Popular mishaps include the meat being too dry

The research, carried out by qguild.co.uk, found that cooking the meat caused the most stress, with 25 per cent of cooks experiencing a meat-based cooking disaster over the festive period.

The biggest faux pas was buying the wrong sized bird and then either struggling to fit it in the oven or not having enough to go round. Three per cent admitted that they had previously left cooking the meat too late and had to do without it on the big day.

Other Cooking the Christmas dinner is more stressful that starting a new job or moving house, a study revealed

The research, carried out by qguild.co.uk, found that cooking the meat caused the most stress, with 25 per cent of cooks experiencing a meat-based cooking disaster over the festive period.

The biggest faux pas was buying the wrong sized bird and then either struggling to fit it in the oven or not having enough to go round. Three per cent admitted that they had previously left cooking the meat too late and had to do without it on the big day.

Other popular mishaps include the meat being too dry, uncooked or not defrosted in time.

The study also found that many people push the budget when preparing for their Christmas dinner, spending more money on their Christmas turkey than they would spend on meat during a normal week.

In reaction to this research, the Q Guild of Butchers, who represent 140 of Britain’s best butchers, is launching a campaign entitled ‘Meat Your Butcher’ in a bid to encourage more people to visit their local butcher and avoid Christmas meat disasters.

The study also found that many people push the budget when preparing for their Christmas dinner, spending more money on their Christmas turkey than they would spend on meat during a normal week.

In reaction to this research, the Q Guild of Butchers, who represent 140 of Britain’s best butchers, is launching a campaign entitled ‘Meat Your Butcher’ in a bid to encourage more people to visit their local butcher and avoid Christmas meat disasters.