Meal prep works wonders to prepare for a busy workweek, but the same concept can minimize your time in the kitchen and stress when preparing your Thanksgiving feast. By planning more than a week ahead, you can have some dishes already prepared when your family finally arrives. That way, you can spend quality time with them instead of staying up all night cooking. Here is what you can be doing between now and turkey day:
Start Planning
As a girl, my mom stayed up all night to cook the Thanksgiving meal for my rather large family, including five kids. Even by morning, there was more to do — she would send me out to the grocery store on Thanksgiving Day to pick up ingredients. I usually had to visit three grocery stores to find one that was open. So I’ve seen firsthand how not planning ahead can bring on holiday stress, and I’ve vowed to take a different route. Although we’re more than a week away from the holiday, now’s the perfect time to start planning. Start gathering recipes, making a shopping list and planning when you will be cooking every single dish. You’ll thank me on the big day.
[See: How to Enjoy a Stress-Free Holiday.]
(Thinkstock)
Thinkstock
MoreThan a Week Before
In the past, I always vowed to bake pies on Thanksgiving, but ended up getting too caught up in cooking everything else. I would end up running to the store and buying a pie, which never tasted as good as mine. I’ve learned throughout the years to make my pies early and freeze them. Casseroles, soups and sauces also freeze extremely well. Instead of slaving over a hot stove the day before Thanksgiving, make them now. Here are some of my favorite Thanksgiving dishes to make today and freeze:
— Cranberry sauce
— Gravy (if you’re not using the turkey drippings)
— Soup (like butternut squash or pumpkin)
— Casseroles
— Pies (apple, pumpkin and pecan all freeze well)
[See: Healthy Holiday Desserts and Snacks.]
Check that you have plenty of freezer-friendly containers on hand. If you do end up purchasing a few extra containers, look for those that stack easily in order to save room in your freezer. If you plan on warming up the dish in the oven, look for freezer- and oven-friendly storage containers like Pyrex. My set has lasted 20 years.
Before placing the food in the freezer, allow it to cool to room temperature. Do not place hot food in the freezer, since that can warm all the food in the unit. It will also make the freezer unit work harder, jacking up your electrical bill. Let the food sit out no longer than two hours in order to cool. For a large stockpot of soup or a large batch of sauce or gravy, divide it into several smaller containers to help the food cool faster. Once the food is at room temperature, cover it and place it in the freezer.
One or two nights before Thanksgiving, move the frozen containers into the refrigerator to slowly defrost the food. Once it’s defrosted, you can reheat soup, sauces and gravies stovetop, while casseroles and pies can be reheated in the oven right before service.
(AP Photo/Matthew Mead)
AP Photo/Matthew Mead
A Few Days Before
Start cooking other dishes the Monday or Tuesday before Thanksgiving. These include:
— Cornbread
— Vegetable dishes (like roasted vegetables, string beans, Brussels sprouts and carrots)
— Mashed sweet or traditional potatoes
— Salad dressings
— Sangria and mulled cider
The day of Thanksgiving, warm the cornbread and vegetables in the oven. If you’re planning on making marshmallow-topped sweet potatoes, you can make the mash a few days before and leave the marshmallow topping until the day of Thanksgiving. Dressings can be stored for up to two weeks in the fridge, so you can prep those earlier too.
Proper storage is important to make sure your dishes stay fresh. This means covering your food properly in order to maintain freshness and prevent odors from getting into the food. Also, make sure your refrigerator is set to the proper temperature by using a bimetallic stemmed thermometer (they cost about $10) and placing it in the fridge. It should read about 38 or 39 degrees Fahrenheit.
(AP Photo/Matthew Mead)
AP Photo/Matthew Mead
Thanksgiving Day
There are some foods that just taste best when prepared on Thanksgiving Day. These include:
— Turkey
— Stuffing
— Fresh fruit or vegetable salads
— Homemade whipped cream (for the pies)
[See: Should I Wash the Turkey Before Cooking It?]
(AP Photo/Matthew Mead)
Now that you’ve prepared many of your dishes in advance, you’ll only have a handful left for Thanksgiving morning. With a little help in the kitchen, you can get those done rather quickly.
Wishing you and your family a very happy and stress-free Thanksgiving. Happy, healthy meal prepping!
