How to Cook a Hassle-Free Christmas Dinner
For most of us, Christmas dinner is the biggest, most challenging meal we will cook all year.
There’s no need to dread the festive lunch, though, and you don’t have to spend hours cooped up in the kitchen on Christmas morning, either. Read on to discover our fool-proof tips for a delicious, stress-free Christmas lunch.
Measure up the oven
Whether your family favours turkey, goose, duck, or even joints of roast beef, there’s no doubt that the meat is the centrepiece of any festive dinner table. That’s why it can be a such a disaster if crowning glory of your meal doesn’t fit into the oven on Christmas morning.
Jane Rylands, from kitchen appliance manufacturer Stoves, agrees. “The worst-case scenario is realising too late that your turkey is simply much too big,” she says. “So, before you go shopping, check your appliance manual for your oven’s actual and usable dimensions. For your roast to cook efficiently, you’ll want to leave at least an inch of space between the meat and the interior walls of the oven, so be sure to buy a joint of meat that will fit.”
Prep what you can ahead of time
Although you can’t cook your turkey three days in advance, many of the trimmings can still be prepared before Christmas day, including the veggies and the roast potatoes. Simply chop and par-boil the veg the day before, before draining and storing in the fridge. When the dinner is nearly ready, boil them again for a few more minutes before serving.
For crunchy, fluffy homemade roasties without the hassle, just peel, prep and par-boil the potatoes, before coating them in cooking fat. These can then be covered and left in the fridge overnight, meaning all you need to do on the big day is pop them in a hot oven for an hour. If you’re really organised, you could even make them up to three months in advance.
Serve ready-made or chilled starters and desserts
To really streamline the cooking process, stock up on ready-made starters and desserts that you can serve cold. A simple appetiser, like smoked salmon and cream cheese parcels, can be made in advance and then chilled, so all you need to do Christmas day is plate them up with a bit of salad for a simple but impressive starter.
With a bit of planning, and some clever culinary shortcuts, Christmas dinner doesn’t have to be a hassle. By taking these fool-proof tips on board, you can look forward to spending less time in the kitchen and more time celebrating with your family.
