When you have an open concept kitchen, it’s hard to hide the mess. This is especially true when holiday guests come to call, and you’re cooking up a feast. Here are nine little ways to prep your kitchen before the hustle and bustle starts, so your holiday gatherings will be good as gold.
- Make the most of your storage solutions.
With an open concept kitchen, storage shouldn’t be a problem. Of course, optimizing that storage is another story. If clutter and chaos is lurking behind your cabinet doors, consider investing in some inside cabinet accessories before the holidays. From knife block drawer trays to door mounted spice racks, there is an organizer for every kitchen essential. Put these accessories into play and your cabinets and drawers will be ready for entertaining.
- Keep small appliances discreetly hidden and free up your countertops.
If you’re always trying to navigate around a coffee maker, toaster, blender, or stand mixer, it might be time to find a new home for your small appliances. You can easily install a heavy-duty mixer lift in a base cabinet or a Lazy Susan in a blind corner cabinet to free up your countertops for food prep.
- Give any small appliances that you don’t use often a test run.
Speaking of small appliances, now would be a good time to make sure yours are working properly. If you haven’t used that mixer since baking last year’s cookies, do a test run a few weeks before your cookie exchange.
- Sharpen your knives.
If you’re an avid home cook, the difference between a good set of knives and an “okay” set of knives is truly life changing. Make sure yours are in tip-top shape by sharpening them before the festivities begin.
- Count your glasses and dishes.
Did you ever replace that broken wine glass? Are a few of your dishes chipped or scraped? Give all of your glasses and dishes a once over in case you want to replace anything before your holiday guests arrive.
- Clean out your refrigerator, freezer and pantry.
Those veggies covered in freezer burn and those half used jars of salsa should probably go. In just a few weeks, you’re going to have more food than you’ll know what to do with. Clean out your refrigerator, freezer and pantry now, so you’ll have plenty of space for holiday wining and dining.
- Stock up on plastic containers.
If you’re a gracious host, you’ll likely be sending guests home with leftovers. If you don’t already have a stash of plastic containers, stock up now, so putting together to-go bags is a breeze.
- Refresh your spice rack.
Before you start your shopping, see if any of your spices have expired and take inventory of what you have. If you’ll be baking and cooking this season, you’ll obviously need plenty of spices and seasonings on hand.
- Double up on cleaning supplies.
It’s always good to have extra dishwashing liquid, detergent, and sponges ready and waiting. Who wants to run out of cleaning supplies when you’ve got casserole dishes stacked pretty in the kitchen sink? Save yourself the frustration and have a back up of everything you need to clean up post-holiday dinner.
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