Prepping Veg on Christmas Eve

[Sparkle275]

I usually prep the veg on Christmas Day, getting up early before the kids to sort it all out. I'm wanting to do it Christmas Eve this year so that I can avoid all the hassle on the big day. I'm wondering how do other people keep their veg fresh overnight? I worry that I'll wake up Christmas morning and the veg be spoiled. Will it be fine in pans of water?

Potatoes soaking in water (fully covered)
Carrots soaking in water (pref) or can be in air tight container
Sprouts, cauliflower, brocolli as carrots
Parsnips, onions, garlic - all in separate air tight containers (NO water)

Parsnips, butternut squash, onion can also be marinating in an airtight bag (olive oil, balsamic vinegar, thyme, salt, pepper) if useful - I usually steam roots for 15 minutes first (carrots, parsnips, squash) and toss carrots into juice of a clementine, then carrots, parsnips, squash, onions and garlic all into the marinade above and throw straight into the oven, but could only steam carrots (and for less time) before giving them their clementine bath and joining the rest if you wanted to.

Peas are only taken out of the freezer when turkey goes into oven to defrost.

I've never done red cabbage so can't say. And other veg would not be normal for us on Christmas day. (But I do roasted Mediterannean veggies that can be prepped, diced and marinated the day before, and just tossed from their ziploc bag into the oven for 20-30 minutes when needed).

Yes perfectly fine prepped and left in water overnight. I've done this for years and haven't killed anyone.

My other top tip is to write down a timeline, choose your sit down and then work backwards to when you have to start, starting with what time the oven has to go on and the times bits have to go in the oven/on the hob. Works a treat and makes a very calm Xmas day.

Merry Xmas

I prepped carrots and sprouts today

Last year I couldn't get a delivery slot close enough to Christmas and we were avoiding supermarkets, so our veg arrived a week before Christmas. I did some research on how to keep it all fresh and did things like storing the potatoes in the cold garage in a dark bag. The carrots and sprouts, I chopped then stored in sealed glass jars with cold water, and changed the water every couple of days. I was amazed in Christmas day - they were as fresh and crispy as new-bought veg. I roasted them with butter and salt and pepper, and they were delicious. So I've done the same thing this year, which then gives me more time on Christmas eve to prep potatoes and cook the meat.

I parboil my potatoes on Xmas eve, toss in oil, I store in the fridge in the tray they will go in the oven in.
Parboil the carrots and parsnips and glaze with honey. Store the same as potatoes.
Cook sweet potato and mash, put in an air tight container.
Shred the sprouts.
I use disposable metal trays (the only day of the year I do). Then I can just chuck them out afterwards , saves on the washing up

Yep I always do this, it's all fine in pans of water. I spend all Chr eve prepping and making sweet stuff too, I love it.

Just making a list of my Christmas Eve jobs. I think I’m going to peel the veg, leave in pans of water. I’m going to par boil my spuds ready for roasting and make the stuffing balls and pigs in blankets. My aim is just to have to turn things on and shove in the oven Christmas Day!

I peel and do the pre boil of the potatoes on Christmas Eve then just roast them Christmas day

Yes, we prep as a family on Christmas Eve. Spuds, parsnips etc peeled but I put in bags with a little water and then remove as much air as possible. Then the bags are stored in a pile, in the biggest mixing bowl I’ve got, in the fridge. I don’t bother with prepping the quick chop veggies like broccoli, but I do plan the pans and where they’ll cook. I have a timetable and use Alexa to set reminders on Christmas Day - stops me clock watching!!

I don’t do the parsnips or spuds they day before, they can discolour.

I do prepare all the rest on Christmas Eve and store in the fridge in plastic bags.

Also on Christmas Eve I lay the table, get out all tins and serving dishes and allocate to the food and hob rings and write out my timings.

Sorry for the stupid question but if you par boil the potatoes the night before, how do you store them? Need to try and give myself less work on the day this year.

I prep all the veg and put it into freezer bags in the fridge. It is all fine overnight.

@GertrudeBElion

Is it even Xmas Eve if there aren't pans of veg in cold water sitting on a pristine gleaming hob?

I rarely feel more smug than on Christmas Eve when the oven is all shiny and all the pots are sitting there full of veg and prepped veg.

I had the steamer employed too one year...damp teatowels over the veg all ready in the baskets!

Can I just say thank you to all of you. You've made Christmas day so much easier for me with the advice I've read. 8 hope you all get everything you want for Christmas x

I too would like to know about managing the parboiled potatoes. Do you just change the water for cold?

2 Dds and I have a cooking afternoon whilst listening to Xmas music on Christmas Eve. We prep all the veg and potatoes, and make sausage rolls and a Xmas chocolate log. We have a lovely time.
I’m going to follow Mary Berry’s prepare ahead veg platter this year!

I don't have place in the fridge so I prep veg and keep in cold water in Tupperwares in the garage

Another Christmas eve prepper here.
Spuds peeled and cut and into pans of water with s splash of milk in to keep them white. (Tip from mil)
Veg peeled and cut and into fridge.
Stuffing prepped ready for oven.
Trifle made and usually gets put in garage as no room in fridge but we now have an american style fridge i wont need to.