Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving

17 Genius Cooking Hacks for a Stress-Free Thanksgiving

Posted by Brent Furdyk. Last updated on October 9, 2019

Gravy too lumpy? Too many potatoes to peel? Not enough stove-top space? We've got clever hacks and tricks to solve all those common Thanksgiving dilemmas to help you enjoy a stress-free holiday dinner.

  • Not Sure How to Cook Everything in Time?
     
    1 of 17

    Not Sure How to Cook Everything in Time?

    <p> <strong>Hack:</strong> Break Out the Instant Pot </p> <p> If you're searching for a hands-free way to prep your Thanksgiving meal this year, look no further than these scrumptious Instant Pot dishes that will leave your guests satisfied. Ensure your most time-consuming dish is your easiest by opting for the one-pot version. </p> <p> Get the recipes for <strong><a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/thanksgiving/photos/instant-pot-recipes-for-thanksgiving/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">15 Instant Pot Dishes Your Thanksgiving Menu Needs</a></strong> </p>
  • No Roasting Rack? No Problem!
     
    2 of 17

    No Roasting Rack? No Problem!

    <p> <strong>Hack:</strong> Create a Bed of Veggies </p> <p> If you find yourself with a <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/thanksgiving/photos/best-thanksgiving-turkey-recipes/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">turkey</a> to roast and no rack, chop up onions, celery and carrots into large chunks. Not only will they elevate the bird and serve as a makeshift roasting rack, they’ll also add extra flavour to the drippings from which you’ll make the <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/holidays/photos/best-turkey-gravy-recipes/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">gravy</a>. Another way to circumvent the problem: tear off a sheet of aluminum foil and roll it up so it resembles a long tube, and form this into a spiral to create a DIY roasting rack. </p>
  • Mashed Potatoes Not Fluffy Enough?
     
    3 of 17

    Mashed Potatoes Not Fluffy Enough?

    <p><strong>Hack:</strong> Add Baking Powder</p> <p>If those mashed potatoes aren’t coming out as light and fluffy as you’d hoped, add a pinch of baking powder to the spuds — it reacts with the heat of the potatoes to form tiny air pockets that will add that extra-special fluffiness. To further kick mashed potatoes up to the next level, try adding ingredients such as bacon or caramelized onions for an extra jolt of flavour.</p> <p> Find more brilliant <strong><a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/entertaining/blog/perfect-mashed-potato-tips/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Cooking Tips to Make Perfect Mashed Potatoes Every Time</a></strong> </p>
  • Short on Oven Space?
     
    4 of 17

    Short on Oven Space?

    <p><strong>Hack</strong>: Slow-Roast the Turkey Overnight</p> <p>In order to free up time, get the turkey into the oven the day before Thanksgiving and slow-roast it while you sleep. In fact, you can start roasting as far ahead as 48 hours (depending on size), at a low temp of 170F°. There’s less than 15 minutes of labour involved in the entire process, promising a tender, juicy bird at the finish line. </p> <p> Get the recipes for <strong><a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/thanksgiving/photos/make-ahead-thanksgiving-recipes/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">30 Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Dishes, From Turkey to Stuffing</a></strong> </p>
  • Not Sure How Much Stuffing to Make?
     
    5 of 17

    Not Sure How Much Stuffing to Make?

    <p><strong>Hack:</strong> Bake Stuffing in Muffin Tins</p> <p> Nobody wants to run out of stuffing during Thanksgiving dinner, and a clever way to ensure there’s enough for everyone is to bake extra stuffing in a <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/everyday-cooking/photos/muffin-tin-recipes/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">muffin tin</a>. Not only will there be plenty for everyone, but your guests – especially kids – will go crazy for individual stuffin' muffins. </p> <p> Get the recipe for <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/apple-and-onion-stuffin-muffins/17162/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Rachael Ray's Apple and Onion Stuffin' Muffins</strong> </a></p>
  • Don't Feel Like Baking 5 Pumpkin Pies?
     
    6 of 17

    Don't Feel Like Baking 5 Pumpkin Pies?

