamb, pork, beef.

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actualinsomnia531@reddit

We only eat turkey in the UK because of US culture seeping in. Back when my (rural middle class) parents were kids, it was chicken because goose was too expensive.

Goose tastes much more like duck. It's a darker, richer, fattier meat than turkey. It makes awesome rillette!

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ConsciouslyIncomplet@reddit

Yes - including 3 bird roast (chicken in a goose, in a turkey - all roasted together.

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89Zerlina98@reddit

Have done something similar to your three bird roast, de-boned chicken stuffed with duck breasts, ham and sausagemeat stuffing. That used to be our side dish, Christmas dinners were special.

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Maleficent-Leek2943@reddit

In Dickens novels, sure. But I’m 49 and we had turkey every year except one time around maybe 1986? when my mum decided to get all Victorian and do roast goose instead.

It was dry AF and was met with an extreme lack of enthusiasm.

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tocammac@reddit

It is clear in Dickens's A Christmas Carol that goose was a treat for a poor person,but not nearly so favored as having a turkey. That's why when Scrooge has his change of heart, he has the young boy go buy the prize turkey and help him deliver it to the Cratchits. Goose is dry, gamey, and has relatively little meat. It sounds exotic to those of us who have never had it, but it was a symbol of limited resources to Diskens.

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VirtualMatter2@reddit

Goose is neither dry nor gamey though if done properly. Turkey is much drier.

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Southernbeekeeper@reddit

Turkey is the worst meat you can roast in my opinion. Dry and bland.

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zombiezmaj@reddit

Turkey shouldn't be dry and bland if cooked correctly.

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blfua@reddit

Agree. There seem to a host of redditors who’ve had Turkey that wasn’t prepared well.

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Southernbeekeeper@reddit

I'm an alright cook and I think this is just a cope people who eat turkey say to excuse poor taste.

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zombiezmaj@reddit

Nope. My mum cannot cook it to be anything than dry 90% of the time.

My fiance however... delicious and juicy turkey

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OkieBobbie@reddit

Fried turkey is the best, but it is also a more complex cooking setup. Do not attempt it until you are fully aware of the proper way to do it.

Spatchcock turkey that has been cooked on a smoker is really good, too.

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zombiezmaj@reddit

Haven't tried fried turkey yet because of the fear of it going very wrong... but it is on the list.

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Southernbeekeeper@reddit

I disagree. The only way I've had turkey that was worth the time was smoking it on the kettle.

At another time its just a bland version of chicken so I don't see why you'd bother.

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illarionds@reddit

It's very difficult to cook (well, roast) turkey though, at least whole. The dark meat quite simply needs a lot more cooking than the breast.

Not surprising that a lot of people - who cook it literally once a year - often mess it up.

Personally I'm a big believer in simply separating it and cooking each part properly - but you don't quite get the same "centrepiece" look.

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Gildor12@reddit

You’re doing it wrong then

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Southernbeekeeper@reddit

See my other comment.

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illarionds@reddit

How the hell do you get goose to be dry? It's the fattiest meat I've ever eaten. It must have been extremely overcooked.

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Ok_Chipmunk_7066@reddit

40, had goose once about 7-8 years ago and same thing.

Dry, and disappointment.

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HoundParty3218@reddit

Skill issue I'm afraid. Goose is quite fatty so you shouldn't need to add lots of butter as you would with a turkey.

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KazulsPrincess@reddit

I thought about doing this once. I'm in the US, and just wanted to try it. There were frozen geese in the grocery store next to the turkeys. I changed my mind when I saw that goose costs three times as much! (It was around 2010)

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chaoticjellybean@reddit

I'm in the US but my mom did the same thing one year and I'm pretty sure it was even the same year, I was about 10 years old. Ours was greasy though.

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Maleficent-Leek2943@reddit

How funny - maybe roast goose was just THE must-have menu item of Christmas 1986.

