Make sure you have done this one task today, otherwise Christmas dinner could be runined
There is one common mistake people make when prepping for Christmas dinner according to one Michelin star chef. Paul Richardson, kitchen stylist at Wren Kitchens, has teamed up with Paul Leonnard, a chef at the Michelin-starred Forest Side.
They offer valuable tips on kitchen storage and organisation and how to avoid common Christmas cooking mistakes. And one is not giving the turkey enough time to thaw in good time before the oven.
This can lead to a serving delay and could also mean dry turkey which no amount of gravy can save. They said: “Cooking a Christmas turkey can feel like a daunting task and typical mistakes include choosing the wrong size, failing to thaw it fully, and not letting it rest after cooking, leading to dry or unevenly cooked meat.
“Not monitoring the internal temperature correctly or failing to account for carryover cooking can leave you with a turkey that isn’t as tender or flavourful as you’d like.”
To avoid this, Paul suggests purchasing your turkey from a reliable supplier and seeking advice on selecting the right size based on your guest count. He said: “Brining your turkey a day before cooking and allowing it to rest after roasting are key steps.”
So if you have a frozen turkey, make sure it is out of the freezer now. They also said to make sure you prep as much as you can in advance today (Christmas Eve) to ensure you have a relaxing day.
They added: “A cluttered kitchen, especially in a small space, can make Christmas cooking much more challenging, causing delays and forgotten steps.” Chef Paul said: “If you are disorganised then the meal tends to end up chaotic, this really affects timings which can lead to overcooking and poor seasoning.”
To prevent this Paul Richardson advises clearing out unnecessary items and storing things used infrequently away. He added: “Ensure everything has a designated spot to maintain order.”
