If you’re tasked with cooking the big Christmas dinner, you know how overwhelming it can feel to juggle the turkey, roast potatoes, stuffing, and all those trimmings. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with some clever cooking hacks that will help make your Christmas cooking a breeze.
1. Plan Ahead and Batch Cook
Preparation is key to keeping Christmas Day stress-free. Start planning your menu early and note down any items you can make ahead. Foods like gravy, cranberry sauce, and stuffing can be prepared in advance and frozen. If you’re doing a classic roast, par-boil your potatoes and store them in the fridge the night before to save time on Christmas Day.
2. Use Pre-chopped Vegetables
Yes, we all love fresh ingredients, but there’s no shame in making things easier on yourself. Opt for pre-chopped vegetables to save time. Most supermarkets sell ready-to-roast veg trays, which you can pop straight into the oven. It cuts down on peeling, chopping, and leaves you more time to enjoy the festivities.
3. Keep Your Turkey Moist with Butter and Bacon
If you’ve ever had a dry turkey, you’ll know it’s the one thing you don’t want to happen. A simple hack to keep your turkey moist is to slather it with a generous amount of butter under the skin before roasting. For extra flavour and protection, cover the breast with strips of bacon. Not only will this add flavour, but it will also help keep the meat juicy.
4. Slow Cooker Stuffing
Free up your oven space by using your slow cooker for stuffing. Mix your ingredients as usual and let the slow cooker handle the work. This also means you can make it hours in advance and keep it warm without taking up precious space in your oven. The result? Perfectly moist stuffing without any oven juggling.
5. Pre-make Yorkshire Pudding Batter
Nothing says Christmas in Britain like a crisp Yorkshire pudding. Prepare your Yorkshire pudding batter the night before and store it in the fridge. The resting time actually improves the texture and flavour, ensuring they puff up perfectly on Christmas Day.
6. Cheat with Frozen Pastry
Making your own pastry from scratch is rewarding, but on Christmas, it might be the last thing you want to do. Save yourself the trouble by using high-quality shop-bought frozen pastry. Whether it’s for mince pies or a festive tart, it’ll taste delicious and no one needs to know it wasn’t homemade.
7. DIY Gravy Upgrade
If you don’t have the time to make gravy from scratch, you can easily upgrade shop-bought gravy with a few additions. Add some pan drippings from your roast, a splash of wine, or a dash of Worcestershire sauce to enhance the flavour. A bit of butter whisked in at the end will also give it a lovely glossy finish.
8. Use a Meat Thermometer
Nothing is worse than undercooked or overcooked meat, especially on Christmas Day. A meat thermometer takes the guesswork out of cooking your turkey, ham, or roast. Simply check the temperature to ensure it’s perfectly cooked without drying out. For turkey, aim for 75°C in the thickest part of the meat.
9. Warm Your Plates
One often overlooked but crucial tip is to warm your plates before serving. Cold plates can cool your meal down in seconds. Simply pop them in a low oven for a few minutes before serving the feast to keep everything nice and hot.
10. Delegate Tasks
Christmas cooking doesn’t need to be a one-person show. Delegate smaller tasks like setting the table, pouring drinks, or even stirring the gravy. This way, you can focus on the main dishes while still making everyone feel involved.
Final Thoughts
Christmas is a time for joy, not stress. With a bit of preparation and these handy hacks, you can save yourself time and effort in the kitchen and spend more time with your loved ones. After all, the true magic of Christmas isn’t in the food, but in the moments shared around the table.
Enjoy your festive cooking and have a Merry Christmas!