Ours probably managed to be greasy at the same time as being dry AF. I remember being a bit wary of it, then looking forward to trying it because my mum said goose would taste like duck, and I liked duck, at least in the context of "crispy aromatic shredded duck from Chinese restaurants", aaaand… it did not taste like that, at all.

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VirtualMatter2@reddit

It tastes like duck but a bit more delicate. It's like in between a good quality roast chicken and duck.

But you need to know how to prepare it. It's the typical Christmas food in Germany. And if it was greasy and dry then it was prepared wrong. A good duck is neither.

You prepare in a baster with a lid and some water in the bottom, in the oven. One hour breast down, one hour breast up, then you open the lid and roast for another 30 minutes to 1 hour.

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ljofa@reddit

Here you go - seven eateries in New York which serve roast goose.

https://restaurantguru.com/roast-goose-New-York-m1606

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evolveandprosper@reddit

Goose tastes infinitely better than turkey. Turkey was introduced to the UK in the late 16th Century but wasn't widely adopted as the Christmas dinner bird until the Victorian era. Geese have been domesticated and eaten in the UK since Roman times.

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Queasy_Difference_96@reddit

We always have turkey but one year my grandma bought a goose, it was £50 and fed 10 of us so it was a pretty decent size! It was SO GOOD. Turkey is meh.

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Cheese-n-Opinion@reddit

Turkey is the standard Christmas bird, and more common by far, but goose is not unheard of.

One year we went out to a pub for Christmas dinner and I had goose, for a change. It's closer to duck than turkey, it's really fatty.

Goose fat is very popular for making roast potatoes, ever since Nigella Lawson recommended it back in the early 00s.

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Laylelo@reddit

I get a frozen goose from Lidl when they’re available, it’s a nice alternative roast for Sundays. We’ve had it at Christmas a few times, it’s nice! Like people say, most similar to duck than anything else.

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kbell58@reddit

I live in TN and see goose in the grocery (Aldi) around Christmas.

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89Zerlina98@reddit

Ever had a Capon? Delicious. Sometimes Aldi or Lidl have them for Christmas.

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downlau@reddit

That used to be our standard Christmas roast growing up, half the family are confirmed turkey haters. Now it can be a bit more rogue - there's been goose a few times, duck, beef, sometimes steak if there's only a couple of people eating meat.

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MermazingKat@reddit

We did last year. Was delicious, but too expensive for us to repeat. Only just fit in the oven, £90 and no leftovers, barely enough for 6 adults. Glad we did it but we'll go back to Turkey this year.

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CharacterEye3775@reddit

It's nice, but expensive

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TheRealJetlag@reddit

Many years ago, I worked for a UK software house that was doing some work for the European Space Agency. I had to fly over to Amersterdam to their HQ for few meetings and they arranged for a taxi to pick me up at Schipol airport.

The drive is just beautiful past tulip fields and I commented on the gorgeous stripes of colour in the fields. The driver said that they have a real problem with geese eating the bulbs and that the mayor had recently authorised the hunting of geese to cull their numbers and protect the industry.

I laughed and said something like, “Great! Free dinner!”

After a pause, with a look of utter horror on his face, he said, “you EAT them?”.

Yep, in the UK, people will pay EXTRA to have goose for Christmas. Goose fat also makes for great roast potatoes.

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jado5150@reddit

You can't count how many times you've encountered it. I've lived here my whole life and have never once seen it. I've heard of it occasionally happening of course but never with anyone I've known. Maybe it's a class thing, you must know some rich brits.

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Lozerien@reddit

Like anything else, if it's properly prepared it's heaven. I have a Dickens Christmas every year with goose, Chestnut stuffing, turnips, creamed spinach.

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nasted@reddit

I had it once at Christmas and it was the most delicious bird I’ve ever eaten. Turkey doesn’t have any flavour - it’s just big. But goose? Oh my gosh - fantastic. Off the scale. It’s on another level that’s so far from turkey, you can’t even see the turkey anymore.

