How to prep for a relaxed Christmas

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Here’s our guide to making Christmas dinner as easy as possible, covering

• 4 things to plan ahead for Christmas dinner
• Important dates for turkey prep
• 5 things to prep early
• Making it easier for Christmas day
• Final to-dos on Christmas Day

4 things to plan ahead for Christmas dinner

1. Plan your menu

Start by deciding who’s coming to dinner and check if anyone has any special dietary needs. Then think about how much food you’ll need and how much food was eaten last Christmas. Think about whether you’d like a full turkey, stuffed turkey or a smaller turkey crown.

Use our Christmas dinner planner to help you figure out how much food you need.

2. Clear out your fridge and cupboards

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, try using up any food you already have. This frees up space in your fridge, freezer and cupboards, and helps cut down on food waste.

This would be a good time to give your fridge, freezer and cupboards a good clean with warm soapy water.

If you’re cooking a fresh turkey, store it on the bottom shelf so drips won’t land on ready-to-eat food as this could spread germs leaving these foods unsafe to eat.

Closer to Christmas day, store hardier items like vegetables and drinks (not milk or juice) in a cool spot outside the fridge to make more room.

3. Check your cupboards

Before doing your big Christmas food shop, check your cupboards for items like spices, flour, sugar, or stock cubes. Buying only what you need will save you money and keep your kitchen organised.

And if you want to spread the cost of your Christmas shop over December you could buy non-perishable items you need in the weeks running up to the big day.

4. Save stale bread for breadcrumbs

A good way to use up stale bread is to make breadcrumbs for stuffing or breading. Let it dry out, then grind it up in a food processor or use a grater on frozen slices. You can store these breadcrumbs in the freezer for months, or in the fridge for up to a week.

Important dates for turkey prep

• 3 December: Order your fresh Christmas turkey now. Use our turkey size guide to decide what size turkey you need to order.
• 22 December: Start defrosting your frozen turkey. A good rule is to let it defrost in the fridge for 24 hours per 4–5 pounds, so a 15-pound turkey could take up to 3 days to thaw.
• 23 December: Pick up your fresh turkey. Keep the turkey on the bottom shelf of your fridge to prevent any juices from dripping on to other foods.

5 things to prep early

1. Make the gravy and freeze it

You can make gravy ahead of time and freeze it, then just defrost it in the fridge on Christmas Eve. If you make it closer to the day, it will last in the fridge for about 3 days.

2. Par-boil and freeze your potatoes

For crispy roast potatoes, boil them until they’re just starting to get soft, then let them cool. Freeze them on a tray first to keep them from sticking together, then transfer them to a freezer bag. Thaw in the fridge on Christmas Eve so they’re ready to roast.

3. Make the stuffing and freeze it

Cooking stuffing separately keeps the turkey from drying out. You can make and freeze the stuffing ahead of time to save time on Christmas day.

4. Cook the ham early

If you’re serving ham, get a head start by boiling it on Christmas Eve. On Christmas, you just need to glaze and roast it for 30 minutes when the turkey is resting.

5. Prep veggies on Christmas eve

The night before, ask for help to peel and chop veggies like carrots, parsnips, and Brussels sprouts. Store the cut veggies in cold water on the counter to keep them fresh for Christmas day.

Decide how long you need to cook the turkey

To avoid a last-minute panic, use our Turkey Cooking Time Calculator to find out how long you need to cook the turkey and what time you need to put it in the oven.

Making it easier for Christmas day

Make it a team effort

Ask for help to prepare on Christmas day, especially if you are making a big meal. Assign simple kitchen tasks to family members based on age and skill so everyone can pitch in. 

Use ready-made foods if needed

Not everything must be homemade. Shops have lots of pre-made options for sides, appetisers and even main dishes. These can save time and reduce stress. Just follow the heating instructions on the packaging and make sure the food is heated through. (Keep in mind, you should not reheat leftovers from store-bought pre-cooked foods.)

Final to-dos on Christmas Day

If you have done all this prep, Christmas day should be easy. All that’s left to do is:

1. Put the turkey in the oven and let it cook.
2. Set the table and get everyone ready to eat.
3. Glaze the ham and pop it in the oven once the turkey is done.
4. Cook the prepped vegetables and reheat the gravy.

With all these steps, you will be ready to enjoy a relaxed, fun Christmas dinner with less time spent in the kitchen and more time celebrating.