9 Thanksgiving Recipes You Can Make Now and Stash in Your Freezer (2024)

FAQs

What Thanksgiving dishes don't need refrigeration? ›

Cranberry Sauce If your Thanksgiving host is not making cranberry sauce, this is an excellent (and necessary!) dish that can go long periods without refrigeration. The acid from the cranberries help preserve the dish (it's also delightfully easy to make!).

You haven't said whether you are going to cook the stuffing inside the bird or out, but it's fine to make almost any stuffing a few hours before you'll need it. The important thing is to keep it properly chilled so that bacteria won't have a chance to grow in it.

Among the many side dishes enjoyed by Americans during Thanksgiving, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, homemade rolls, cranberry sauce, roasted vegetables, sweet potato casserole and green bean casserole made the list of least-liked side dishes.

The solution is to bring meat that does not need refrigeration. Some long-lasting canned meat products fare well in cool and dry places. Canned chicken, chicken packets, sausage links, precooked bacon, beef jerky, and canned ham are viable protein substitutes.

In fact, you'll cut a lot of stress out of turkey day if you prep a few side dishes now. Just stash them in the freezer for up to a month, and you'll have even more to be thankful for on Thanksgiving. These top recipes and prep tips for make-ahead Thanksgiving side dishes will save precious time on the big day itself.

Also known as Drinksgiving, Blackout Wednesday or Black Wednesday has become the first drinking weekend of the holiday season. In many ways, it rivals New Year's Eve and St.

Since it's the main event, the turkey should be the first dish you start cooking in the morning. "The resting process is an absolutely imperative part of the cooking process," Holzman said. Many people overcook their turkeys in the oven and overlook letting them rest, rendering the final product dry and rubbery.

How many dishes should I serve with the turkey? For 4 people, choose 1-2 appetizers and 3 sides. For 8 people, choose 1-3 appetizers and 3 sides. For 16 people, choose 2-3 appetizers and 3 or more sides.

What are the 5 most common sides served on Thanksgiving Day? ›

So, if the turkey weighs 12 pounds, plan for it to defrost in the fridge for about three days. If 16 pounds or more, make sure it's placed in the fridge four to five days before the holiday arrives.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states you can keep cooked poultry dishes frozen for four to six months. However, remember that the longer you leave food in the freezer, the more flavor it may lose. Many families prepare a ham alongside their turkey.