Having turkey at Christmas is an American food crime on par with what they have done to chocolate.

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Kind_Ad5566@reddit

I had it once and hated it.

Cockerel is by far my favorite for Christmas.

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yourefunny@reddit

Goose is relatively common for Christmas. Had it a few times. It's similar to duck but bigger. Goose fat roast potatoes are a British staple.

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makemycockcry@reddit

There was so much fat that came out of it, that it made it a one-time thing for us. Nice but not nice enough for the expense, effort and mess.

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SirPooleyX@reddit

It's not much like turkey at all.

It's richer and fattier and very, very delicious.

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ayeayefitlike@reddit

We have goose when we can get it - it’s way nicer than turkey. But last year was very expensive for goose, possibly because of bird flu, so we had duck instead.

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Exita@reddit

Still do. So much tastier than turkey.

Even better, you get so much fat off it whilst cooking that you can save it for roast potatoes for months to come.

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Saliiim@reddit

It was the traditional Christmas dinner until the 50s or so.

I went to order one last year but it was over £100 so we had Turkey and duck instead.

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Phat-Lines@reddit

Weve had goose every Christmas for maybe the last, 8 years probably. Do it alongside a Turkey (most people have Turkey, mostly myself and my dad prefer the Goose).

Turkey is okay but personally always thought chicken, goose and duck actually just taste a lot nicer and have a much richer flavour.

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tiptoe_only@reddit

I remember my family having goose once. It was a one-off because it's expensive, but it was really nice (and I say this as someone who really doesn't like traditional roast dinners).

We always spend Christmas with my in-laws now and they always have turkey which isn't a patch on it, but when we had to stay home in 2020 I got a duck for our Christmas dinner and it was awesome. I did actually want goose but the children were so small we wouldn't have eaten a whole one and the duck was the right size.

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Ok_Machine_1982@reddit

These days you would be hard pushed to find goose in a supermarket and in most butchers it would be a special order.

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FancyMigrant@reddit

That's because, in the era in which those films were at, goose was a very cheap meat.

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MadChart@reddit

It is waaaay tastier than turkey. More like a giant porky duck turkey. I have cooked it a few times for Christmas dinner, but there are a few set backs with it: 1) it can be hard to find one around me. Especially a local free range one. 2) it is expensive, especially as I am only really interested in a local free-range one, not a frozen import. 3) they can be very long, so can be hard to fit in a regular oven if you are going large. 4) a lot of the weight is fat. This isn't a bad thing in itself, as it is delicious, and you can store the run off in jars to cook with in the weeks afterwards. But it means what looks like a huge bird might not feed that many people if you have a lot of meat eating guests.

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NecktieNomad@reddit

Giant porky duck turkey is the most accurate description I’ve seen so far in this thread, if a little clunky 😂

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illarionds@reddit

It was the traditional fancy option before turkey was a thing - but obviously you're going a long way back there.

In modern times, supermarkets will generally have geese at Christmas, but I don't think they're a big seller. Turkey and chicken are by far the most popular.

We had goose one year, to try it out. Was pretty disappointing tbh - not worth the considerable extra expense, and just too greasy. Though of course we were goose-roasting noobs, so I doubt we did the best job of it.

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mad_saffer@reddit

Considering that no one in the UK ate turkey before it was introduced by America I find this post hilarious. Turkey is dry and tasteless, whereas goose is juicy and utterly delicious. I have no idea why anyone would eat turkey over goose.

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archivorus@reddit

Unless it’s an expensive free-range bird bought from your local trusted butcher, your turkey will be grim, water-filled and tasteless. An eye-wateringly expensive once a year goose will be a full-flavoured meaty treat and potatoes roasted in goose fat the best. I have goose every few years. Beef is a better choice than most turkeys tbh. (57M, UK)

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jimthewanderer@reddit

Goose is a very opulent option. Turkey is significantly cheaper, and is far more common.

