Holiday-Ready Kitchen: Organize Your Space for Stress-Free Entertaining
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As the holiday season approaches (rather quickly I might add!), a well-organized kitchen and pantry are absolutely essential for stress-free cooking and entertaining! Whether you're hosting family gatherings or baking your very favorite sweet treats, I am sharing practical tips to get your kitchen and pantry ready for the fun & festive season ahead!
Declutter AND Deep Clean your Pantry, Fridge, & Freezer: This is your time to check expiration dates and toss out no longer safe food. Have you ever run to the grocery store the morning of Thanksgiving, after realizing your just-purchased french fried onions for your green bean casserole were rancid? I may or may not have experienced this. Just trust me, ALWAYS check those dates. Take a moment to also wipe down pantry shelves & deep clean your fridge & oven! You will be so glad you did when you are living in front of the oven on Thanksgiving or Christmas Day!
Take Inventory of Pantry Staples: After removing expired items, take not of the pantry staples that will need replacing like flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, etc. Add these items to your list for your next grocery store trip!
Group Like Items Together: I LOVEEEE lazy susans or turntables for easy access to baking ingredients like baking soda, vanilla, & baking powder in my pantry. I keep my spices organized the same way in a cupboard above my stove. A riser is always a good idea for easy view of your canned goods. Label any bins you use so your family members can help maintain the hard work you have put into organizing your pantry!
Locate Your Holiday Serve Ware Now: If there is a special bowl designated for Halloween candy, make sure you locate it now before you are frantically looking for it when the first trick or treater arrives earlier than expected! Does your family have a precious Turkey platter they use every year for the Thanksgiving? Make sure you know where that is stored. In fact, now would be a great time to ensure your holiday specific table ware is stored together. Take inventory of any broken items or anything needing replacing. Check your water glasses & inventory your flatware now rather than the week of!
Dedicate a small cupboard or bin in your pantry to collect non-perishable items for the upcoming holidays. Now is a great time to start stocking up on marshmallows, canned pumpkin, canned green beans, etc. I promise you will thank me later when you avoid the holiday rush! If your family does paper plates for dessert, keep an eye out for the cute Thanksgiving dessert plates & napkins! This bin will be where you store them. Right now, my bin is storing the Halloween candy, but not for long!
Wipe Down Smaller Appliances: I know I mentioned cleaning your oven, but don’t forget a thorough wipe down of your stand mixer, crock pot, & cookie sheets. No one wants to spend Thanksgiving morning scraping off last year’s royal icing off the side of your stand mixer! Now is the time to make sure your microwave is in tip-top shape! Pro-Tip: If you are not already using a microwave cover, start now. It will keep your microwave spotless. Trust me, it is much easier to clean this cover than a microwave full of exploded marinara sauce. (We like this one because it is collapsible for easy storage)
Organize Those Kitchen Drawers: Make sure your measuring cups, measuring spoons, spatulas, and potato masher are organized and easy to find. No one wants to be in the middle of cooking and removing a drawer trying to get the lemon squeezer un-stuck from the back. These expandable drawer dividers are a great and easy option to help!
With a little work ahead of time, your kitchen space can be a holiday-ready space that functions like a well-oiled machine. By decluttering, organizing, and stocking up on essentials, you’ll be well-prepared to host, cook, and enjoy the holiday season without stress. Happy prepping, friend!
Does organizing your kitchen feel too overwhelming, or maybe you just flat our don’t have the time? We offer organizing services that can get your kitchen in tip-top shape for hosting season! Check out some of our previous projects with before & after pics here.
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Are you looking for a relaxing soundtrack for your fall season? I am sharing my personal curated fall playlist here, and will continue to add to it! If you are needing a soundtrack for your upcoming Halloween parties, I also have a spooky fun playlist here.
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