How to Organize Your Kitchen For Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is just a few days away. It is one of those days when you spend almost the whole day in the kitchen cooking different meals, from traditional recipes to new ones. It can be very chaotic sometimes, especially if you are serving a big group and didn’t prepare your kitchen the day or the week before.

RELATED: 8 Thanksgiving Food Hacks and Tips

To ensure a smooth dinner preparation, check out these Thanksgiving tips and hacks from TODAY. This guide will help you organize your kitchen for Thanksgiving, allowing you to spend less time cooking and stressing out. I find most of these tricks helpful, and they can save you a lot of time during the holiday season. Give them a try and see for yourself.

Here are some recipes you might want to try: 3-Ingredient Homemade Cranberry Sauce (Plus Variations), Southern Chicken and Stuffing Casserole Bake, Award-Winning Buttermilk Cornbread Recipe

Thanksgiving Day Tips and Hacks

1 – Clean out pantry, fridge, and freezer

Get rid of all the items that are expired from your pantry or fridge.

2 – Create a mock timeline

Check if you already have the things or ingredients you need so you don’t buy too much.

3 – Measure out dry ingredients

If you are making a pie crust for example, you can take a container and pre-measure the amount so that you can dump and stir when you are ready to bake. Do this with the other ingredients, and label with tape and pen.

4 – Create an area for Thanksgiving items

Allocate space in your pantry for Thanksgiving. Let your family know that the items are for the holiday.

5 – Utilize the space in the fridge

Cranberry sauce can keep in the fridge for up to a month so you can make it ahead of time. Eggs and dairy items can also be stored in the fridge in advance. Make sure to check their expiration dates. You can measure them in advance and store them in airtight glass containers.

6 – Cook mashed potatoes and gravy to store in the freezer

Transfer the mashed potato to a freezer bag, seal it almost all the way through, and flatten it. Remove all the air and seal completely. This will save you a lot of space. The night before Thanksgiving put it in the refrigerator on a plate to defrost.

7 – Use plastic or foil containers for freezer

Stay away from glass as they can shatter in the freezer.

How to Organize Your Kitchen For Thanksgiving