Your Most Frequently Asked Holiday Questions, Answered

In This Article

Once that cool breeze of fall season hits, the kitchen gets a little more hectic with holiday preparations. That said, you're bound to run into some roadblocks where you need expert tips and tricks. Take a deep breath, sip on that eggnog, and let us help you on your holiday cooking journey. We've broken down the major parts of the season with our best guides on cooking survival.

Hosting

Here you will find what to prep when, how to scale recipes depending on your group size, how to set up your home depending on the function, and all the little things you're most likely forgetting about.

Recipes

What to Buy

Substitutions & Storage

Ingredients for gluten free German cake — The Spruce / Emily Hawkes

Between diet restrictions and just simply forgetting to pick up specific spices at the market, we have all the ways you can substitute one item for another. Additionally, you're probably wondering how long certain items keep or how to organize your fridge in advance of entertaining—we can help with that too.

Common Cooking & Baking Substitutes

Food Storage

Turkey

There's a lot to consider when preparing a turkey even if it's not your first rodeo. Between choosing the size, fresh vs. frozen, brining, equipment, and more, cooking a whole turkey can seem like a daunting task. These are valuable and informative pieces for even the most seasoned cooks.

Recipes

What to Buy

Ham

honey ham hero shot — The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

Most likely, if you're not team turkey, you're team ham. Ham is one of the go-to dishes for big family celebrations, but there are a number of varieties and preparations. Here's what you need to know before you get started.

Recipes

What to Buy

Prime Rib

Prime rib is a big tradition for most around the holidays. Methods range from closed-oven to the instant pot, but the end result should be tender, juicy, and cooked to medium-rare. Once you taste a properly cooked, true prime rib, you will understand its high price tag.