Turkey is standard issue, pork or beef options in the roast are non-standard but hardly radical.

Goose is a bit fancy.

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Comprehensive_You42@reddit

Expensive, and has a massive cavity so you don’t get a lot of meat.

Lovely though, meaty like a game bird or duck. I’ve only cooked it 4 times, and I tend to favour a turkey crown - less faff, more appealing to picky eaters

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George_Salt@reddit

It depends how you define traditional, whether you see it as what's written in the books or what people normally do or what they are conditioned into doing by peer pressure.

If you're watching US TV films/series about or that 'visit' the UK you'd get a very weird and unrealistic picture of what the UK and life in the UK is like.

Turkey was traditional throughout my childhood (I'm in my fifties). But personally I've never cooked a whole turkey or a turkey crown - it's land, and there's too much of it. The last twenty or so years my wife and I have had duck, much tastier than turkey, and a better meat:bone ratio than goose. Turkey became traditional because it's cheap to raise, they get big, and there's still a culture of quantity having a quality all of it's own when it comes to christmas.

I've never known anyone have goose, and when we've visited my wife's family in Germany for christmas they've never had goose. They usually have saurbraten on christmas day.

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End6509@reddit

We generally have goose for dinner on boxing day, we dont have turkey Christmas day so no worries about huge amounts of leftovers

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Snoofly61@reddit

We almost always have goose at Christmas. It’s much nicer and juicier than turkey. Much more of a red meat vibe. Less meat though and much more fat - but if you skim it off you can keep it for months to roast potatoes in, which is lush.

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3Cogs@reddit

57 years old. Had goose at Christmas exactly once, and that was at a friend's house who was very into cooking. We had turkey and goose!

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cinejam@reddit

We had it one year. It tasted a little bit rancid to me

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secretvictorian@reddit

We ate Goose a few years ago and last Christmas It was utterly divine. Our friends had also done the same and said they preferred it to Turkey.

Goose all the way for us each Christmas now if we're at home for Christmas Day!

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Randomfinn@reddit

Everyone I know that eats goose and turkey say that goose is much fattier/greasy and has less meat.

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Illustrious_Bus8440@reddit

It is. Had it one time and, no joke, from a medium bird we for 2 litres of fat. Never making it again.

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DappyDreams@reddit

Sure but that fat would have lasted you for the whole year if you stored it correctly, and that stuff is liquid gold

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MadChart@reddit

Exactly, roast potatoes, stir-fries etc etc, all great with stored goose fat. The excess fat is a bonus, but it does mean there is less meat on the bird than expected.

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Illustrious_Bus8440@reddit

The smell was horrific. So it got put in some Kind of container and thrown out. Never ever again

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Gildor12@reddit

Cook with the fat

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Gildor12@reddit

Both of those of those are true but the taste is great. Unless you buy an expensive Turkey it is very bland, and dry

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ZoltanGertrude@reddit

We have goose most years. A very rich meat, richer than duck and much nicer than turkey. And yes roasting it produces a huge amount of fat which we save for roast potatoes through the year which are delicious. The bird is mostly carcass so you won't get more than six servings from a normal sized one.

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ciderbandit@reddit

Did it once and it was good, pricy but good. What intrigues me though is . . .you can get goose fat for roasties etc all over the place; where's the associated goose meat? It's not like the shelves are heaving with goose pates and rillettes etc, petfood isn't goose flavoured . . Where's the goose meat at? Genuine question

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NochMessLonster@reddit

We have goose for Christmas every day.

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mattjimf@reddit

Found Roy Wood.

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dead_jester@reddit

Goose 🪿 was the meal of British Christmas up until the 20th Century in the U.K.
Turkeys are not native to the UK.
Some people still have goose but it is very rare now.
It tastes like a delicious meaty fatty duck. Have had it a couple of times. Goose fat roasted potatoes are heavenly. Turkey is much easier to factory farm. This makes it cheaper to produce.
Turkey is a cheap and low quality alternative to goose.

