Mary Berry reveals genius Christmas dinner hack using sleeping bag

Former ‘Great British Bake Off’ judge is hosting her own cooking show next week

Ellie Muir
Wednesday 14 December 2022 04:41 EST
Comments
Mary Berry's best bits

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Dame Mary Berry has explained some of her more unusual festive cooking methods.

The famous baker has written more than 70 cookery books during her career, in which she shares hacks and new recipes for each season.

This Christmas, she will be hosting Mary Berry’s Ultimate Christmas, due to air on 19 December on BBC One, where she reveals more of her quirky tricks for a festive dinner.

She will be joined by MasterChef :The Professionals judge Monica Galetti, TV star Rylan Clark and Michelin-starred chef Angela Hartnett.

In a new interview, the former Great British Bake Off judge, 87, revealed that she wraps her Christmas turkey in a sleeping bag after it’s cooked to keep it insulated.

“I roast the turkey at home, and I’ve learned not to overcook it. So many times, even I have overcooked it,” she admitted on Dish, the podcast hosted by former Radio 1 DJ Nick Grimshaw and Michelin-starred chef Angela Hartnett.

“This time I’m cooking it without foil, I shall cover it with foil once it’s done, then I shall put some tea towels over the top,” Berry said.

“I’ve got an old sleeping bag that’s got no zip and I put that over the top in the corner of the kitchen and then I shall take that in the back of the car to Annabel’s [Berry’s daughter].”

She explained: “Once you take it out of the oven, it goes on cooking. And so you want to insulate that.”

TV-Holiday Roundup
TV-Holiday Roundup

Berry said that she keeps the turkey “in the back of the car inside its sleeping bag” while she has Christmas drinks with her family, and will take out the bird when its time to carve it.

Dame Mary appeared on The Great British Bake Off for seven years alongside fellow judge Paul Hollywood and presenters Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc, until she ended her time on the show after it moved from the BBC to Channel 4 in 2017.

Following Bake Off’s move to Channel 4, Sandi Toksvig and Noel Fielding took over as presenters, with Hollywood joined by Dame Prue Leith as a judge.

Toksvig was later replaced by comedian Matt Lucas, who announced last week that he would be leaving the show after three series.

The Independent has rounded up some of the most likely replacements for Lucas.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in