It’s that time of year again, the leaves are falling, the turkey is stuffed, pies are baking, and now the whole extended family is coming over for dinner. Yikes! The holidays are stressful enough, but when you’re hosting Thanksgiving dinner at your home it can be even more stressful.There’s a lot to juggle when hosting a Thanksgiving dinner. You’ve got to get the house in order, make sure there’s enough food for everyone, and then somehow masterfully cook all these different recipes and foods in perfect sequence so that they are all hot and ready at the same time!
Of course, being stressed doesn’t always make for being the best host or spending the right quality time with your family and friends. If you’re one of those people who gets easily flustered when hosting a large dinner, then try some of these Thanksgiving hacks for a stress-free holiday!
1. Maximize Fridge Space
Similar to the stovetop, oven, and even counter space, the fridge is prime real estate when hosting a large dinner like Thanksgiving. There’s only so much room for all these foods and dishes, plus you’ve got to store all of your other day-to-day necessities in there! To help free up some fridge space, try using a cooler for the day. Move items that you’re not using like condiments, juice, beers, etc, into a cooler. This will free up some much needed fridge space, get them out of the way, but also give you peace of mind that they’re staying nice and cool.
You could also use it as a space to keep dishes warm because it is insulated. If this is the case, be sure to line the cooler with aluminum foil, add folded towels for the extra moisture, and then fill it with hot dishes as needed. Of course, don’t melt the cooler by putting anything too hot in there! You can also use a thermos or insulated carafe to keep foods like gravy warm before dinner is ready to be served. This will free up space on the stove, and allow you to make it whenever it’s convenient for you instead of trying to time it perfectly with everything else.