Thanksgiving is stressful enough with all the preparation and planning that goes into enjoying a holiday meal with loved ones. From figuring out when to buy the big bird to coming up with the perfect Thanksgiving holiday menu, planning T-Day takes a lot of time to make sure everything tastes as delicious as you hoped, your guests have a memorable evening, and everything goes well. No problem.
While you can plan for every potential mishap that could arise and disrupt Thanksgiving dinner preparations, sometimes the unexpected is unavoidable. When those moments occur, it can be hard to get back on track. Before you know it, hungry guests are knocking at your door as you frantically continue an impossible race against the clock, nervously checking your timer as you measure the temperature of each dish.
To make your life a little easier, we spoke to professional chefs to get their expert tips for saving time when cooking Thanksgiving dinner. While her tips can help ensure you can spend fewer hours in the kitchen and more time giving thanks, if you’re still short on time, you might also want to check out these 20 Last-Minute Thanksgiving Recipes Everyone Will Love.
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Chef Omar Loney de Kokomo, a Brooklyn-based Caribbean restaurant, recommends planning your menu and shopping list in advance, preferably at least a week before Thanksgiving. This way, you can ensure you have everything you need and not have to scramble to find ingredients at the last minute, while paying premium prices for them.
“You can buy your non-perishables a few weeks in advance, but make sure you have a set list of everything you’ll need for the days leading up to the big day,” advises Loney.
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“A lot of time is spent cutting vegetables, so buying your produce already cut, diced, or shredded can definitely save time,” she says. erica barrettowner of SOCU Southern Kitchen & Oyster Bar.
So if you’re making a green bean casserole, try picking up frozen green beans, which are already washed and cut. Buying pre-cut sweet potatoes for pies or casseroles can also save you time and energy, because no one wants to fight potatoes on Thanksgiving morning.
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If you plan to cook a full traditional turkey for Thanksgiving, be sure to allot plenty of time beforehand to defrost and prepare it.
“Some turkeys can take up to six days to thaw. So be sure to do your research and pay attention to the instructions to ensure you have your turkey ready on time,” says Loney. “I recommend not doing it the day of, because there will be many other things.”
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Newsflash: Not everything has to be cooked on Thanksgiving.
“It will make life a lot easier if you make the desserts (brownies, cakes, pies) the night before, because they won’t go bad if they don’t sit out overnight,” Loney suggests.
Also, make freezer-safe meals your best friend.
“I’m not talking about TV dinners, but dishes that you can make ahead of time and will be fine in the freezer for a few days,” Loney continues. This includes, but is not limited to, cranberry sauce, gravy, pie crust, etc. “So all you have to do is thaw them the day before so they’re ready for Thanksgiving.”
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Why sit and wait for the brussels sprouts to cook on the stove when you can multitask to prepare multiple side dishes? You will save important minutes by investing in a pan with different sections.
“Using a multi-section pan allows you to cook multiple dishes at once instead of having to wait for one dish to finish cooking before starting the next,” says Barrett.
Plus, using a multi-section pan instead of multiple pans will save you some cleanup time after Thanksgiving dinner, so you can spend less time scrubbing the sink.
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When it comes to preparing a meal as big as Thanksgiving dinner, be sure to delegate.
“This day calls for hands-on work, so my recommendation is to tell any friends or family members who attend to bring a side dish or dessert, so it’s not just you cooking everything that will go on the table,” says Loney .
However, if you plan to host a Thanksgiving potluck, just be sure to give your guests a few weeks notice before dinner. This courtesy will allow them enough time to shop and prepare their dishes as well.
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Whether it’s stuffing, homemade cranberry sauce, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, or another delicious side dish for the stovetop, don’t forget to pop the lid on your pot or pan.
“Your food cooks faster when you have a lid on top that keeps the heat in,” he says. ebony austinAtlanta-based owner of Nouveau Bar & Grill.
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Try to reduce the surface area of your food, recommends Austin. Cutting vegetables or meat into smaller pieces will help everything cook faster.
“This is really important when you’re baking any type of dish,” says Austin. “For example, it’s faster to bake several cut-up chicken pieces than it is to bake a whole chicken.”
Another pro tip: “When cooking mashed potatoes, cut them into small pieces.” [cube-shaped] pieces before boiling, so the potatoes cook faster,” Barrett says.
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Instead of rummaging through the disorganized spice rack or bottles in your cabinet or pantry, opt for an all-purpose seasoning.
“Using an all-purpose seasoning will save you from having to sort through your seasonings to find the right one,” says Barrett.
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If you have a deep fryer big enough to fit your bird, use it well on T-Day.
“Using the deep fryer significantly reduces cooking time,” says Barrett. “Frying a turkey can take up to 45 minutes [depending on its size]instead of spending three to four hours cooking a turkey traditionally in the oven.”
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“Cooking at a higher temperature will definitely cook the meat faster,” Austin explains. “But be sure to use a food thermometer to ensure your meat is fully cooked and cooked to your liking.”
FYI: According to the USDA, a turkey must reach an internal temperature of 165°F, while beef, pork, and lamb must be cooked to at least 145°F for food safety.
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If you plan to serve a dish that calls for raw legumes, such as black beans, pinto beans, or garbanzo beans, be sure to soak them for at least four hours before preparing your dish. Or better yet, take the time to soak them overnight.
“Soaking [legumes] it makes them softer and reduces cooking time,” says Austin.
However, to save even more time, you can always buy these items canned.
Source: news.google.com