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Waste_Vegetable8974@reddit

Turkey is an American invention and wasn't really available here generally until Victorian times and then was a delicacy as it wasn't bred much here. I think something happened across the world wars that made turkey much cheaper and more available so that goose was a very expensive alternative for the fairly rich. At some point someone then realised there was a market for it as a 'traditional' alternative and people started raising geese specifically for the Xmas market, albeit with a luxury price tag. It costs about the same to feed 3 people goose as it does to feed 10 people turkey but, at least in my opinion, the taste makes it worth the difference.

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Flibertygibbert@reddit

My mother (91) says goose was popular when she was growing up, and a real treat during the war. My grandad knew somebody who knew somebody iykwim 😁

By the 1950s they were eating chicken which was considered an expensive meat then.

I only remember turkey at Christmas from the 1960s onwards.

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Hightimetoclimb@reddit

Never had it. Would like to though, I think there is a reason we only eat turkey once a year! However we do always use goose fat for the roast potatoes

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Ewendmc@reddit

I don't like Turkey. I've had goose both in the UK and the Baltics. A bit fatty but tasty.

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Quaser_8386@reddit

Never had goose, for Christmas or any other celebration. I don't think I even know anyone who has.

I'm not sure if this is a reflection of my distinctly working class upbringing or my lower middle class aspirations.

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dinkidoo7693@reddit

Had it once about 20 years ago, an ex’s family were quite middle class. Similar taste to duck but more fatty like lamb…
Most people don’t have goose. It would be for a special occasion type meal.

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Away-Ad4393@reddit

I have had goose for Xmas lunch many times and it’s delicious, it tastes nothing like turkey though. Turkey meat Is dry but goose is a succulent meat. We don’t have it so often now because it is very expensive in the England.

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Alexander-Wright@reddit

It's also not generally available outside of Christmas.

Top tip: Lidl often have smaller frozen geese reduced after Christmas. Other supermarkets (in the UK) often sell left over fresh geese on boxing day.

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Away-Ad4393@reddit

Ok. Thanks for the tip.We kept geese on the our farm when I was growing up, and in recent I have usually bought them from a local farmers market.

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rattlingdeathtrain@reddit

We had it once and it was absolutely delicious. Tastes more similar to Duck than Turkey (which makes sense if you think about it). However, our family of 4 got through it in one sitting (no leftovers), and it was apparently not as easy to prepare and cook (although I didn't cook it). I assume it is more expensive too, although I still hope to do it sometime in the future.

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vipros42@reddit

Goose tastes like lamby duck

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Keasbyjones@reddit

We had it last Christmas. It was tasty but you don't get that much for your money. I think it's only the second time I've had it.

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arioandy@reddit

We have had it for xmas a few times, very nice

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Near_Fathom@reddit

Wild and domesticated geese are everywhere in Europe; turkeys are a more recent import. Therefore the traditional festive meal was goose. Goose meat is delicious. The birds are of course much smaller than turkeys but they have a lot more fat so the meat is tender and moist. I much prefer goose; turkey meat tastes like cardboard to me.

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JacenKas-Trek-Geek@reddit

Never had Goose and I’m 49. When I was a kid it was chicken (mum didn’t have a lot of money). Turkey came when I was a teenager and we had more money.

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CrowApprehensive204@reddit

We had goose a few years ago, it was a bit disappointing. Prefer turkey for the leftovers. And we are in no way posh, the goose came from Tesco.

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Electronic_Cream_780@reddit

The main thing I remember for having goose is cleaning the oven afterwards. They have so much fat, gallons of it. You can't believe where it's coming from

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Standard_Pack_1076@reddit

An English friend cooked me goose one Christmas in New Zealand. Very delicious, but gone in a single meal.

