The Turkey Timing Isn't Trivial

Who doesn't love a thoroughly planned out event? Taking a moment to properly space out the team will prevent all sorts of stressful events from occuring. Once you have a plan set in stone, you can focus on the fun parts! Inviting your friends and family over for a seasonal feast is sure to be a great time. Kick your feet and relax after all of your culinary artistry, and let us take care of your dirty work for you. You've Got Maids of Jacksonville specializes in doing the things that you simply don't have time for in your busy schedule. Call us at 904.891.0037 to schedule your free in home estimate now.

Timing Your Turkey

This should be the focus of your schedule, the cornerstone to build upon. Turkeys are quite a large bird, and when you get a frozen one from a grocery store you have to plan out a schedule. A 20 pound bird will take around five days to entirely thaw in the fridge. Thawing your bird in the fridge is the safest way to prevent harmful bacteria from being present in your holiday meal, skip the warm sink bath that some will have to fall back on, it's dangerous! You should brine your holiday turkey for at least 10 hours before you begin to roast it in your oven. The average turkey will take between 2-4 hours to cook all the way through. You will want to let it remain in your oven until the internal temperature from a meat thermometer reads at least 165 degrees in every major area. Once your turkey is up to the proper temperature, remove it from the oven and cover it with a loose layer of tin foil. The residual steam will ensure that the meat is moist and delicious when it is served. Don't cook your turkey in advance, even though it may be tempting to avoid the time spent. Prepare your side dishes in advance and focus on roasting the perfect turkey on the holiday.

Mashed Potatoes, Green Bean Casseroles, Scalloped Potatoes, Sweet Potato Casserole,

Oh my...

Let's talk about your side dishes. Any of the previously mentioned dishes can be completely prepared and refrigerated ahead of time in order to make your holiday efficient. Focus on roasting the perfect turkey, and then stick your side dishes in the oven near the end of the cooking cycle, and during the bird's tin foil sauna.

Stuffing, Dressing, It's Not Good, It's Great

Boxed stuffing, or homemade - it's up to you, and we won't tell your guests if you skip the effort required to make yours from scratch. If it's boxed, whip it up right before the turkey is finished. However, if you are going the route of delicious homemade stuffing you'll want to plan a few days in advance. You will need to pick up a loaf of your favorite bread (go for the good stuff, it makes a difference), cube it up into roughly .5-1inch cubes, and set it out on your counter for a day or two so that it goes stale. This process will give it integrity, and it's necessary to give it enough time to go stale... otherwise your stuffing will be mushy and disappointing. Every recipe is different, but if you want to stuff your bird, plan accordingly for the time your recipe will take to bake alongside the entree.

Pies, Cheesecakes, and Other Desserts

The finish line! The beautiful thing about these sweet treats is that you can make them a day or two in advance. Prepare, prepare, prepare! You don't want to have to cook every single dish on the day of. Spread out your meal-plan throughout the week and prepare as much as you can in advance. You won't regret it!

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