    <p> <strong>Hack:</strong> Opt for the Stress-Free Sheet Pan Version</p> <p> Given the wealth of <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/fun-with-food/photos/new-pumpkin-flavoured-products/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">pumpkin-flavoured</a> desserts this time of year, it can be stressful when contemplating how to perfect your own spiced treat, not to mention feed a crowd! Make it a one-pan dish with this easy-as-pie recipe. </p> <p> Watch how to make our scrumptious <strong><a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/thanksgiving/guide-video/food-network-canada-kitchen/webisode/pumpkin-pie-in-a-sheet-pan/video.html?v=2c586b6a-e912-11e9-8f07-365e7c72d6b5" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pumpkin Pie in a Sheet Pan</a></strong></p>
  • Limited Stove-Top Space?
     
    7 of 17

    Limited Stove-Top Space?

    <p><strong>Hack:</strong> Keep Mashed Potatoes Warm in a Crock-Pot</p> <p> With so many dishes being prepared simultaneously and only four burners on the stove, how do we keep prepared dishes from getting cold before they make it to the table? Use a slow cooker! Simply set it on low to keep mashed potatoes and other similar dishes warm until they’re ready to be served. </p> <p> Get the recipes for our <strong><a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/comfort-food/photos/best-slow-cooker-soup-and-stew-recipes/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Best Slow Cooker Soups and Stews</a></strong> </p>
  • No Cheesecloth?
     
    8 of 17

    No Cheesecloth?

    <p><strong>Hack:</strong> Wrap the Turkey in Bacon</p> <p> One tried-and-true method to ensuring moist turkey breasts is to soak a cheesecloth in melted butter and lay it over the breasts while cooking. An even more effective (and perhaps even tastier) alternative is to wrap the breasts in bacon, lattice-style, which offers the added bonus of infusing the delicious taste of bacon into the turkey. </p> <p> For more, check out these <strong><a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/thanksgiving/photos/tips-how-to-roast-turkey-cooking-temperature/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Turkey Cooking Tips to Roast the Perfect Bird</a></strong></p>
  • Too Many Potatoes to Clean?
     
    9 of 17

    Too Many Potatoes to Clean?

    <p><strong>Hack:</strong> Wash Potatoes in the Dishwasher</p> <p> It probably didn’t occur to you to use the <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/kitchens/photos/things-you-didnt-know-dishwasher-could-do-1926172/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">dishwasher</a> for anything other than washing dishes, but give this a try: place potatoes on the top rack of the dishwasher and run them through a rinse cycle (sans detergent, of course) and you’ll have squeaky-clean spuds without all that scrubbing — which can be considerable when cooking for a crowd. </p> <p> Get the recipes for <strong><a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/comfort-food/photos/perfect-potato-side-dishes/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">95 Perfect Potato Side Dishes</a></strong></p>
  • Lumpy Gravy Problems
     
    10 of 17

    Lumpy Gravy Problems

    <p><strong>Hack:</strong> Whip It In a Blender</p> <p> There’s no better way to transform your guests Thanksgiving glee to mild disgust when they witness big, clotted lumps come pouring out of the gravy boat. To prevent that from happening, give it a quick whip in a blender or food processor and then return to the saucepan for reheating until it’s ready to serve. </p> <p>Get the recipe for <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/roasted-turkey-gravy/17102/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Roasted Turkey Gravy</strong></a></p>
  • Burnt Pie Crust
     
    11 of 17

    Burnt Pie Crust

    <p><strong>Hack:</strong> DIY Pie Shield</p> <p> It’s a given that, in most ovens, by the time that <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/baking/photos/best-pumpkin-pie-recipes/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">pumpkin pie</a> is perfectly cooked inside, the outer rim of the crust will be approaching the consistency of a charcoal briquette. Prevent scorched pie crusts by creating a DIY shield out of aluminum foil, covering the delicate edges with loosely tented foil while allowing the centre to bake to perfection. </p> <p>Get the recipes for <strong><a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/baking/photos/perfect-pumpkin-dessert-recipes/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Perfect Pumpkin Desserts to Make Your Fall Menu Sweeter</a></strong></p>
  • How to Prevent Dry Turkey?
     
