Timesaving Thanksgiving Day Tips

Are you hosting a large Thanksgiving Day feast for your family and friends? Are you wondering how you're going to serve the perfect meal? Are you looking for timesaving tips and suggestions? Make Thanksgiving a relaxing day for all by planning and preparing ahead of time. There are many timesaving tips that will help lessen the workload on Thanksgiving.

You deserve a peaceful holiday just like everyone else. The following timesaving tips will help you begin preparing your Thanksgiving meal in advance so you aren't overstressed or overworked. These timesaving tips will enable you to begin preparations that will make it easier to have it all ready when guests arrive.

Advanced Measuring

There are some dishes you absolutely can't make in advance, but there are some you can partially prepare. This is one of the best timesaving tips. If possible, mix together dry ingredients in recipes you can't fully make in advance, cover the containers, and complete the recipes Thanksgiving morning. This will save you a considerable amount of time, and your foods will be freshly prepared before your guests arrive.

Advanced Cooking

Don't worry about foods not being fresh when prepared in advance. Foods you can make it advance should be made the day before Thanksgiving. You'll save a great deal of time, and the food will be just as good if not better than if it were made on Thanksgiving Day.

Mashed potatoes are difficult to keep warm, and what better way to keep them warm than by heating them in a slow cooker? Make the mashed potatoes the night before, and on Thanksgiving morning, put them in your slow cooker. Heat them on low, and after they have sufficiently heated, stir them around the outer edge to help prevent burning and sticking.

Green bean casserole can be assembled the day before Thanksgiving. Assemble the recipe as usual, but wait to top it with French-fried onions until right before it goes into the oven. Bake it right before guests arrive, and it will taste freshly made and absolutely delicious.

Assemble a relish tray the day before Thanksgiving. Cut up raw vegetables, prepare the dip, and store everything in tightly sealed containers. Remove veggies from the fridge shortly before guests arrive, and arrange them on a relish tray or platter. Bring out the dip right before serving.

If stuffing is baked outside the bird, it can also be assembled and partially baked the day before Thanksgiving. Bake your favorite stuffing until it's done but not yet brown. Pop it into the oven shortly before dinner to thoroughly heat it, and place it under the broiler for a couple of minutes to lightly brown the top.

Timesaving Turkey Tips

This is by far one of the most helpful timesaving tips for anyone hosting a Thanksgiving Day gathering. If you're having your Thanksgiving festivities at noon, and you don't want to begin baking the turkey before the crack of dawn, start it the night before. Slow baking a turkey makes it moist, tender, and absolutely delicious.

About an hour before going to bed, prepare a 20 -25 pound self-basting turkey as directed. Stuff it if desired, and cover it with aluminum foil. Bake it for one hour at 350 degrees, and then turn the temperature down to 250 degrees. You will awaken in the morning to the wonderful aroma of Thanksgiving Day.

Remove the foil, and turn the temperature back up to 350 degrees until the turkey begins to develop golden brown skin. Turn down the oven to keep the turkey safely heated until ready to serve, or carve it early and reheat it in a covered pan. Slow-baked turkey will be the best turkey you and your guests have ever experienced!