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Christmas

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Cooking for 14 - what can I pre cook day before?

27 replies

Remmy123 · 21/12/2025 07:43

I'm hosting for 14 I'm not he best cook I get really overwhelmed

any advice as to what I can pre cook / prepare Christmas Eve?

we have one oven (no air frier or anything else)

thanks

OP posts:
washingfrenzy · 21/12/2025 07:47

What meats are you cooking? They can be done the day before and carved.

Prepare all your veg ready to cook and that includes your potatoes. You could actually par-boil your potatoes today and freeze them.

Use disposable trays so they just go in the bin which is a big help for washing up.

Can you list what you are cooking?

ThreeB · 21/12/2025 07:48

I’m cooking my turkey on Xmas Eve. I’ll get it carved up and then gently reheat on Xmas Day in a tray of melted butter. The chefs at work gave me the idea and it’s been a game changer as it frees the oven for Xmas Day and means my roasties (parsnips and potatoes) get the high heat that they need

Remmy123 · 21/12/2025 08:00

Thanks I'm doing classic turkey basic dinner

I have a turkey crown - can I really do it the day before? That wouid be great

sprouts and pancetta?!
red cabbage (getting microwave)
roast potato's carrots parsnips
Yorkshire puddings
i wasn't planning other meats maybe I should get a side of gammon?! I could do this in my slow cooker

I'll get some disposable trays

thanks all 😊

OP posts:
Augustone · 21/12/2025 08:05

Ooh, what is the reheat in melted butter tip? I am the only one in our house who likes turkey so usually go with the majority and have beef but if I could cook maybe a turkey crown the day before….

bonus being I will be eating turkey leftovers for days!

gogomomo2 · 21/12/2025 08:10

Peel you veg and store in water overnight. Red cabbage can be cooked 2-3 days out and microwaved.

top tip is to write your timings down, turkey comes out 1 hour before serving time, wrap in foil and cover with an old clean towel. At this point have parboiled your potatoes so just heat up the oven tray with fat of choice then roast your potatoes and other veg. (40 minutes) then when that comes out in goes stuffing balls, pigs in blankets etc. make stuffing and lay table whilst potatoes are in. Sprouts are tasty microwaved until they still have a little bite, fry off the pancetta and add the sprouts to give a little char, season to taste then add lemon zest and lemon juice right at end. You can have the Brussels prepped the day before, I use a microwave steamer

Lennonjingles · 21/12/2025 08:14

You can make Yorkshire puddings day before fully cooked and just reheat them for 5 minutes. Roast potatoes par boil them day before and cover them and leave in fridge. Cook turkey early and leave to rest, it will stay cooking for a good while. Gravy can be made day before and reheated.

Westfacing · 21/12/2025 08:15

Remmy123 · 21/12/2025 08:00

Thanks I'm doing classic turkey basic dinner

I have a turkey crown - can I really do it the day before? That wouid be great

sprouts and pancetta?!
red cabbage (getting microwave)
roast potato's carrots parsnips
Yorkshire puddings
i wasn't planning other meats maybe I should get a side of gammon?! I could do this in my slow cooker

I'll get some disposable trays

thanks all 😊

Yes you can definitely cook a turkey crown the day before - I've done this in the past when needed. On Xmas morning you just slice and reheat. I remove the breast from the bone and slice across so get large medallions, rather than slices, and because the meat is cold it slices very easily!

Sandyoldshoes · 21/12/2025 08:18

You can make the gravy ahead of time- Jamie’s get ahead gravy. Par boil all veg and keep in cold water. If organised the actual day can be pretty much heating rather than cooking. Turkey can rest for ages so get that done and out early.

Ineffable23 · 21/12/2025 08:21

The way I would work this out:

Sounds like you only have one thing to do on the hob (sprouts).

Then what takes the least amount of time?

Presumably yorkies?

Then usually carrots and parsnips or pigs in blankets.

They will all need to go on while the turkey is resting. Remember that you can't open the oven to get anything out while yorkies are in, so don't put the carrots/parsnips etc in too early.

Roasties for 14 are probably going to have to be done while the turkey is cooking given you want to do yorkies etc. I would therefore probably wrap the roasting tin up in towels etc to insulate it and shove it back in the oven for a few minutes once the Yorkshires and everything else comes out.

