Flashback to last year. There you were, hip deep in turkey drippings, frantically juggling roaster pans, casserole dishes and saucepans in and out of the oven and across stove burners. All the while, you were keeping track of multiple time lines, hoping for a cooking convergence that would come together precisely at dinnertime.
This year, avoid holiday headaches in the kitchen by making sure you have the right equipment for the job — appliances that will help you land a moist and flavorful bird on the cutting board with a symphony of side dishes that hit the table right on time. Here’s how to prep for the festivities so that you can enjoy the celebration as much as your guests.
Keeping Your Cool
The secret to a more flavorful feast is freshness. Forgo the cans, cartons and convenience mixes — you’ll want to use as many whole-food ingredients as possible. Of course, that means you’ll need capacious cooling to keep it all safe until showtime. Upgrading to a larger refrigerator, especially one with French doors that allows wider platters to slide inside, will let you store your gigantic grocery haul and make some dishes — even the turkey — ahead of time.
The Power of Two: Double Oven
In addition to a turkey, there are tasty pies and casseroles to consider. One solution is a double oven with true convection (for quick and crispy results) and some automation to keep track of the contents while you concentrate on what’s happening over on the stovetop. If your kitchen design limits you to a freestanding range, some models do offer a second, small oven, but you could also consider a double wall unit that has the capacity to hold a full-sized turkey and a coterie of casseroles.
All-star Cooktop
When it comes to cooking multiple dishes of varying sizes, the flexibility of a multi-zone cooktop can’t be beat. Some radiant and gas cooktops are arranged so that a roaster pan can span multiple burners or have griddles, but induction cooktops offer even more flexibility. Shrink the heating area down to snuggle your smallest saucepan or combine several areas to take on a full-size roaster or stove-safe casserole dish. Add Wi-Fi connectivity to keep you informed or start/stop cooking remotely, and you’ll have a virtual sous chef at your side.
Prep Like a Pro
A little pre-game prep and a capable team of top-flight tools will go a long way in making your next Thanksgiving a lot more enjoyable — for you and your guests. You don’t need a wish bone to make this Thanksgiving a triumph. Come talk to one of our experienced advisors and see advanced appliances in action at one of our spacious, hands-on showrooms, and start planning your most successful Turkey Day yet.
Happy Thanksgiving from Aggressive Appliances!
Must-have Appliances for Effortless Holiday Entertaining
Roomy Refrigerator. A family-sized bird plus a couple of casseroles, a big pot of potatoes, a side of stuffing and a pie or two will crowd most refrigerators. The Dacor DRF487500AP accommodates enough food for even a large multi-family gathering to feast on. The French doors open wide enough to easily slide in a whole roasting pan while the FreshZone drawer safely thaws your frozen pies. Bonus: The FreshZone+ compartment converts from freezer to refrigerator.
https://www.aggressiveappliances.com/products/Dacor/dac/drf487500ap.html
Baking Capacity Boost. There’s a lot of baking to be done during the holidays, and a double oven is a great option for mega-meals. The Bosch HBLP651RUC features a convection Multi Rack for even heating and consistent results, as well as a temperature probe to closely monitor your bird’s progress. With a total capacity of nearly 10 cu. ft., this will adeptly handle cooking for a crowd.
https://www.aggressiveappliances.com/products/bosch/hblp651ruc.html
Customize Your Cooktop. If you weren’t ready to go induction before, now’s the time. Induction cooking lets you dial up precise temperatures, and the Gaggenau CX482611 takes it even further. You can use the entire cooktop as a single zone up to 21” wide for making gravy in the roaster pan, then split it in up to five separate heating zones to coordinate a quintet of saucepans as small as 3”.
https://www.aggressiveappliances.com/products/Gaggenau/gag/cx482611.html
