Our favourite time of the year is fast approaching. From Thanksgiving to New Year, many homes in Singapore turn into festive areas where families gather to celebrate the good year while sharing their favourite meals. The holiday is also the best time to upgrade your home and prepare for a number of guests. In this festive season, the busiest part of our home is none other than the kitchen.
Here are some simple and doable ways to prepare your kitchen for a bigger crowd while making large food prep more convenient.
How to Create a Holiday-Ready Kitchen?
Declutter your Kitchen
A clutter-free home becomes instantly cosy and conducive to many tasks. Purge receipts, unused recipe books, and other items that may disrupt the flow of your tasks, especially when the kitchen becomes a source of dread. Remove all broken cutlery and utensils to avoid accidents if you plan to cook with your kids. Don’t forget to keep your knives in safe areas.
Throw Expired Food Away
Check your refrigerator and pantry supplies and look for expired food items that you can throw away. This will help preserve a healthy kitchen while making space for newer grocery supplies for the holiday. Label your new food supplies and store them in areas that you can easily access when cooking or entertaining. This is also a good time to defrost your freezer before welcoming new supplies (if applicable).
Wash Your Dishes and Kitchen Towels
Make sure that all your plates, serving platters, and silverware are clean before presenting them to your guests. Also, prepare your tablecloth, linens, towels, and other things that you need for entertaining your guests. Keep all the necessary items in a closed buffet hutch or in an accessible kitchen cabinet so you can be guest-ready.
Organise Your Cookware and Dinnerware
When the kitchen is bustling, it’s good to know where you can get what you need. Pots and pans? Place them in a visible location near your kitchen stove. Plates and serving platters? Arrange them in an accessible and dust-free storage area. Make your buffet hutch clean and ready for entertaining. There’s nothing more satisfying than getting your essentials at arm's length at the exact moment you need them.
Inspect Your Kitchen Appliances
Are your major kitchen appliances working well?
Before diving into the hectic holiday cooking, ensure that your cooking hob, oven, and refrigerator are in good working order to avoid hassles when preparing your food. How about your medium-sized kitchen appliances? Before making sauces and purees, thoroughly check your blenders, juicers, food processors, and mixers. If you are upgrading your kitchen for the holidays, it’s best to grab helpful kitchen bundles and practical kitchen appliances on sale for the season. Here’s a quick checklist of practical kitchen appliances that you can invest in when entertaining.
Clean Your Kitchen Appliances
Deep clean your refrigerator, oven, hob, and other kitchen appliances before and after using them. Don’t forget to wipe doors and surfaces to maintain a clean and visually pleasing kitchen that your guests will adore.
Clean Your Kitchen Surfaces
While you’re at it, make sure to clean other kitchen and dining room surfaces too. This includes your countertops, kitchen island, cabinet surfaces, dining table, and dining chairs. A clean kitchen and dining room increase the cosy and welcoming feel of your home. Clean your microwave too! A guest might want to heat some food, so don’t welcome them with an oily and unpleasant oven.
Prepare Necessary Containers
Anticipate additional food supplies and dishes during the holidays. To avoid a messy, cluttered, and inaccessible refrigerator, prepare the needed food storage containers in advance. Choose transparent food containers with lids to prevent odours from mixing and contamination. Label your food supplies, including their expiration dates, so you know what to consume first.
Make a List of Food and Kitchen Essentials
Having a stock of all your essentials makes everything more convenient. Make your kitchen holiday ready by creating a complete list of things that you need. Here are some things that you should not forget when completing your kitchen must-haves:
- Food containers
- Knives and a cutting board
- Shears
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Colander
- Can opener
- Bowls
- Stirring spoons and spatulas
- Tongs
- Whisk
- Non-stick cookware set
- Bakeware
- Juicer
- Essential kitchen appliances
- Aluminium foil and wax paper
- Table napkins
Create a Meal Plan
What are your holiday favourites? Before completing your grocery list, it’s crucial to have a planned menu so you know exactly what you have to buy. This will save you the hassle of not having all your ingredients on hand or of overspending on food that might just spoil unused.
Ready Your Trash Bins
Prevent a messy after-cooking kitchen by having clean and spacious trash bins in an accessible area. Disinfect your area too before welcoming your guests.
How About a Coffee Station?
It’s always good to go the extra mile to make your loved ones feel at home. Prepare your coffee machine and buy the best coffee beans that you can share when lounging in your living room. Prepare your favourite snacks and sweets for an unforgettable holiday bonding time.
Childproof Your Kitchen
Safety is an important factor in enjoying the festive holiday season. If you have children in your family, create a comfortable and safe place where they can celebrate with the whole family. After cooking, make sure that all knives, matches, household cleaners, chemicals, and other sharp objects are far from the reach of your little ones. It’s also smart to have a childproof induction hob to prevent accidents while you prepare your meals.
Decorate Your Kitchen and Dining Room
Make your dining room ready for the holidays by filling it with lovely decorations. As a holiday host, it’s important to create a cheerful and welcoming ambiance within your home. Choose the best décor to set the mood, and arrange your chairs comfortably and beautifully so everyone can fit in and enjoy their time.
Happy Holidays from Megafurniture!
Megafurniture is committed to making your daily life worth living. With our range of quality home furniture pieces, mattress and bedding accessories, decorations, and appliance solutions, everything you need for a conducive and welcoming home is present in our one-stop online shop. Enjoy convenient shopping with our hassle-free process and prompt delivery practices. Our friendly customer service team will also help you with enthusiasm.
We hope that this quick guide has helped you with your holiday preparations.