10 Thanksgiving Hacks for a Stress-Free, Easy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving dinner table

If you’re hosting Thanksgiving this year, you’ve probably got a lot on your to-do list. Use these Thanksgiving Day hacks to help the big day run as smoothly and stress-free as possible:

1. Start your meal preparations early

An easy thanksgiving starts with a plan. Once you’ve decided your menu, figure out what can be made ahead of time to minimize cooking on Thanksgiving Day, which will be busy enough. Most foods, like pies, cranberry sauce, and potatoes, can be cooked the day before and be refrigerated so that you can reheat them the next day.

2. Set the stage the night before

Taking care of little chores around the house that you might not have thought of can make a big difference when you’re pressed for time on Thanksgiving Day. Try to knock out as many of these things as possible a day or two before to make your Thanksgiving run smoother:

Set the table(s) you plan to use. If you think you’ll need extra chairs or tables, make arrangements to borrow or rent more.
Empty the kitchen trash and unload the dishwasher before going to bed on Wednesday.
Prep for guests by cleaning bathrooms and making sure they’re stocked with hand towels, and clearing space in the coat closet.

3. Don’t be afraid to delegate

The next time someone asks, “What can I bring?” or “How can I help?” don’t be afraid to hand out some assignments. Ask your guests to bring a side dish or dessert, fill water glasses, or help clean up after the meal.

4. Use your voice as a second set of hands

Your smart home will be invaluable on Thanksgiving. As the temperature in the house rises with ovens and burners going, as well as the addition of more people, use voice control on a smart speaker to adjust a smart thermometer and cool down the house.

5. Let your oven do double duty

Worried there won’t be enough room in the oven? Simplify your cooking time by finding out what recipes can be cooked at the same temperature, then pop them all in and cook them at the same time.

6. Multitask like a pro

Who says you can’t be two places at once? Use your smart home features to juggle entertaining guests with meal prep. Once the doorbell camera shows you who’s at the door, say hi to them and use your smartphone app to unlock the door. This can be done from the kitchen or wherever else you happen to be.

7. Maximize your cooking and storage space

When preparing a Thanksgiving Day feast, refrigerator and oven space is hard to come by.

Keep side dishes like mashed potatoes or green beans warm in your slow cooker.
Store hot liquids, like gravy, in a thermos until ready to pour into a serving dish
Use the microwave to keep things warm. Microwaves are insulated and can keep hot dishes warm for up to 30 minutes or so.
Fill a cooler with ice or ice packs to keep cold dishes and condiments chilled. Store in the garage, back deck, or patio to keep your kitchen clutter-free.

8. Don’t be afraid to use disposable dinnerware

If the thought of a sink full of dishes has you dreading cleanup on Thanksgiving Day, just use paper or plastic dinnerware. You can easily find disposable dinnerware and flatware that looks surprisingly realistic and will make for an easy Thanksgiving. Just make sure it’s made from quality heavy-duty materials, so plates don’t leak, or your guests don’t snap a fork in the middle of the meal.

9. Prepare some kid-friendly activities

Keep your little guests entertained (and out of the kitchen) on Thanksgiving with a few activities. They can decorate and fill out a gratitude jar you can read aloud before the meal. Or, print off some Thanksgiving coloring pages and set out some crayons.

You can also keep an eye on them while you’re working with an indoor camera. Not only can you see what’s going on, but you can also use your camera’s two-way voice feature to speak to them with the touch of a button.

10. Capture memories as they happen

Thanksgiving is all about creating memories with your friends and family. You can stay in the moment and enjoy the day as it happens and still capture the memories of the day with an indoor camera and playback DVR. Once the flurry of activity from the holiday has wound down, you can watch the recordings and relive the memories.

An easy Thanksgiving is a happy Thanksgiving. With these hacks, you can take the stress out of Thanksgiving prep so you can enjoy the holiday with your loved ones.