Imagine this on Christmas dinner: A comforting aroma fills every room in your house, the loin is in the oven, the lemon charlotte is in the refrigerator, while the roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, and apple salad are ready. You organized so well that the fruit punch is ready to be served, and the sparkling wine is well chilled. To top it off, there are also snacks to whet the appetite of all the guests! 

Although this scenario seems straight out of a Christmas movie and may be very different from the chaotic days leading up to the Christmas dinner on December 24th, this is not a dream. Saving time in the kitchen during this time of year is possible if you are willing to organize and be patient. 

So now you know, if you want to save time in the kitchen, at kiwilimón we have the best tips and tricks; they will make your life easier this Christmas! Remember that this season is about spending time with your loved ones and enjoying delicious dishes, so there is no room for stress. 

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How to save time cooking Christmas dinner
Take note and apply these tricks; they are practical, easy to follow, and will even help you save when it comes to treating your family.

1. Create your Christmas menu 
This may seem like an obvious tip, however, many people leave the choice of dishes to the last minute, which complicates the entire logistics. In addition, if you create the menu in advance, you can compare prices, look for options, take advantage of offers, and more. We recommend following these steps to create your Christmas dinner menu: 

1. Choose an appetizer; it can be a soup or pasta. 
2. Choose the main dish: turkey, loin, leg, chicken, beef, etc. 
3. Think about the sides: mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, salad, and more. 
4. Don’t forget dessert! We suggest charlottes, yule logs, cakes, and crepes, among other sweet dishes. 
5. Include drinks with and without alcohol. 
6. Don’t forget to include some snacks, cookies, bread, and sweets.

2. Get organized and anticipate 
If the Christmas dinner is going to be large and different families are participating, it is best to divide the dishes, so no one ends up cooking 5 dishes at once. On the other hand, it is essential to make a list of ingredients and buy those that are non-perishable in advance, so you won’t waste time going to the supermarket on December 24th. 

3. Mise en place 
Once you have your Christmas menu set and have done the shopping, it’s time to implement the master plan that saves you a lot of time in the kitchen; it’s the best secret of chefs! We are referring to the so-called mise en place, a technique that involves organizing and having the ingredients ready. 

For example, let’s say you are going to prepare a turkey: 

• Make sure to defrost the turkey properly.
• Prepare the marinade or herb butter: chop the ingredients, peel the garlic, and have everything ready to mix.
• Chop the filling ingredients and mix the spices in one bowl.
• If you are going to inject the turkey, have the syringe and the white wine ready.
• Don’t forget to preheat the oven and take the cooking time!

As you can see, everything seems very simple, but weighing, chopping, grinding, and peeling the ingredients, placing them in containers, and having everything at hand will save you a lot of time in the kitchen, but it is also vital to keep your kitchen clear and organized while you cook a Christmas feast.

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4. Make the most of your utensils 
If you have an immersion blender, a stand mixer, a food processor, an air fryer, a slow cooker, or an electric oven, don’t hesitate to take advantage of them to save time and effort this Christmas. 

If you are going to prepare roasted vegetables, boil them until soft, drain, season, and brown in the air fryer. 

1. Are you going to prepare turkey or loin? Then bake it in the gas oven while you prepare the side dish or dessert in the electric oven. 
2. The food processor is perfect for making turkey or loin stuffing without having to spend hours chopping vegetables and other ingredients. 
3. If you are going to make a delicious corn or roasted tomato cream, use the immersion blender; it will be ready in no time! 
4. Dust off your stand mixer, because while you cook the main dish, you can be whipping up the batter for cakes, cookies, meringue for pavlova, and more.  

5. Make life easier 
We know that preparing dishes for Christmas is very special, as it helps us preserve our family recipes, while it is also a great activity to share with all our loved ones. Therefore, save yourself time and buy: 

• Clean romeritos. 
• Ready-to-prepare mole. 
• Desalted and shredded cod. 
• Chopped nuts and almonds. 
• Grated carrot and beetroot for the salad. 

Although prices may be a bit higher, you will save a lot of time when preparing the Christmas dinner; take note! 

6. Cook the night before 
The strategy that never fails! If you want to spend December 24th in total harmony and without stress, we recommend starting the preparation of the Christmas dishes the night before. For example, you can have the stuffing and marinade for the loin ready, making everything easier. You can also prepare the dessert and punch a day in advance, so you won’t have to rush! 

At kiwilimón, we hope these practical tips and advice help you spend less time in the kitchen and more time with your family, while enjoying exquisite snacks, drinks, and traditional dishes for Christmas.

You can also read: Prepare your Christmas dinner in under 20 minutes