Thanksgiving is a day to reflect on all that we have to be thankful for.
This year be thankful that your Thanksgiving will be nothing but enjoyable with the following tips and advice to have a fun-filled and stress-free holiday for you and your family and friends.
Cooking hacks and safety tips
ATTENTIVE COOKING
Cooks should avoid wearing loose clothing or dangling sleeves while preparing the holiday meal.
Never leave the stove unattended. If you have to leave the kitchen, even for just a minute, you should turn off the stove.
More cooking safety steps are:
– Check food regularly.
– Use a timer as a reminder that the stove or oven is on.
– Clean cooking surfaces on a regular basis to prevent grease buildup.
DEEP FRYING A TURKEY
If you are deep-frying your turkey, yum! Though, this cooking method can pose a number of safety hazards so be sure to following the following precautions.
– Never use the fryer indoors—this includes inside the garage
– Keep it a safe distance from buildings and flammable objects
– Be sure your turkey is completely thawed and dry
– Be mindful of splashing or spattering oil
Hosting preparation
SETTING UP TABLES IN THE GARAGE
Space in the kitchen and dining room can fill up fast. Instead of having family spread out throughout the house and eating in rooms you don’t want food spilled, take advantage of the room where you don’t mind anything being spilled and has plenty of room to spare…you garage.
Set up tables, liner and chairs along with any festive decorations to warm the space up. If your garage is not temperature controlled, bring in space heaters to comfort you guests.
CLEAR OUT THE FRIDGE BEFORE THE BIG DAY
Refrigerator real estate is a precious thing. Clear out more than half used (especially expired) bottles and jars of dressings, pickles, and move anything you don’t want to throw away in another fridge, freezer or cooler for the day.
CONSIDER PURCHASING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO KEEP IN THE KITCHEN.
Cooking causes 69 percent of Thanksgiving Day fires. So be conscious of all cooking areas and keep anything that can catch fire – pot holders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packaging and towels or curtains away from the stove, oven or any other appliance in the kitchen that generates heat.
– Always check the kitchen before going to bed or leaving the home to make sure all stoves, ovens and small appliances are turned off.
– Never dispose of hot grease in the garbage. Instead, let it cool and then discard it in a covered metal can (like a coffee can).
[Related: How to Properly Clean Your Garage Floor]
Travel considerations
Are you one of the millions of Americans traveling for the holiday? According to the American Automobile Association, more than 43.4 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more over Thanksgiving weekend. Almost 90 percent of those will travel by car.
TRAVEL TIME
If your Thanksgiving plans do include driving, check the weather along your route and plan for travel around any storms that may be coming. Give yourself plenty of travel time to accommodate the extra traffic and frequent stops.
KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR HOME
With LiftMaster MyQ technology, you can monitor the status of your garage door, receive alerts if you just so happen to leave it open and schedule it to close from a few to hundreds of miles away.
PACKING FOOD
Food poisoning can be a risk when food sits out for more than a few hours at temperatures between 40°F and 140°F. If preparing a hot dish to bring, cook it completely the day before and refrigerate it overnight, transport it in a cooler and reheat it at your destination. Or, if you make the dish on Thanksgiving Day, use an insulated container to keep it hot.
What travel, hosting or cooking tips do you have for Thanksgiving? Comment below and share on social!