Turkey day is full of great food, great family, and great memories, but sometimes the preparation for such a big holiday event can be stressful and leave you with questions on how to do it right. If this is your first time hosting Thanksgiving for the family or if you just need a refresher and some insider tips, we have you covered!
The first question many people have is “how big of a turkey should I buy?” It’s suggested that you have between 1 – 1.5 pounds of turkey for each person coming to Thanksgiving. What people don’t tell you is that you should measure your oven and cooking utensils before buying the turkey. If you buy the biggest one you see, but don’t have the capacity to cook it, you may be in for a holiday disaster.
For storing and preparation of the turkey, it’s recommended that a fresh turkey is stored for no longer than 2 days in the refrigerator before being cooked. A frozen turkey can last for up to a year in the freezer, but remember that when thawing a turkey it takes about 30 minutes per pound in cold water, refreshed every 30 minutes or about 24 hours for every 5 pounds in a refrigerator set at about 40° F.
As for making the perfect pie crust, remember to add water carefully. Too much water will make the crust tough, but too little water will make the crust crack. Also, remember to pick up the dough and rotate it 90 degrees while you’re rolling it out so it doesn’t stick to any surfaces or stretch out.
The best tip we can give you is to prepare some of the items beforehand. You can start bringing the turkey the day before Thanksgiving, you can prepare the cranberry sauce and store it up to a week before Thanksgiving, and you can even make your pies a few days early as well! There are a variety of side dishes that can be ready to be reheated, defrosted, and put in the oven for a few minutes just before Thanksgiving starts. All it takes is a little prep work before the big day.
With these tips in mind and your family recipes to guide you through the holiday, we know you and your loved ones will have a fantastic feast! All of us at Sage Wilson Property Group are wishing you a happy and safe Thanksgiving. If there’s ever anything we can do to help guide you through the real estate market, please don’t hesitate to give us a call or simply fill out the short form below:
