Delia Smith under fire for common-sense advice to cooks to keep cooked turkey in the garden shed or boot of your car
By Claire Ellicott
Last updated at 6:32 PM on 01st December 2008
Delia Smith's recipes are not renowned for keeping the nation trim. But her latest dish comes with a more serious health warning.
The TV chef has been criticised for advising millions of listeners to cook turkey drumsticks and then leave the cooked dish outside in a garage or a garden shed overnight to cool.
And although this is a trick that will be familiar to many amateur chefs, food experts have warned that failing to refrigerate cooked poultry properly could lead to food poisoning or even death in some cases.
Controversy: Delia Smith's advice on turkey drumsticks contradicts that of the Food Standards Agency
Speaking on Sir Terry Wogan's Radio 2 breakfast show, Delia said: 'They are very big, these turkey drumsticks, and if you've got a big casserole you might not get it in the fridge.
'So if you've got a garage or if you've got a garden shed - and if you haven't got either and you live in a flat, run down to the car park and stick it in the boot of a car and it will stay cool all night.'
But the Food Standards Agency warned that bacteria could grow in cooked poultry left unrefrigerated and warned that old and young people and those with long-term diseases could be vulnerable to food poisoning.
The agency also warned that though there was a risk of salmonella with unrefrigerated poultry, it was unlikely if the food was cooked properly.
A spokeswoman said: 'Though we don't recommend keeping food in the shed or the car, cooking food correctly does kill off most food poisoning bugs.
'A shed or boot of a car is not the same as a domestic kitchen. It is not likely to be as clean as a kitchen, so there would also be a danger of cross contamination.
'But as long as you cook it properly, your chances of getting food poisoning would be fairly low and although it's not something we advocate, there shouldn't be that much risk.'
The agency also said that food left outside should be kept in a secure container or rats and other pests could come into contact with it.
A spokeswoman for Delia said that her recipe makes clear that anyone cooking her recipes should allow the turkey to cool thoroughly before storing it in the fridge and should take care when reheating it.
She said: "Those who follow the instructions properly will not have any problems."
Delia caused controversy earlier this year when recipes from her best-selling book How to Cheat at Cooking were found to contain more than an entire day's recommended amount of salt.
Campaigners criticised her 'Carbonara Real Quick', which uses bacon and Pecorino Romano, one of the saltiest cheeses available, contained more than 7g of salt per adult serving when the recommended daily amount is 6g.
Health experts warned that her recipes were harming the battle to prevent heart attacks and strokes because they contained so much salt.
The cookery book also listed recipes using processed and ready-made food including frozen mashed potato and tinned mince.
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I think we need warning against "health experts".
I've wrapped up the turkey and put it in the garage many times, and my family are still alive. Salt? We love it. My parents' favourite treat was crusty white bread and dripping with plenty of salt... sorry, "experts", they lived to a ripe old age.
Anyway, turkey is pretty dangerous, isn't it? You might choke to death on a bone, burn yourself taking it out of the oven or be allergic to something in the stuffing?
Enough, I say. Go away, experts.
I have had to keep my turkey outside do to lack of space. Would anyone not wrap their food properly if they had to keep it in the shed? My main concern was the outside was colder than my fridge, I was worried about the turkey freezing! We don't all have super huge fridges! Safer than letting it sit in a warm kitchen. This is winter!
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I learned how to cook with Delia's books when I was 30 and I am now a favourite with family and friends.I appreciate her practical advice and special tips on shopping and storage unlike some celebrity cooks who send us all over the country looking for ingredients. I often store food in the boot of my car in the winter months without any fatalities. Delia's recipies never fail to deliver. Thanks Delia three cheers for you.
- Teresa Allen, London.UK, 02/12/2008 11:41