Christmas Dinner

[bippityboppity87]

I know this is way too early to think about this, but does anyone have any advice on how to cook Christmas dinner for 6+ people as smoothly and quickly as possible? Basically I'm looking for hacks

We have a tiny kitchen so space is tight, including the oven. We also have an air fryer, so will be making use of that

Last year I cooked everything on the day, but it was quite stressful, then trying to remember different timings/temp for various foods, I just feel like it could go a bit more smoothly

My idea was to cook everything the night before. So the roast potatoes, veg, pigs and blankets etc and store in the fridge ( re-heat on the day) And cook the Turkey on Christmas Day

I'm wondering if this would be easier? What does everyone else do?

I don’t think it would taste as good. But, if you think it would make things easier and people are usually happy if everyone is happy and not stressed, so if you think it would make things better go for it!

I think it's because I don't want to spend half my day cooking and remembering to take things in/out the oven. Plus the added entertaining on top. But yes, that has crossed my mind

Par boil then roast the potatoes for about half an hour the day before then finish them off in the oven when you take the turkey out to rest on the day. Prepare all the veg so all it needs is boiling/steaming/stir frying on the day. Everything can be cooked beforehand and the taste won't be compromised.

Cook pigs in blankets/stuffing and turkey the day before. Also prep veg the day before and store in water in the fridge.
Reheat pigs in blankets on a low temp in the air fryer - or if you have a slow cooker pop them in there in foil for an hour or so on a low heat. Reheat turkey in the oven on a low ish heat covered in gravy so it doesn’t dry out.

How many people are you cooking for, your post says 6+?

If you are cooking for 6 to 8 you could get a stuffed turkey crown about two kilos, to feed them rather than a whole bird. The crown would need a shorter cooking time, so you could be more flexible with your cooking timetable.

You could do a lot of your preparation the day before, sprouts peeled, potatoes par boiled. Keep things simple, buy ready made pigs in blankets, jar of cranberry sauce. You could make your gravy the day before or buy ready made.

Make yourself a time table for the cooking by working backwards from the time you want to serve the meal. Get the Christmas edition of a magazine such as Good Housekeeping, that will include a timetable and tips for cooking Christmas dinner.

Cheat!

Make a list of what you want to serve then see which ones you can use shop bought eg I buy frozen cauliflower cheese for ease.

Basic timings are - turkey 45 mins a kg at 180 degrees (though my oven is unpredictable at best!) time it so it come out of the oven 45 mins before serving time, wrap in foil and cover with a tea towel

Peel spuds chop and submerge in water (can be done day before)
If having red cabbage do slow cooked for ease or cook day before.
Make stuffing
Prep veg
Make cranberry sauce
Make pigs in blankets if not using shop bought.

Parboil potatoes for 5 mins 1 5 mins before serving time, heat oil in pan for roast potatoes added carrots then if you are roasting, add potatoes to pan and put in oven.
If cooking swede put it on, takes ages. Make gravy if making from scratch. 45 mins out take meat out, put parsnips, sweet potatoes if having in. Put cauliflower cheese in
30 mins out put stuffing in
15 mins out put pigs in blankets (assuming little ones) steam veg, or boil.

Carve meat,
Dish up remainder.

Just work in reverse from serving time basically. It's easy with a double oven, with a single one utilise the microwave and air fryer more eg I steam veg in the microwave, reheat red cabbage etc

I wrote it down the first couple of times

We cook the gammon the day before, we also prep all veg and do the yorkies the day before. It’s helped big time.

Write up a plan of what needs to cook and when/what dish it will go in.
Then Blu-tac it to a cupboard door

Eg

8pm Christmas Eve - start boiling sprouts
Christmas Day
10am turkey in oven
12 noon - boil potatoes for ten mins
Turn oven temp up
12.10 - transfer potatoes to oven to roast
12.10 - heat oil for Yorkshire puddings

12.20 - take out turkey & chuck Yorkshire puddings in oven
12.30 - steam carrots/other veg

With the times all worked backwards from when you want to eat.
You then won't miss anything out/nothing will be under/overcooked.

We don't bother with a starter anymore as we'd end up with no space for dessert!

This also means that my DH and I can be in the kitchen together and work to the schedule without him going hung ho and braising a ton of (unwanted) red cabbage- if it’s not on the plan, it ain’t happening.
It takes the stress out of it for us- and we use Alexa for multiple timers so we can flit in and out so we’re not stuck in the kitchen.

Hope it goes well!