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slartybartfast6@reddit

Turkey was an American discovery, it was not indigenous to Europe, goose is.

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Ok-Basket2305@reddit

And now we've got people eating swans in the UK 😢

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Critical_Pin@reddit

It doesn't taste like turkey at all, more like duck.

It's available at Christmas but is expensive. We've had it a few times.

It is more traditional than turkey but turkey is easily the most common at Christmas.

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skibbin@reddit

I think Goose traditionally was more available for the working class, Turkey was for the rich. Hence in A Christmas Carol it is a turkey that Scrooge buys for the Cratchets. I think commercial turkey farming increased availability and reduced price in the 20th century.

I've eaten goose. Not too gamey but a big greasy. I'd neither turn it down nor seek it out.

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Gildor12@reddit

Other way around now

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kingstonandy@reddit

Always goose, never turkey.

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Routine_Ad1823@reddit

Goose a bit of a stereotypical "very middle class" thing. Sort of a joke really - "Oh, we're going to feed Quentin and Leticia goose that we cooked in the aga"

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kingstonandy@reddit

I do goose in my Aga every year, I'm a white van man!

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Emotional-Brief3666@reddit

I'm nearly 70 and I've never eaten goose or even seen it for sale. Maybe to order in a butchers shop but I rarely go in one.

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knotsazz@reddit

Had it once. Spent a Christmas with another family who were very middle class and they apparently always had goose. It was delicious. I’d make it for myself but it’s expensive and impractical.

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BillyJoeDubuluw@reddit

It was the standard meat for the Christmas dinner here before the turkey.

Some people still choose goose but are now in the minority and I would suggest they are “usually” older and/or comfortably well off.

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AppearanceAwkward364@reddit

The only time I've ever had goose was when we were given one by my dad's friend, when we we kids. It was really dry and full of lead shot.

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flimflam_machine@reddit

I've had goose at Christmas before, but not regularly as we just tend to have a standard roast.

As for taste, it's absolutely delicious. Far more flavoursome than turkey and well worth getting out a good bottle of wine that you've been saving.

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codernaut85@reddit

I’m British. I’ve had it for Christmas a few times. It actually takes nothing at all like turkey. Turkey is a very low fat meat. Goose is very high in fat. The meat is much darker and richer. It’s more like duck.

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loaferuk123@reddit

Goose is much nicer than Turkey, which always tastes a bit weird to my palette.

Mind you, we have rib of beef for Christmas anyway.

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prustage@reddit

We have had goose off and on most Christmases for the past 20 years or so. It is similar to turkey but not as dry. It can be quite succulent if cooked properly. But this is the problem, it is difficult to cook right and we have had a few disasters in the past. Get the cooking just right and it is better than chicken, turkey or duck.

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Southernbeekeeper@reddit

Its mad to me that you think it would be like turkey. What on earth gives you that impression?

Its more like duck. Goose is ok but its very greasey.

Its not very common anymore due to the prevalence of turkey but its certainly available and at Xmas a lot of places sell goose.

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Stunning_Anteater537@reddit

We have goose at Christmas. Our local butcher can source a good size goose for the same cost as a turkey and it's much nicer. Plus if you freeze the goose fat in ice cube trays you can have goose fat roasties for many Sundays afterwards 😁

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MattheqAC@reddit

I've never had a goose at Christmas, but I have seen it for sale in supermarkets at that time of year, so some folks must be buying it

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rising_then_falling@reddit

I've had goose a few times, it's far nicer than Turkey. The posh butcher near me does plenty of Christmas geese so it's not that rare.

The problem is they aren't as big as turkeys and the new tradition is to eat half a kilo of meat for Christmas and then about the same again over the next two days.

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Severe_Map_356@reddit

If you asked me to go into town and buy a goose, I’m pretty sure I’d come back empty handed.

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erinoco@reddit

I usually get it for the family, although I admit I am the most enthusiastic about it. The first time we tried it, it was really sub par, but now it's much better.

