15 Kitchen Tips for the Holidays

Thanksgiving through New Year’s is a holiday marathon traditionally marked by extra cooking and baking. Is your kitchen ready? Whether you’re planning to host dinners at your home, prepare dishes for a potluck, or bake cookies to hand out to friends and neighbors, you need a clean, spacious, well-equipped kitchen for the job. Here are 15 tips to get your kitchen holiday-ready!

Don’t wait until after the holidays for a kitchen renovation—enjoy hosting family gatherings like never before in your newly remodeled kitchen! Contact Jack Rosen Custom Kitchens for more information.

1. Throw out expired food. To make room for all the specialty holiday ingredients you’ll be buying, clean out the pantry, refrigerator, and freezer of anything that has gone stale, become freezer burned, or expired.
2. Clear space on the counters. Before any baking can begin, you’ll need to clear the clutter from the counters. Relocate mail, bills, newspapers, and even decorative items until after the holidays if you’re short on counter space.
3. Find and clean seldom-used cookware. ‘Tis the season for using your extra-large Dutch oven, specialty casserole dishes, and turkey roaster. Make sure you locate and clean your cookware before it’s time to get cooking.
4. Prepare your dishes, serveware, linens, and knives. Planning to serve holiday meals on your grandmother’s china? Want to use your fancy linen napkins and genuine silverware? Now’s the time to get these items prepared.
5. Invest in dry good storage containers. Store your flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, and other dry goods in sturdy canisters with airtight lids. These ingredients will last longer and make less of a mess in your pantry.
6. Organize leftover containers. You’re bound to have plenty of leftovers, so make sure all your food storage containers have lids. Throw out any that don’t have a match.
7. Deep-clean your kitchen. When was the last time you thoroughly cleaned your appliances? Avoid embarrassment and ensure the best performance by cleaning the fridge, freezer, microwave, oven, and dishwasher inside and out.
8. Stock up on the essentials. Avoid an inconvenient trip to the store by making sure you have aluminum foil, plastic wrap, dish soap, dishwasher detergent, garbage bags, and paper products in stock.
9. Devise a meal plan and cooking schedule. Don’t leave a single meal up to chance on the biggest holidays of the year. Plan what you’ll make and determine what you can prepare in advance, such as baking pies, constructing casseroles, and chopping vegetables. This way, dinner time will go more smoothly.
10. Assess your spice rack. Certain spices make a comeback every holiday season, including cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice. Check the expiration dates on your existing spices and replace anything that has gone bad.
11. Consider additional seating options. Add barstools, install the dining room table leaf, or break out a card table and chairs to make sure everyone has a place to sit.
12. Childproof the kitchen. If young kids are visiting, make sure all dangerous items are stored out of reach. Install temporary child-safety latches on your cabinets, if possible, or set up a baby gate to keep toddlers from wandering into the kitchen while you cook.
13. Plug in nightlights. Being a good host means considering your guests’ needs, which may include a trip to the kitchen for a midnight snack! Nightlights throughout the hallways and kitchen help your guests navigate an unfamiliar space safely.
14. Add festive touches. A little red and green around the kitchen helps you and your guests get into the holiday spirit. Festive towels, spoon rests, garlands, and wreaths should fit the bill.
15. Consider a kitchen remodel in time for the holidays. Impress your guests and help your kitchen meet its full potential during peak cooking and baking season with a well-timed renovation. The kitchen designers and remodelers at Jack Rosen can make small, custom upgrades or completely revamp the space. No matter what you have in mind, we can make your dream kitchen a reality!

To get your kitchen renovation started, please call 301-363-4064 or contact us online today. We have served the MD, DC, and VA areas for over 30 years.