Thanksgiving Hacks: The Prep

November 24, 2015

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Some carrots, potatoes, onions, tomatoes, garlic and laurel on chopping board.

Thanksgiving is a time for family, food and fun. Along with all that comes a lot of work. The Lock Up Self Storage understands that and we want to provide you with some invaluable life hacks to help you get organized so that you can enjoy the day instead of slaving away. Here are some Thanksgiving Day Prep hacks that will get you on the right track for the big day.

Organize Your Home
Thanksgiving is one of the biggest travel days of the year, with family traveling far distances to break bread with one another. If you’re going to have house guests, be sure to go through your home and remove all the extraneous clutter. This will open up your space both for your guests, and for your dinner guests. A Lock Up Self Storage unit is the perfect place to store any items in order to make space for your festivities.
Buffet Style Dinner
If your guest list is long, think about serving your dinner buffet style. Use a kitchen island or buffet to place the main and side dishes. This way your guests can fill up their plates, sit wherever they would like to, and not have to elbow their way between people in order for the inevitable second helping.

Think About Leftovers Early
It’s a cardinal rule that guests get leftovers sent home with them at the end of the evening. But we all know that any containers that you pack food in will never be seen again. Consider this solution: along with your invitations, include a note saying that the night is “BYOT” – Bring Your Own Tupperware – if your guests want leftovers.
Food Prep Hacks
- Meat Thermometer
  Nobody wants an undercooked turkey to hold up the meal. A meat thermometer will keep you on track…you just need to make sure you have one!
- Check Your Recipes
  Make sure that you have everything you need so that you don’t have to make a mad dash to the grocery store.
- Chop, Peel, and Wash Veggies
  All of this can be done the day before Thanksgiving. It may seem like a lot of extra work, but you will be so grateful that you did when you have a houseful of people. Instead of doing all that prep work, you’ll be able to enjoy your company a bit more.
- How To Chop Onions
  Don’t cry while you chop! Instead, place your onion in the freezer for 15 minutes before cutting it. The cold inhibits the onions’ tear inducing chemicals.
- Tape Recipes to Cabinets
  On a day where counter space is at a premium, place your recipes at eye level and out of danger from liquids.