Today I walked in to my house carrying bags of groceries and realized that my countertops were so covered up that I had no where to put them. Have you ever experienced this problem? It is time for some deep cleaning and organizing around here before the first holiday party!
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The year is about to end as the festive season is almost here. If you have a large family or receive lots of guests during this time of the year, you probably know what that means for your kitchen.
From the many days of cooking holiday meals to hosting holiday parties, you and your kitchen are going to be at the center of quite a lot of activity. You need to prepare your kitchen (and yourself) for what’s ahead.
So, here are some ways to get your kitchen space ready for ultimate efficiency.
- Check all your kitchen appliances
From your dishwasher to your oven, make sure that all your appliances are ready for the season. Your dishwasher should be able to run efficiently with a large number of dishes in it.
Clean out your refrigerator and check the handles and gaskets to ensure they’re tight, as you’ll be opening and closing it a lot. Also, clean your oven with a wet rag, especially the areas around the top burners.
- Declutter all countertops
Don’t focus on your kitchen island alone; take the time to clear out any clutter on all your kitchen countertops. Get rid of those bills and mails lying unattended to, as well as any other paperwork.
The last thing you want is to have any important paperwork lying around when your kitchen goes into a full flurry of activities. Also, ensure that you clean every inch of the surface of your kitchen, including your floors.
- Get rid of expired food
Well, you shouldn’t be having any form of expired food in your kitchen anyway.
So, get rid of them, and start your holidays with only freshly-stocked products. Old and stale food is like unwanted tenants taking up precious real estate, and foods containing mold can quickly contaminate other food products you have, even in your refrigerator.
Conduct a massive inspection of your fridge, kitchen, shelves, and cabinets to check the expiration dates on every food product you have.
- Prepare your kitchen island and countertops
If your kitchen design comes with an island, then that’s where you’re probably going to whip up your tasty magic. Take the time to clean your countertop, declutter, and make enough space for some busy cooking.
If you don’t have a kitchen island but would love to have one, you can check out these beautiful kitchen island ideas for inspiration.
- Stock fresh supplies
You’ve cleared the old stuff; it’s time to restock with fresh products. But you need to be strategic about it, as different foodstuffs have different shelf-life lengths. For example, you can purchase your root veggies a week before you’ll need them.
You can visit your local market one week during the holidays to buy foodstuffs like potatoes, carrots, celery, and other assorted root veggies like celeriac or turnips and your favorite cloves.
Additionally, if you love your meat straight from the butcher, try ordering them about a month prior to d-day. Also, take the time to check your staples that may need restocking so that you can avoid any last-minute shopping rush.
After all this is done, you will not only be ready to tackle your holiday baking to do list but will also enjoy the prep time with less chaos and frustrations.
Hugs,
You’ve made me feel all motivated to give my kitchen a right good spruce up ready for Christmas.
Thanks Bridie.