How to use your appliances for Thanksgiving batch cooking

Thanksgiving is all about sharing a delicious meal with family and friends, but cooking for a crowd? That’s where things can get a little hectic! Thanksgiving dinner can easily feel like a juggling act in the kitchen, but with a few smart tricks and by using your appliances to their full potential, you can breeze through your holiday cooking without breaking a sweat. We’ll cover how to make the most of each appliance, so you can serve up a feast that’s as stress-free as it is delicious.

1. Batch cook with your stove or wall oven

Thanksgiving cooking calls for some creative use of oven space to get everything baked, roasted, and ready on time. Here’s how to make the most of your stove and ovens with a few strategic adjustments.

Maximize oven space

To make room for multiple dishes and get everything cooked evenly:

• Use stacking racks: Oven-safe racks allow you to double up on baking space, stacking dishes without blocking airflow.
• Group similar cook times and temperatures: Plan to bake casseroles, vegetables, or pies that have similar baking requirements together, saving you time and energy.
• Consider batch baking: If time allows, bake a few dishes in phases, letting completed items rest while you finish others.

Adjust oven racks for multi-level cooking

Arranging oven racks strategically can ensure even cooking for all your dishes:

• Bottom rack for dense dishes: Place heavier dishes like casseroles on the lower rack for more direct heat.
• Top rack for browning: Move dishes that need a crispy or browned top, like stuffing or gratins, to the top rack toward the end of cooking.
• Plan rack placement early: Pre-adjust your racks before heating up the oven to avoid juggling hot dishes later.

Cook at different temperatures

Handling dishes that need different temperatures? Here are a few options:

• Start high, finish low: Begin with dishes that need the highest temperature, then lower the oven and keep them warm once they’re nearly cooked.
• Cover to retain moisture: For dishes baking at lower-than-usual temperatures, cover them with foil to keep them from drying out.
• Choose a middle ground: If baking everything at once, set the oven to a moderate temperature and adjust individual cooking times, checking dishes as you go.
• Rotate dishes: Rotate items halfway through baking if you have dishes stacked on different racks for even cooking.

2. Make the most of your slow cooker

A slow cooker can be a lifesaver during Thanksgiving, helping free up oven and stovetop space while cooking side dishes in time. With some planning, you can use your slow cooker to take on everything from creamy mashed potatoes to classic green bean casserole. Here’s how to get the most out of this versatile appliance for a stress-free Thanksgiving.

Batch cooking tips

To make Thanksgiving meal prep even easier, a bit of planning with your slow cooker can go a long way:

• Prep ingredients ahead: Chop, season, and assemble ingredients the night before so you can simply transfer everything into the slow cooker in the morning.
• Use liners: These make cleanup fast and easy, especially helpful when the slow cooker is busy with multiple batches.
• Sort cooking times: Start slow-cooking items with longer cooking times first, then switch to sides that require shorter times as they’re ready.

Keep dishes warm

One of the biggest perks of using a slow cooker is the “Keep Warm” setting, which can be invaluable on Thanksgiving:

• Hold dishes at safe temperatures: Once a dish is cooked, the Keep Warm setting holds it at a safe temperature, meaning you can prep well in advance without worrying about reheating.
• Perfect for serving buffet-style: If your Thanksgiving gathering is more casual or buffet-style, leave the lid on to retain heat, then set out with the rest of the dishes when you’re ready.

Read more: Cooktop Thanksgiving prep: 10 maintenance checks

3. Use a toaster oven for small dishes

If your main oven is fully loaded on Thanksgiving, a toaster oven can be a valuable tool for preparing smaller side dishes or reheating items. Compact and quick-heating, toaster ovens are ideal for small-batch dishes that need to be toasted, browned, or cooked through without taking up too much time or space. Here’s how to make the most of this appliance for your holiday cooking.

Tips for cooking

To get the best results from your toaster oven, try these tips:

• Adjust cook times: Toaster ovens cook smaller portions faster, so reduce cooking times compared to a full-size oven. Check on your dishes frequently to avoid over-baking or burning.
• Use appropriate bakeware: Opt for small, toaster oven-safe dishes – many glass and ceramic containers designed for individual servings work well. Avoid dishes that are too thick or large, as they may block airflow and cause uneven cooking.
• Preheat when needed: Just like a traditional oven, preheating your toaster oven for items like rolls or appetizers can help them bake evenly and reach the desired texture.