Sit down and work out all the timings, then work it out on the clock backwards from when you want to dish up. Write it all down including what needs to go in at what times and therefore what time you need to start prepping that thing (i.e. if something needs to go in at half past you need to be getting it out the fridge at 25 past or whatever) and including time for meat to come up from fridge temperature before cooking where relevant.

RedToothBrush · 21/12/2025 08:35

Plan plan plan. If you get stressed this is such a godsend. Google spreadsheet is your friend. Write it down. This way you have a list of what you need to do so you won't forget the pigs in blankets (guilty as charged - a mortal sin).

Fridge and freezer space is your biggest issue. As is managing your prep time. Don't worry about time. If you are precious about time you intend to serve you add stress. Dinner is served when it's ready and that's good enough.

Prep as much as you can ahead. Use your freezer too if you can. Reheating is much much easier. (I have cauliflower cheese in the freezer already).

Part cook ahead of time where you can.

Par boil your potatoes - if they are dry they roast better than wet potatoes. Lots of people actually recommend doing this the day before precisely for this reason. It cuts your cooking time down loads.

Red cabbage is an easy precook win. It keeps well.

What veg can you cook in the same tray? This is really personal choice and depending on how you intend to flavour. But make your life easier. A tray of roasted root veg can be done ahead as it takes a long time to cook and then shoved in the oven to finish (carrots, parsnips, swede, sweet potato, onions work well for this - not green veg).

If your timings are slightly out, just keep stuff wrapped as it will stay warm (this is where part precooking/ reheating works well as you can juggle oven space a little better as it takes less time and you know everything is cooked).

Pan fry sprouts.

Steaming veg is also another option.

Oneearringlost · 21/12/2025 08:39

Roast potatoes the day before, so they're only gently golden. Then put into a very hot oven on Christmas day to finish and crisp up.
Same with pigs in blankets and stuffing.
Make gravy anytime before and freeze.
Peel vegetables the day before, keep in a pan in cold water in a cool place, doesn't have to be the 'fridge.
Work out timings!
As PPs have said, a lot of it is heating up on the day, but having timings worked out is essential to reduce stress at the last minute
Cover with foil/tea towels.
It doesn't have all to be perfect, but organisation and prep really helps. Get help in the kitchen; Best of luck!

Emmz1510 · 21/12/2025 15:08

All veg and potatos can be parboiled the day before.
Are you making your own yorkies? Because they can be cooked, bunged in the freezer and reheated on the day.
Yes you absolutely can do your meat the day before and the gravy warms it. I prefer mine cooked on the same day buts it’s doable.

Londonmummy66 · 21/12/2025 19:47

I would either buy yorkies from M&S (can keep in fridge) or make them the day before so they only need reheating for a few minutes. I'd also buy gravy as I'm lazy. Then parboil spuds and carrots/parsnips the day before. That means they can all go in the oven once the turkey is out and resting. Cabbage in the microwave just before you get the spuds etc out. Then when you take out the spuds and carrots - shove the yorkies in. Spuds and roots into serving dishes. Cabbage into serving dish. Finely shredded sprouts and pancetta on the hob for a quick stir fry and gravy in the microwave to warm. Put serving dishes on table, Yorkies out and in a dish, Sprouts into dish and gravy in boat. All on table and then carry the turkey in to carve at table.

Remember to call guests to table before the sprouts/gravy are cooked as the faffing etc will otherwise mean you are waiting in an empty dining room for 13 other people to turn up as and when they've finished their conversation (DF and DH I'm looking at you).

DOn't forget the chef's half bottle of champagne goes in the kitchen firdge the night before....

whatdoyourdoggoswant · 21/12/2025 20:23

RedToothBrush · 21/12/2025 08:35

Plan plan plan. If you get stressed this is such a godsend. Google spreadsheet is your friend. Write it down. This way you have a list of what you need to do so you won't forget the pigs in blankets (guilty as charged - a mortal sin).

Fridge and freezer space is your biggest issue. As is managing your prep time. Don't worry about time. If you are precious about time you intend to serve you add stress. Dinner is served when it's ready and that's good enough.

Prep as much as you can ahead. Use your freezer too if you can. Reheating is much much easier. (I have cauliflower cheese in the freezer already).

Part cook ahead of time where you can.

Par boil your potatoes - if they are dry they roast better than wet potatoes. Lots of people actually recommend doing this the day before precisely for this reason. It cuts your cooking time down loads.

