5 Best Tips on Getting Your Kitchen Ready for Christmas

We all know that the holiday period is a busy time of year. From cleaning and storing to prepping and cooking, you can easily feel overwhelmed by the never-ending chores of hosting a festive party. Regardless of how you and your family will celebrate the holiday, I’m sure you’ll spend a lot of time in the kitchen.

I know it’s already early December, but it’s never too late to start thinking of ways to get your kitchen space ready for Christmas. Having a kitchen ready for the big event can also help you free up some time to spend with family and friends. So, follow these quick tips to get your kitchen ready for Christmas dinner.

Clean clutter and clear counters

If there is a time of year when you need every inch of your kitchen space, then Christmas is the one. From making delicious gingerbread houses to roasting veggies and turkey, you’ll need an organized and clutter-free space to work in. When you’re preparing for Christmas dinner, clear off countertop space as much as possible. Toss out old papers, old bills, put away fruit bowls and coffee machines for extra room to prepare food.

Also, think about the layout of your kitchen. Is it as practical and efficient as it should be? There’re going to be lots of people in your kitchen, so make sure there’s enough space for everyone to walk around and sit.

It can be frustrating for people to move around in a tightly packed kitchen, and you wouldn’t want guests to feel uncomfortable at your Christmas dinner, right? Make sure to think about the kitchen’s layout and make changes if needed. For instance, you can designate one place for cups, snacks, and drinks, while another place can be for desserts.

Make room in the fridge

If you’re hosting Christmas dinner at home, aside from food, table settings, and gifts, the fridge is another big part of the party that you’ll need to prepare in advance. Your fridge will definitely carry a huge amount of food pre-Christmas (for ingredients), and post-Christmas (for leftovers). You don’t want to scrabble through and become frustrated over a messy fridge. That’s why it’s time for you to prevent the mess and clean it out.

Make sure to wipe off the shelves and drawers, disinfect handles and clean the compartments. Also, tossing out old and expired food items or moving frozen foods to the freezer can help free up much space for other ingredients. You can use hot water to remove stubborn stains and use baking soda to eliminate odor coming from the fridge.

Wipe out the microwave

Don’t miss out on your microwave when prepping your kitchen for Christmas dinner. With lots of guests in your kitchen at once, the microwave is going to be your life savior! While all the food is being cooked in the oven, your microwave can provide extra space to warm up food and drinks for all the guests.

Remember to prepare the microwave in advance by wiping down the inside to ensure the rotating plate is functioning properly. If you’re planning to replace your old microwave with a new one, check out this microwave oven buying guide to help you find the best one!

Take inventory and stock the pantry

Running out of food is probably the last thing you want to happen. So, there’s only one solution to that: prepare and stock up your pantry. Plan out your meals for the party, then make a list of all the ingredients you’ll need for making a special holiday dinner. Check your pantry for missing ingredients and be sure to have it all stocked up before the big day.

Pro Tip:

List all the ingredients you'll need, then shop for a few items each week. This will help you save more time and effort, while also get better control over your Christmas preparation. Make sure to check in with your guests and see if they have any allergies or food restrictions.

Prep the oven

From dozens of cookies to a delicious roast, your oven will have to work hard during the Holidays. Do you know that the burnt food deposits sitting in your oven not only create hygiene problems but also worsen the quality of your food? That said, it’s important for you to make sure that your oven is in its best shape in order to be prepared for the holiday’s dinner.

Give your oven a thorough clean by wiping it with a damp cloth. If there’re tough grease stains and burnt food deposits, sprinkle some baking soda on the bottom of the oven, then use a spray bottle to wet baking soda with vinegar. Let the mixture sit for a while, then use a sponge to wipe away any residue and your oven is ready to go! If your oven has a "cleaning" setting, turn it on and let it run through a cycle.

Conclusion

The most wonderful time of the year can also be the most stressful, especially if you’re hosting Christmas dinner on a big day. However, do remember that Christmas is about spending quality time with your friends and family. I hope this article can help you deal with the “holiday stress” and free up some time for you to have the best time with your loved ones.

Thanks again to "All Things Christmas" for these wonderful ideas!