Christmas dinner can be one of the most stressful things to cook, especially when you’re hosting the day for many of your loved ones. But what if we told you that there are a few things you can do to make the whole experience a lot less stressful? In this article, we’ll be telling you how you can take the pressure off when it comes to cooking and hosting Christmas dinner this year, so let’s delve right in:
Make the perfect roast potatoes: know which cooking oil you need
Roast potatoes are an elite accompaniment to a traditional Christmas dinner. In fact, it’s one of the side dishes that people will always look for when it comes to plating up their festive roasted favourites, according to the Retail Times. But this can mean added pressure for those who are cooking up a Christmas dinner this year. So how can you cook up the best roast potatoes that will be the talk of the dinner table? The key is in the cooking oil you use to roast them in.
Which cooking oil is best for cooking roasties?
If you’re looking to make the most delicious, crispy roast potatoes to go alongside your Christmas dinner, then it’s important that you know which cooking oil to use. From their different smoke points to the flavours they produce, here are the cooking oils you can choose from if you’re looking to cook up roast potatoes that are both golden and fluffy:
- Sunflower oil – this is a great alternative for people who want to steer clear of goose fat this Christmas. Producing crispy exteriors whilst adding body and flavour, this is a great cooking oil choice for making the best roasties
- Vegetable oil – making a perfect roasting oil, but without an overpowering flavour, this oil will crisp up and add a golden tint to the exterior of the potatoes, whilst ensuring the inside remains light and fluffy
- Olive oil – a great choice for cooking roast potatoes, a quality olive oil adds the flavour and the texture to a potato that everyone wants from a roastie. Just like sunflower oil, this too is a good alternative to goose or duck fat
Be organised: plan & prepare now so you can relax later
Something that is imperative to hosting and cooking the most delicious Christmas dinner is organisation. The devil is in the detail, and the planning. Do most of your preparation work before the big day so that you can save time later on. Instead of chopping and prepping your vegetables on Christmas morning, do it the morning of Christmas Eve instead. This way, you’ll know that you can enjoy the rest of Christmas Eve.
You should also have a plan in place for Christmas Day itself. This can include anything from assigning jobs and tasks to people in your household, right through to washing up and clearing away as you go. This makes the whole day a lot more relaxing, giving you the time you need in the afternoon and evening to chill out and enjoy some quality time with your family. Below is a list of things you can do the the night before, in order to make Christmas Day run a little more smoothly:
- Set the dinner table
- Prepare your vegetables (chop and slice everything that needs it)
- Double check that you have everything you need
- If making pudding from scratch, do it Christmas Eve
- Roast your potatoes (then roast them again on Christmas Day)
- Wrap your pigs-in-blankets
- Make-ahead your mash potatoes
Keep the turkey simple
Cooking a turkey can be difficult, mostly because it’s all too easy for it to come out dry and tasteless. But why make things harder for yourself when you already have so much cooking to do? Don’t be tempted to stuff the turkey with fancy ingredients. Keep things straightforward by allowing the turkey to expel its own flavour. Simply drizzle it with cooking oil, season it well and add a cup or two of stock for good measure. This will help to keep the meat moist and tender, regardless of how long it spends in the oven. This works well for both whole turkeys and turkey crowns.
Have the right equipment & ingredients to do the job
When it comes to pulling off the perfect Christmas dinner, you should make doubly sure that you have everything you need before you begin. Not only will the shops be closed for the day, but it could also make all the difference to your Christmas dinner plans if you don’t have what you require in advance.
As such, make sure you have enough roasting trays, aluminium foil, enough cutlery for everyone to use; the list goes on. You should also make sure that you have all of the foodstuff you need and that it all falls within the right use-by and best-before dates. Do you have enough carrots? What about roasting potatoes? Are there plenty of brussels sprouts to go around?
Double check your supplies well in advance – and don’t forget about the cooking oil! Here at Cater Oils, we can deliver fresh supplies of cooking oil, as well as take away your used cooking oil. When it comes to our waste cooking oil collection service, we will give you either a fresh supply of cooking oil or a credit note to be used in exchange for our services.
Buy a Christmas pudding that can be cooked in the microwave
Christmas dinner is stressful enough to prepare for and cook for everyone. So why not make your life easier when it comes to the pudding? With this in mind, look to buy a Christmas pudding that can be cooked in the microwave for ease. Check the packaging before buying, just to make sure that it can, in fact, be put in the microwave. Make sure you read the instructions carefully. You don’t just have to buy Christmas puddings for microwave cooking. There are plenty of other cakes and steamed desserts that can be cooked in much the same way. This is perfect if you or your family aren’t keen on traditional Christmas pudding.
If you would like further information about the waste collection service we have available, or to discuss our fresh oil supplies, get in touch with a member of our friendly, professional team today – we’re always pleased to hear from you.