It is very different to turkey - imagine a denser, beefier form of duck. As others have pointed out, you get nowhere near as much meat, and it's much more expensive. We generally have it with a turkey crown and another form of meat. You also have to cook it much more carefully than you would a turkey: draining off the goose fat to prevent the bird becoming too oily and to use later, as well as ensuring the legs are nicely done without overcooking the breast.

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melijoray@reddit

Goose tastes like duck and remains moist, not like sawdust turkey. If you take off the fat as it cooks, the skin is very crispy and the fat makes excellent roast potatoes.

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Alexander-Wright@reddit

We have a goose for our Christmas meal every year.

Per bird, it's not that much more than turkey, but there's much less meat. You need to have a good quantity of stuffing.

As mentioned, goose fat is great for roast potatoes; a typical goose will give you at least a couple of litres worth.

Finally, goose is to duck as turkey is to chicken. i.e. much more strongly flavoured.

Finally, finally: geese can't be factory reared like turkeys; as such they are a more ethical meat, if that's your thing.

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Gullible_Wind_3777@reddit

Never ever eaten goose wtf haha. Turkey dinner for us at Xmas time. Well mixed meats! Turkey, beef and gammon.

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paintingmad@reddit

Growing up we always had goose, with the goose fat making the best roast potatoes. We occasionally have one now but a goose doesn’t feed a lot of people and they cost such a lot. I’ve never had turkey for Christmas dinner, but id say I was in the minority, with the majority having turkey nowadays.

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TeddersTedderson@reddit

I ordered a goose for Christmas a few years back and sent my mother in law to the butchers to pick it up. The butcher was a friend of mine so I'd assumed I'd get a good price.

£95 later and one furious MIL it has been forever remembered as "that fucking goose". It was just me, wifey and the MIL who eats like a sparrow. It was absolutely huge, barely fit in the oven, gave off a few gallons of fat, but was delicious! Goose curry boxing day and leftovers for weeks.

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ConstantReader666@reddit

It's a relic from a time when goose was cheap.

I had goose for Christmas Dinner once, largely because of those books. Not bad, but hardly worth the extra work of cooking it and very expensive now.

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MrsValentine@reddit

I did goose one year. They’re available but turkey is the more common choice. Goose tastes and looks nothing like turkey — it’s an extremely oily bird and the meat is quite dark. It’s similar to duck (but less tasty in my opinion).

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DazzlingClassic185@reddit

We don’t bother with either, a decent chicken will serve all of us for at least the main meal - it’s better meat. Never tried goose tbh, but it was traditional at one point (others have better answers on that point)

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Pony482@reddit

We have goose most years - I've only had turkey once as I'm not terribly keen on it

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winberrypie@reddit

We have goose every Christmas. It's so much nicer than turkey. There is only two of us, though, and goose wouldn't go far to feed a family. Turkey is more normal for a group of people.

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Hippadoppaloppa@reddit

My family always had goose. It's way nicer than turkey! But it was very unusual amongst my friends, no one else I knew had goose.

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Inevitable-Push5486@reddit

One of these years I would like to try the roast swan. I have heard that there are still one or two venues which offer it.

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Eskarina_W@reddit

I'm from Ireland and in our house, it was always turkey for dinner. My dad's family love a goose though so though I'm not personally a fan, goose dinners are something that have happened throughout my life. Even now my parents will get together with aunts & uncles for a goose. I don't recall goose on my mum's side, but her father hunted pheasants so that was dinner sometimes. Haven't seen pheasant on a table outside a restaurant in a long time though.

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Mickleblade@reddit

It's a thing across much of mainland Europe too, nb Christmas dinner is often celebrated on the 24th

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CrazyKitKat123@reddit

Goose is my absolute favourite for Christmas. We don’t have it every year but I love it when we do. It tastes more like duck than like turkey. Turkey is so bland in comparison.