Add final touches

A toaster oven can also be a great tool for finishing dishes or reheating without drying them out:

• Broil for browning: Many toaster ovens come with a broil function that can be used to add a golden-brown finish to items like casseroles or gratins. Simply transfer the dish to a toaster-oven-safe pan, set it to broil, and keep an eye on it to prevent over-browning.
• Reheat without sogginess: The toaster oven is perfect for reheating items like roasted veggies, stuffing, or casseroles, helping them regain texture without becoming mushy.

Read more: Check and clean these oven parts before Thanksgiving

4. Use the air fryer for quick sides

The air fryer has become a favorite kitchen tool for its ability to cook quickly and deliver a crispy texture that’s perfect for many Thanksgiving sides. While the main oven is busy with the turkey and casseroles, the air fryer can step in to handle crispy, savory sides and appetizers, saving time and bringing out great flavors. Here’s how to make the most of this appliance during Thanksgiving.

Batch cooking tips

Since the air fryer has a smaller cooking capacity than a standard oven, batch cooking may be necessary, especially for larger gatherings:

• Cook in small batches: Air fryers work best when items aren’t overcrowded. For crispier results, cook in small batches and transfer finished portions to a warm oven or “Keep Warm” setting while you complete the rest.
• Preseason for efficiency: To save time, prep and season each batch ahead of cooking so you can quickly transfer items in and out of the fryer.
• Flip for even crisping: For items like potato wedges or roasted veggies, flip halfway through cooking to ensure they cook evenly on all sides.

Reheat with the air fryer

The air fryer also shines as a tool for reheating dishes without losing their texture:

• Bring back the crisp: For sides like rolls, roasted vegetables, or stuffing that might lose some crispness when stored, the air fryer can quickly reheat them without the sogginess that microwaves often cause.
• Low-temperature reheating: Use a lower temperature and short cooking times to gently reheat dishes without overcooking, helping them retain their original flavor and texture.

5. Use a microwave for speed and convenience

The microwave might not be the first appliance that comes to mind when preparing Thanksgiving dishes, but it’s surprisingly useful for speeding up cooking, reheating dishes, and freeing up space in your oven and on the stovetop. With a few tips, you can make the microwave an essential part of your Thanksgiving meal prep, perfect for quick sides, sauces, and last-minute reheats.

Batch cooking and reheating tips

The microwave is perfect for reheating dishes or warming up large batches of food:

• Use low power settings: To reheat large portions evenly without drying them out, use lower power settings and stir midway through to ensure even heating.
• Cover to keep moisture in: Cover dishes with a microwave-safe lid or damp paper towel to keep food from drying out, especially for sides like mashed potatoes or stuffing.
• Reheat in stages: For bigger gatherings, consider reheating in smaller batches, rotating items in and out to keep dishes warm without overloading the microwave.

Safety tips

When using the microwave for Thanksgiving cooking, following a few safety tips can prevent mishaps and ensure perfectly cooked dishes:

• Use microwave-safe dishes: Stick to glass, ceramic, or microwave-safe plastic to prevent damage or injury. Avoid metal or foil, which can cause sparks.
• Check for hot spots: Stir or rearrange food midway through cooking to distribute heat evenly and avoid hot spots that could burn.
• Vent covers slightly: When covering food to retain moisture, leave a small gap for steam to escape, reducing the risk of spills or burns when removing the cover.

Read more: How to fix common appliance issues during Thanksgiving

Additional information

Thank you for reading! We hope this guide helps you get ready to enjoy a Thanksgiving filled with good food, good company, and no kitchen surprises!

If you have any other appliance repair needs or projects, don’t hesitate to explore our other troubleshooting guides and videos.

If you need replacement parts or some extra help with ordering them, grab your model number and head over to AppliancePartsPros.com, where you can chat with a pro, read our DIY blog and more.

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