Turkey Day tune-ups: Essential appliance maintenance before Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, and, of course, food. But all too often, the holiday kitchen can turn from a warm and welcoming space into a source of stress when appliances don’t perform as expected. With a little pre-holiday maintenance, you can make sure your oven, range, refrigerator, and dishwasher are all ready to handle the holiday feast. Here’s how to make sure each key appliance is in tip-top shape for Thanksgiving.

1. Oven & range maintenance

Your oven and range will be the stars of Thanksgiving, handling everything from the turkey to side dishes. To make sure they perform perfectly on the big day, here are a few essential checks and tune-ups.

• Check oven calibration
  Over time, ovens can lose their accuracy, making it difficult to rely on settings for precise temperatures. An easy way to test the calibration is to place an oven thermometer inside and set the oven to a specific temperature. After about 15-20 minutes, check the thermometer to see if the temperature inside matches your setting. If there’s a significant difference, consider recalibrating. Most ovens have a calibration feature in the settings menu, or you can refer to your manual for specific instructions.

• Clean burners and oven interior
  Built-up grease and food debris can interfere with cooking and may even cause smoke. For the stovetop burners, make sure they’re clean and free of blockages—particularly if you have a gas range, where clogged ports can affect flame size. When cleaning the oven interior, be careful with chemicals; a homemade mixture of baking soda and water can be effective without the risk of fumes.

• Inspect heating elements and igniters
  If you notice that your oven or stovetop doesn’t heat as efficiently, there might be an issue with the heating element or igniter. For electric ovens, look for any visible damage to the elements, like blistering or dark spots. Gas ovens should have a steady blue flame, if you see orange or yellow, it could indicate an issue with the igniter.

Read more: Thanksgiving appliance checklist: What to check and fix before the holiday

2. Refrigerator readiness

A refrigerator working at its best can make all the difference for Thanksgiving, keeping everything fresh and ensuring there’s space for the holiday bounty. Here’s how to prepare your fridge and freezer for the big day.

• Defrost the freezer
  If you have a lot of ice buildup in your freezer, it’s a good idea to defrost it before Thanksgiving. This not only frees up space but also helps your freezer run more efficiently. Plan to defrost at least 48 hours in advance to avoid last-minute messes. If a full defrost isn’t necessary, try clearing out any unnecessary items to make room for all the holiday essentials.

• Inspect door seals and gaskets
  Fridge and freezer seals help in maintaining a consistent temperature. Check your seals by closing a dollar bill in the door; if it slides out easily, the seal may need to be cleaned or replaced. Dirty or loose seals can make the fridge work harder to stay cool, which can affect your food quality and even increase energy costs.

• Check temperature settings
  Thanksgiving often means storing more food than usual, so check your temperature settings to make sure they’re ideal for keeping food fresh. The refrigerator should be set between 35°F and 38°F, while the freezer should be at 0°F. Adjust if necessary to handle the increased load over the holiday.

Read more: How to get your electric stove ready for holiday cooking

3. Dishwasher preparation

Thanksgiving means a lot of dishes, from cooking pots to serving platters and plates. A well-maintained dishwasher can make post-feast cleanup so much easier. Here’s how to make sure it’s ready to handle the holiday load.

• Clean the filter and spray arms
  Over time, food particles and mineral buildup can clog your dishwasher’s filter and spray arms, reducing cleaning efficiency. To clean the filter, locate it (usually at the bottom of the dishwasher) and give it a good rinse under warm water. Use a brush if necessary to remove any stubborn bits. For spray arms, gently remove them (check your manual for how) and clean out any clogs in the nozzles. This will help the dishwasher run more effectively and leave your dishes sparkling clean.

• Run a maintenance cycle
  Before Thanksgiving, run an empty cycle with a dishwasher cleaner or a cup of white vinegar placed on the top rack. This helps to eliminate odors, grease, and hard water deposits, ensuring the dishwasher works at its best. This step can also improve the overall cleaning power, especially helpful when facing a large load after the big meal.

• Check the door seal
  The door seal (or gasket) prevents water from leaking out of your dishwasher. Check it for any signs of wear, like cracks or brittleness. Wipe it down with a damp cloth to remove any grime or debris, which can help prolong its life. If the seal looks damaged, consider replacing it to avoid leaks on Thanksgiving Day.

4. General appliance tips

These general tips can help keep all your appliances running smoothly, even as your kitchen becomes the heart of the home for Thanksgiving.

• Check power connections
  With the hustle and bustle of holiday cooking, it’s easy to overlook small details like power connections. Check that all appliances are securely plugged in and, if possible, avoid overloading outlets. High-demand devices like ovens and refrigerators often perform best when plugged directly into the wall rather than an extension cord or power strip.

• Create a pre-holiday checklist
  A simple checklist can help you keep track of everything you need to do a few days before Thanksgiving. Include tasks like checking temperature settings, testing the oven’s heating, and cleaning dishwasher filters. Doing these small tasks in advance can prevent surprises and give you more time to enjoy the holiday.

Read more: 8 Tips To Prep Your Kitchen For A Holiday Feast

Additional information

Thank you for reading! We hope this guide helped 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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