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Head-Eye-6824@reddit

I've never had goose for Christmas but have eaten it a handful of times at restaurants, mostly on the continent.

My main understanding is that it used to be a lot more common up until the second world war where it fell victim to government directions on agriculture which sought to make radical improvements in efficiency. and accounting for loss of men from the workforce. Foul was restricted to a couple of breeds of chicken, swine restricted exclusively to the Landrace,... etc. Goose didn't get a look in so declined rapidly in terms of livestock.

As a meat, I think you need to know how to cook it and a fair few people make the mistake of simply treating it like a chicken so it doesn't come out well. I've mostly enjoyed the times I've eaten it but I'm not sure I would be inclined to make the effort.

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AuroraDF@reddit

I'm Scottish, my mother enjoys cooking different things, and I've had goose for Christmas dinner a few times. I've also had duck, pheasant, chicken, turkey, roast beef and venison. I think there might also have been wood pigeon one year. Turkey is considered 'dry' in our house. Lol

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retirednurse62@reddit

We have goose at Christmas, it’s beautiful and save the fat for future roast potatoes

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Radio-Birdperson@reddit

I’ve had roast goose a few times and it is absolutely delicious. So much better than turkey.

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Downtown_Physics8853@reddit

There are literally thousands of people in NY who hunt geese every autumn, and I guarantee you that nearly all end up eaten.....

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One-Hand-Rending@reddit (OP)

NY is a big state, you’re right.

I’ve never encountered a roast goose dinner In the NYC metro area.

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buckwurst@reddit

You've never been to a Cantonese restaurant?

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fourlegsfaster@reddit

I've had goose many times, because my parents kept poultry. Goose is not like turkey, its delicious, more like duck. It has plenty of fat to keep the flesh moist.

Geese aren't farmed intensively like turkeys so are less common and more expensive. They don't reach the weights that a turkey could go to so aren't suitable for very large parties.

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PM-me-your-knees-pls@reddit

Never tried it but it probably tastes more like duck than it does turkey.

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VirtualMatter2@reddit

It's more like duck. But a bit lighter. Like a cross between a duck and a free range roast chicken.

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VirtualMatter2@reddit

Goose isn't common in the UK anymore, they adapted to the US way of turkey.

However Germany still eats goose for Christmas.

It tastes similar to duck which you might know from Chinese places, but a bit more delicate.

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Sharp-Sky64@reddit

It’s not uncommon? But it’s also not common. I wouldn’t expect someone to be eating goose but I wouldn’t be shocked if they were

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AskWhich7733@reddit

Christmas 1993, my first year at uni. At the pub I worked at. My first Christmas away from home. The chef was cooking everything while the rest of us ran the bar for the morning session. We closed at 2, cleaned the bar, and walked into the restaurant. 4 roasts, including duck, and all the trimmings. I’ve had it once or twice since then, but it’s never been as good as that first time.

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presterjohn7171@reddit

I've had it a few times but turkey is about a fifth of the price has more meat and doesn't have such a divisive taste. Personally I really like it.

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ThaiFoodThaiFood@reddit

I'm virtually a carnivore and I have eaten goose once in my entire life.

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PerfectCover1414@reddit

Roast goose definitely doesn't taste like turkey. It's also very fatty. Hence saving the fat for roast potatoes.

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neverendum@reddit

Goose is so much better than turkey, it's not even close. Goose is more like duck, it really doesn't taste like turkey at all. Turkey tastes like a bad version of chicken.

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No_Contribution_1327@reddit

I’ve always been intrigued by the idea of a Christmas goose but then I think about how they can live for 25 years and it feels kinda wrong to process them so young for meat.

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oudcedar@reddit

Goose is traditional as turkeys are American but I think most people swapped to Turkey after WW2 when big turkey farms were started.

As a kid we probably had goose only 2 or 3 times and as an adult its about 2 in 3 Christmases when we don’t have many people around.

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qualityvote2@reddit

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