    12 of 17

    How to Prevent Dry Turkey?

    <p><strong>Hack:</strong> Ice Turkey Breasts Prior to Roasting</p> <p> Just before putting the turkey in the oven, apply an ice pack to the breasts for about 15 minutes, which will lower the temperature and cause the breasts to cook slightly slower than the rest of the bird. Some folks swear by this method, claiming it makes all the difference, resulting in a moist, juicy breast instead of one that’s overcooked and dry. </p> <p> For more hacks, find out <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/thanksgiving/photos/how-to-carve-turkey-like-a-pro/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>How to Carve Turkey Like a Pro</strong></a> </p>
  • Keeping Gravy Warm
     
    13 of 17

    Keeping Gravy Warm

    <p><strong>Hack:</strong> Store It In Your Humble Thermos</p> <p> Here’s a great way to keep gravy warm and smooth until it’s ready to serve: store it in a Thermos or insulated coffee carafe. Simply warm a Thermos container with warm water and ladle in as much gravy as it will hold; not only will this keep gravy warm, but it will also prevent it from coagulating. </p> <p>Get the recipe for <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/savoury-quinoa-stuffing-with-vegan-gravy/15072/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Vegan Gravy and Quinoa Stuffing</strong></a></p>
  • Running Out of Fridge Space?
     Getty Images
    14 of 17

    Running Out of Fridge Space?

    <p><strong>Hack:</strong> Coolers for Extra Refrigeration </p> <p> With all those dishes on the go — to say nothing of the beer and wine that needs cooling — Thanksgiving will jam-pack even the largest refrigerator. With that in mind, bring those summertime coolers out of storage and into the kitchen so they can do double duty in the fall. </p>
  • Too Many Guests?
     
    15 of 17

    Too Many Guests?

    <p><strong>Hack:</strong> Get a Second Turkey, Not a Bigger One</p> <p> If you find yourself preparing to feed a small army at Thanksgiving dinner, you’re probably looking for the biggest turkey you can find. Instead, a much easier option is to simply get a second turkey. Larger turkeys tend to cook less evenly and take a lot longer; this way, you can cook two smaller birds to perfection side by side, or even cook one of them a day ahead, freeing you of the hassle of dealing with a brontosaurus-sized bird. </p> <p>Get the recipe for <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/herb-roasted-turkey-breast/17193/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Ina Garten's Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast</strong></a></p>
  • Short on Counter Space?
     
    16 of 17

    Short on Counter Space?

    <p><strong>Hack:</strong> Tape Recipes to Inside of Cabinet Doors</p> <p> Thanksgiving is a time when we honour our loved ones by using family-heirloom recipes for, say, Aunt Shirley's famous stuffing or Grandma’s pumpkin pie. Keep your kitchen counters free from scraps of paper, cookbooks, iPads etc while maintaining easy access to those recipes by printing out the ones you need and taping them to the inside of a cabinet door. </p> <p>Try one of these <strong><a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/thankgiving/photos/no-bake-thanksgiving-dessert-recipes/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">No-Bake Thanksgiving Desserts You'll Devour</a></strong> </p>
  • Not Sure Where to Start?
     
    17 of 17

    Not Sure Where to Start?

    <p><strong>Hack:</strong> Prep Ahead of Time</p> <p> Thanksgiving is a hectic time in any kitchen, but there are a number of steps you can take to ease the workload and make the experience of cooking the feast as stress-free as possible. For example, you can toast nuts (say, for a stuffing or green beans) in advance, make homemade dinner rolls and freeze in the days leading up to the holiday or pre-mix a batch of your signature cocktails and keep them chilled until the crew is ready for a drink. </p> <p>Get the recipe for <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/haricots-verts-with-almonds-ricotta-salata-and-orange-honey-dressing/16192/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Bobby Flay's Green Beans Salad with Almonds and Ricotta</strong></a></p>
  • Start Over
    Next Gallery

    15 Delicious Uses For Leftover Mashed Potatoes

    More Galleries

You Might Also Like

Chefs & Hosts

All Shows