Oh, the massive Thanksgiving feast: Many dishes and numerous people; the turkey dirtying gigantic platters; pastry and basting brushes; glasses for water and for wines; an array of utensils,. As if planning and preparing the feast weren't enough, now begins the clean-up. No wonder we do this so seldom. It helps to plan the clean up process in advance too.
Prepare Your Kitchen
Have all your left-over/storage containers ready and on hand. Try food sealer bags too as they can store flat saving valuable refrigerator space. Having a variety of containers/bags at the ready, waiting to be filled, will speed cleanup. Make sure you have some that will fit the largest sized leftovers, some for liquids and so on. Think about what dishes will end up filling leftover containers so you buy the sizes you'll need.
Make room in your refrigerator and freezer. You don't want to have to keep stopping and rearranging the items.
Cook in Advance
Anything that you can cook in advance for later reheating is the best way to save time. That way, everything you used to prepare the food will have been cleaned and put away days before the actual event. Store prepared food in containers that can also be used for reheating and, if possible, serving. Examples of food that take to advance cooking are mashed potatoes and relishes. Relishes are actually better prepared in advance, as their flavors need time to develop.
Dishes like casseroles can be prepared in advance, as well. Stop just short of popping them in the oven. Line all casserole dishes with foil before you add food to them. That way, the foil takes the brunt of the mess.
Use Shortcuts
Shortcuts might cost more, but the expense could be worth it, depending on the complexity of your feast. Bread doughs that only need be placed into the oven, turkeys that go straight from freezer to oven, high-quality prepared appetizers--using these shortcuts cuts out several cooking steps along with the dishes they would have generated.
Use Disposable Containers
Consider using disposable plates, bowls and utensils. With the many colorful seasonal plates in stock you can find the perfect ones for your feast.
Don't overlook disposable pans, especially for the turkey. Cook extra stuffing in foil, rather than in a pan you'd have to clean. Put an oven liner in the bottom of your oven, and burner liners in your stove-top burner bowls to catch splashes.
Clean as You Go
You must clean as you go. Not only will you be cleaning when you are the least tired, but your kitchen will not become increasingly difficult to work in as dishes pile up.
Let your dishwasher do most of the work, if you have one, using it for the small, numerous dishes, leaving the few big ones for hand-washing. Run the dishwasher and empty it before dinner so the dinner dishes can go straight in.
Don't forget to keep the counters clean as you go as well. With counters clean and the dishwasher open, you can work quickly and have more time to spend enjoying the rest of the family and friends.
With these easy steps you too can enjoy the holiday and be thankful that the time spent in preparation ahead of time affords you the rest and leisure you will surely deserve at the end of the day.
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