Red cabbage is an easy precook win. It keeps well.

What veg can you cook in the same tray? This is really personal choice and depending on how you intend to flavour. But make your life easier. A tray of roasted root veg can be done ahead as it takes a long time to cook and then shoved in the oven to finish (carrots, parsnips, swede, sweet potato, onions work well for this - not green veg).

If your timings are slightly out, just keep stuff wrapped as it will stay warm (this is where part precooking/ reheating works well as you can juggle oven space a little better as it takes less time and you know everything is cooked).

Pan fry sprouts.

Steaming veg is also another option.

sorry to jump in but if you par boil your potatoes the day before, how do you store them? In the fridge? On a tray?

RedToothBrush · 21/12/2025 20:34

whatdoyourdoggoswant · 21/12/2025 20:23

sorry to jump in but if you par boil your potatoes the day before, how do you store them? In the fridge? On a tray?

In a bowl covered by a tea towel. The idea is to dry them out.

whatdoyourdoggoswant · 21/12/2025 20:41

RedToothBrush · 21/12/2025 20:34

In a bowl covered by a tea towel. The idea is to dry them out.

Thank you!

MrsLizzieDarcy · 21/12/2025 20:48

I make my stuffing and gravy the day before (Jamie Oliver) and then get all the veg peeled in pans. I then get up early and cook the meats first, then wrap in layers of foil and leave to rest so the oven is then hot enough to cook potatoes/parsnips etc. And yes to foil trays, there's nothing worse than scrubbing oven trays on Christmas day. It feels wasteful but it's one day a year Grin

Cooking for 15 this year.

Brendathebear · 21/12/2025 20:51

I cook for large numbers. I bought a classic 1970's hostess trolley off facebook marketplace.

Its amazing as I dont have to worry about timings.

Everything just goes into it when its cooked - when the last thing is ready, thats when I serve.

firstofallimadelight · 21/12/2025 20:54

We -
prep the turkey (season ready to cook)
prep/chop veg and potatoes
make the yorkies
we get our pigs in blankets and stuffing from the butcher so no prep needed, also buy premade deserts

Goinggreymammy · 21/12/2025 20:55

gogomomo2 · 21/12/2025 08:10

Peel you veg and store in water overnight. Red cabbage can be cooked 2-3 days out and microwaved.

top tip is to write your timings down, turkey comes out 1 hour before serving time, wrap in foil and cover with an old clean towel. At this point have parboiled your potatoes so just heat up the oven tray with fat of choice then roast your potatoes and other veg. (40 minutes) then when that comes out in goes stuffing balls, pigs in blankets etc. make stuffing and lay table whilst potatoes are in. Sprouts are tasty microwaved until they still have a little bite, fry off the pancetta and add the sprouts to give a little char, season to taste then add lemon zest and lemon juice right at end. You can have the Brussels prepped the day before, I use a microwave steamer

Brilliant advice. Thank you. I am going to do this. Your timings sound good.

Im doing cold starters, soup made day before and reheated in slow cooker and frozen partly cooked dinner rolls done in air fryer so oven free.

MrsCarson · 21/12/2025 21:00

I cook all the meat the day before, and slice up the turkey and Ham.
That gives me oven space for all the roasties, parsnips and other bits.

illsendansostotheworld · 21/12/2025 21:03

ThreeB · 21/12/2025 07:48

I’m cooking my turkey on Xmas Eve. I’ll get it carved up and then gently reheat on Xmas Day in a tray of melted butter. The chefs at work gave me the idea and it’s been a game changer as it frees the oven for Xmas Day and means my roasties (parsnips and potatoes) get the high heat that they need

This sound good - how much butter do you use?

Roystonv · 21/12/2025 21:43

Make bread, cranberry sauce and stuffing in advance. We have root veg mash, red cabbage and roast potatoes prepared too. On the day the only things I cook from scratch is the turkey, sprouts and peas, the rest are reheated when the turkey is resting. Have bought gravy but will titivate. Have to say I would never cook the turkey in advance.

Remmy123 · 22/12/2025 10:45

Ohh thanks all really amazing tips here!!

OP posts:
blobby10 · 22/12/2025 10:48

Top Tip - don't steam your red cabbage over your potatoes! Whilst the pink potatoes were a hit with the children they didn't look very appetising Grin