December is almost upon us, and that means the festive season is too. Although Christmas is meant to be a joyous time – a chance to relax and unwind with friends and family – it can often be a stressful period, particularly if you’re hosting. With a queue of hungry guests expecting a mouthwatering meal, the pressure to deliver on Christmas day can make it hard to savour the moment and actually enjoy the food you’ve prepared.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. There’s a lot you can do in advance of the big day to make life easier, and we’ve put together a list of five Christmas cooking hacks that can do exactly that. From pre-planning your cooking schedule to investing in some extra appliances, here are five top tips to make this Christmas the least stressful (and most enjoyable) yet.
Make a plan before the big day
One of the toughest things about hosting at Christmas is juggling the various ingredients that go into a typical festive feast… without burning or undercooking a single one. With so many different ingredients to take care of, nailing down the correct cooking times and putting together a plan beforehand will make life much easier.
Ideally, once you know how long everything will take to cook, you should be able to time it so that your meat, veg, stuffing and yorkshire pudding all finish cooking at the same time.
Meal prep as much as you can ahead of time
Cooking every single dish on the day is a tall order, so why not cook some of them in advance of the big day and freeze them? Roast potatoes are a perfect example; they can be boiled ahead of time and placed in the freezer, meaning all you have to do on the day is season them and stick them in the oven.
It’s not just ingredients and dishes that can be prepped in advance and stored in the freezer – you can freeze condiments too. Everything from bread and cranberry sauces to gravy can be kept in the freezer and simply warmed through on Christmas morning, saving space in your fridge for other ingredients.
Save time and hassle with an air fryer
Unless you’re fortunate enough to have a spacious double oven at your disposal, cooking everything simultaneously can be nigh-on impossible. And if you have to stagger cooking times, you can easily end up with some ingredients going cold. Not good.
The easiest way to overcome this issue is with a portable cooking appliance, like an air fryer or a compact oven. Air fryer Christmas dinners are becoming more and more popular with each passing year, and it’s easy to see why. Not only can air fryers reduce your energy bills, they can cook the likes of roast potatoes to absolute perfection. Air fryer roasts have a delightfully crisp texture and, because no oil is needed to cook them, they’re healthier too.
At Christmas time, they can be used alongside your oven to help you cook multiple dishes simultaneously, saving valuable time and making your day a whole lot less stressful. You might want to get your hands on a warming drawer, too. If you mis-time things and end up cooking some ingredients quicker than others, these handy appliances can keep everything warm until the whole meal is ready to serve.
Don’t be afraid to use your microwave
The microwave has to be the most popular time-saving appliance, and it has its place on Christmas day too. Yes, we know – there’s still a certain stigma associated with microwave meals.
But the reality is that microwave ovens can still come in handy at Christmas, and they’re surprisingly capable. Some vegetables (like sprouts) can be cooked in a microwave with satisfying results, and even steamed puddings (like Christmas pudding) can be cooked convincingly in the microwave too.
If you want an even more versatile microwave, why not invest in a combi model? With built-in grilling and cooking functions, these impressive appliances can make Christmas day even easier.
Keep guests entertained with a wine cooler
Want to keep your guests entertained and keep the conversation flowing? Of course you do. Beverage coolers and wine fridges are a great way to do exactly that, ensuring your guests always have a glass of their favourite drink to hand. After all, Christmas drinks are (almost) as important as the food itself!
Find time-saving appliances right here at Cookology
From stylish wine chillers through to versatile combi microwaves, table top ovens and air fryers, we’ve got everything you need to upgrade your kitchen in readiness for Christmas here at Cookology. Get a head start on the big day and explore our range of quality kitchen appliances for yourself.
