Is your Thanksgiving meal prep a little chaotic? Maybe you rush to prepare side dishes hours before your guests arrive, or you struggle to cook a turkey that hasn’t quite thawed. While some stress is normal when feeding a large group of people, it doesn’t have to be chaotic. Instead, you can follow some tips to ensure your Thanksgiving meal prep goes smoothly this year.
Whip Up the Cranberry Sauce Seven Days Early
Did you know that cranberry sauce is high in acidity, which means it holds onto its delicious flavors longer than other foods? Because of that, you can make it a full week in advance, and it’ll still taste fresh. Once you make it, put it in a jar and place it in the fridge. Then take it out an hour before serving so it can reach room temperature. Also, add just a bit of warm water if it’s a little thick. Stir it in to loosen the sauce up.
Make Your Pie Crusts a Week Early
Does everyone love devouring your homemade pies on Thanksgiving? You don’t want to let them down this year but making pies from scratch is hard work. Fortunately, you can make your homemade crusts a week before the big meal. Make the crusts, put them in the freezer, and take them out when you’re ready to make the pies.
Make the Dough for Your Rolls Early
You’ll have enough to do on Thanksgiving without worrying about making the dough to use for your rolls. Fortunately, you can make the dough up to a week early and then freeze it. Make sure you move the dough from the freezer to the refrigerator the night before the meal. Then take them out of the refrigerator the next morning. The dough will need to sit out for three hours, and then you can make your rolls.
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Set a Thawing Schedule for the Turkey
You need to give your turkey plenty of time to thaw, so have a plan in place so you’ll know when to start the process. The refrigerator is the best option for thawing a turkey, but it’s also the slowest. Your turkey needs to be in the refrigerator for 24 hours for every four pounds. Once you do the math, you’ll know when to transfer the bird from the freezer to the fridge. Then set a reminder so you’ll remember to thaw your turkey. With this tip, you won’t find yourself trying to thaw the turkey in hot water on Thanksgiving morning.
The holiday will be much more enjoyable when you follow these tips. By taking care of some tasks ahead of time, you’ll be able to focus on spending time with your loved ones and devouring delicious dishes.
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