Christmas is the biggest occasion of the year so if you’re hosting a big meal for family and friends, our Christmas countdown will help ensure you are cool and calm and full of festive cheer on the big day!
Early December
Our Christmas countdown begins in early December. Order a turkey, making sure it will fit in your oven and that you have a roasting tray large enough. To work out what size you need allow 1lb per person. See below for directions on how to cook turkey. If you’re cooking your own, start making your Christmas pudding, cake and mince pies.
Buy all the non-perishables so you can be sure you’ve got them – mince pies, chocolates, and nuts and dried fruits for nibbles on Christmas Day. Don't forget the drinks either!
18 December
If your turkey needs to be defrosted make sure you take it out in time – some will take five days to thaw, so don’t leave it till Christmas Eve! To work out when it needs to start defrosting, allow 1 hour, 48 minutes per 450g/1lb, and thaw in a cool room. Once thawed, the turkey will keep for two days in the fridge.
Remember anyone with special food requirements such as those with allergies or vegetarians and check they are catered for.
Make a list of fresh foods you need to buy on Christmas Eve.
Check all tablecloths and napkins are clean.
Spread the prep over a few days so you don’t spend all of Christmas Day in the kitchen!
Christmas Eve
Have a last-minute shop for fresh goods like cream and vegetables.
Start preparing your vegetables, keeping them in bowls of water so they stay crisp and retain their colour. Make the stuffing.
If you have a fresh turkey take it out of the fridge the night before so it’s at room temperature. Put wines and soft drinks in the fridge.
Start preparing a timetable for Christmas Day, working backwards from your planned serving time – use our plan below as a template.
Christmas Day
Six hours to go
Prepare the turkey for cooking. For those who don’t know how to cook turkey, it can take anything from three to five hours to cook plus it’ll need 30 minutes resting time, so allow for this in your timetable as well as oven-preheating time of around 20 minutes on top. To cook, allow 18 minutes per 450g/1lb. Weigh the turkey after stuffing. A 4.5kg (10lb) turkey will feed 10-12 people and a 6.5kg (14lb) will give 16-18 portions.
Get dressed in your festive outfit!
Two hours to go
Start steaming your Christmas pudding (but check the cooking guidelines if you’ve bought yours), and put the roast potatoes on to parboil. Then, make any sauces you’re serving with the turkey – except gravy – such as bread sauce and put aside. Lay the table and take out any red wine to come to room temperature.
Put out some nibbles for your guests.
One-and-a-half hours to go
The parboiled potatoes should be ready to start roasting.
Serve your guests a glass of fizz to get them in the mood!
30 minutes to go
The turkey should be cooked. To check if your turkey is ready, pierce the thickest part of the thigh with a skewer. If the juices run clear, it’s cooked; if they look pink, return it to the oven.
For information on preparing, how to cook turkey and hygiene call the British Turkey cookery helpline on 0800 783 9994.
Once it's ready leave it to rest while you cook any bacon rolls or cocktail sausages and finish off the roast potatoes.
Make some gravy using the turkey fat from the turkey’s roasting tin.
20 minutes to go
Start cooking the vegetables (depending on cooking time).
10 minutes to go
Check on the Christmas pudding. Put plates in the oven to warm ready to serve and reheat the sauces.
Bon appetit!