What can you cook ahead?

[Anonymous]

Can you do mashed potatoes on Tuesday or Wednesday and reheat them without goopiness? I was thinking of doing the pie on Wednesday evening. We're Polish and I was thinking of simmering Kielbasa and Saurkraut today (Monday) but do you think it will keep until Thursday? What are you making ahead?

[Anonymous]

Pies can absolutely be made ahead of time.

For the potatoes, I'd prep them today (wash, peel) and then store until Wednesday. Then make the mashed potatoes and put in a microwaveable dish. Take them out of the fridge at the beginning of the day so they aren't ice cold in the middle. Then mix in a little warm milk and top it with generous pats of butter. Microwave and stir and add butter as needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pies can absolutely be made ahead of time.

For the potatoes, I'd prep them today (wash, peel) and then store until Wednesday. Then make the mashed potatoes and put in a microwaveable dish. Take them out of the fridge at the beginning of the day so they aren't ice cold in the middle. Then mix in a little warm milk and top it with generous pats of butter. Microwave and stir and add butter as needed.

Store those cut potatoes in cold water so they don't oxidize

[Anonymous]

I made cranberry sauce last night

Pies, rolls and sweet potato casserole on Tuesday night (It would be Wednesday, but I have plans).

Cut vegetables Wednesday if I'm not too tired.

Everything else is saved for Thursday

[Anonymous]

I would cook the potatoes a day or two early, then reheat and mash (with lots of butter and milk!) on Thanksgiving day. Pie on Wednesday, absolutely. Anything with lots of sauerkraut will keep a week or more, make that today and don't think about it again.

Personally, my group does potluck so I only have to do mac and cheese, pie, and cornbread, all of which I'm planning to bake Wednesday, with the mac and cheese being reheated Thursday.

[Anonymous]

Any sort of casserole can be made a day or two in advance.

[Anonymous]

What about stuffing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about stuffing?

NP - stuffing is one of the very few day of things for me, because I don't think it reheats well. But, I love stuffing!

Things I'm making ahead: cranberry sauce, pies, cranberry curd tart. I've also done a lot of the prep for the stuffing (chopping onions/celery, drying the bread). My mom is doing the potatoes, thankfully.

[Anonymous]

Potatoes won't get goopy, they dry out. Just add milk/cream when warming and you're good to go.

[Anonymous]

I always prep the sweet potato casserole the day before, and this year I’m also peeling and chopping all root veggies day before.

[Anonymous]

Never freeze mashed potatoes with sour cream in them, you will end up with soup when you defrost them. So glad I had some Betty Crocker boxed on hand or we would’ve been SOL.