Thanksgiving Gone Wrong Common Cooking Mistakes

Thanksgiving Gone Wrong Common Cooking Mistakes

Thanksgiving is a day to celebrate with family and friends, but the cooking aspect of the day can be stressful.  There are some mistakes that many cooks make that can make the dinner a little hard to swallow.  Make sure that you are doing everything that you can to make the perfect meal so that you can all enjoy each other's company. Below are some common mistakes cooks make on Thanksgiving, and how to avoid them. We hope that this Thanksgiving Gone Wrong Common Cooking Mistakes post inspires you. 

Thanksgiving Gone Wrong Common Cooking Mistakes

Not preparing in advance. 

This is perhaps the biggest mistake of all. Thanksgiving dinner requires a lot of preparation, so it's important to start planning early. Make a list of dishes you're going to make, create a shopping list, and delegate tasks to other people if possible. When it comes to Thanksgiving dinner, it is important to prepare a bit in advance.  If you try to cram all the food into one day, you risk making mistakes that can make the food not great.  Many side dishes can be made in advance and simply reheated before you sit down to eat.  This includes dishes like stuffing, vegetable casseroles, and cranberry sauce. 5 Steps to Choosing the Perfect Thanksgiving Turkey

Overcomplicating the menu.

It's tempting to try to impress your guests with a complex and elaborate menu, but this can often lead to disaster. Don't try to make everything from scratch. Stick to tried-and-true recipes that you know your family and friends will love, and delegate tasks to others if possible.

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Shopping too late.

The week before Thanksgiving is the busiest time at the grocery store. Shop for your groceries at least a week in advance, or even earlier if you can, to avoid the crowds and ensure you get everything you need.

Not prepping.

The day before Thanksgiving, take some time to chop vegetables, mix dry ingredients, and set the table. This will make your cooking day much less stressful.

Not thawing the turkey properly.

A frozen turkey can take days to thaw in the refrigerator, so be sure to plan. You can also thaw your turkey in cold water, but be sure to change the water every 30 minutes.

Thanksgiving Gone Wrong Common Cooking Mistakes

Trying a new recipe for the first time.

Thanksgiving is not the time to experiment with new recipes. Stick to dishes that you know you can make well, or try out a new recipe beforehand to make sure it turns out well.

Trying to do too much

Thanksgiving dinner is a big meal, but that doesn't mean you have to go overboard. It's perfectly okay to delegate some of the cooking tasks to other guests, or to buy some pre-made dishes from the store. Don't try to be a hero in the kitchen – focus on enjoying the holiday with your loved ones.

Underestimating cooking times.

Don't forget to factor in the cooking time for each dish when planning your meal schedule. It's also important to take into account the size of your oven and how many dishes you can cook at once.

The cooking of the turkey isn't timed right.

Cooking a Thanksgiving turkey is a skill that has to be learned.  First, overcooking it is common and can make it very dry.  You want to properly measure the temperature throughout the cooking process and the turkey should be removed from the oven when the joint at the thigh measures 165 degrees Fahrenheit.  After you remove it from the oven, it must rest at least 30 minutes before you carve it.  Not allowing the proper resting period will cause dryness and it also leads to it being difficult to carve. Perfect Turkey Recipe

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Under-seasoning the turkey.

This is a common mistake that can result in a dry and bland bird. Be generous with your salt and pepper, and don't be afraid to experiment with other herbs and spices.

Forgetting to rest the turkey.

After you take the turkey out of the oven, it's important to let it rest for at least 20 minutes before carving. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the bird, resulting in a more moist and flavorful turkey.

Forgetting about the sides.

The turkey is the star of the show, but don't forget about the sides! Make sure you have a variety of dishes to complement the turkey, such as mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and vegetables.

Thanksgiving Gone Wrong Common Cooking Mistakes

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The gravy is too thin. 

To help thicken your gravy, you want to use about two teaspoons of cornstarch.  This helps to get your gravy to a consistency that will not have it running all over your plate.  When you add the cornstarch make sure that the gravy is warm and whisk it in little by little. Simple Brown Gravy  |   9 Ways to Thicken Gravy

Underestimating the amount of guests or the amount people will eat.

When you are making a large meal, it is easy to think you have made enough for everyone.  A good rule of thumb is to always assume that everyone will have seconds. It's better to have a little bit extra than not enough. However, be mindful of food waste. A good rule of thumb is to plan on 1 pound of turkey per person, and 1/2 to 3/4 cup of stuffing and mashed potatoes per person. You also want to overestimate by about five guests and assume that they too will have seconds.  There is nothing wrong with lots of leftovers, so keep this in mind as you are planning your meal.  You can also choose to have a boneless turkey breast defrosted and ready to go should you need more meat.  These can be cooked in less than an hour and will serve up plenty of extra birds.  If you don't need it, just pop it back into the freezer for a future meal. How to Prepare for a Wonderful Thanksgiving

Not having a plan for leftovers

There are always leftovers on Thanksgiving, so it's important to have a plan for them. You can use them to make sandwiches, soups, or casseroles for the rest of the week.

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Forgetting to relax and enjoy the day!

Thanksgiving is a day to celebrate with family and friends, so don't get too stressed out about the meal. Just relax, enjoy the company, and be grateful for all that you have.

Thanksgiving Gone Wrong Common Cooking Mistakes

By following these tips, you can avoid common Thanksgiving cooking mistakes and ensure that your holiday feast is a success. We hope that you are inspired by this Thanksgiving Gone Wrong Common Cooking Mistakes post. Happy cooking and Happy Thanksgiving!

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