Simply Sophisticated Event's Thanksgiving Day Timeline
Having a plan for the day of your Holiday Get-Together will help ease the stress of entertaining and ensure that everyone has a good time – even the host!
9:30 a.m.: After you’ve had a chance to indulge in your morning coffee, set the table including all linens, place settings, décor items, and any serving utensils.
10:30 a.m.: The turkey should be at room temperature before it is placed in the oven. This also ensures that you don’t freeze your fingers off stuffing it! Allowing it to sit for about 90 minutes should do the trick - in the meantime, you can finish preparing the stuffing.
12:00 p.m.: Before getting your hands dirty stuffing the turkey, preheat your oven.
12:30 p.m.: Place the turkey in the oven. Now would be a great time to refuel by eating some lunch. You’d be surprised how much energy you need to slave over a hot stove!
1:30 p.m.: If you are serving white wine with dinner, place it in the fridge to chill it now. If you haven’t already prepared your side dishes, get busy cooking! Try pre-cooking some of your recipes so that you can relax with your guests pre-turkey. Closer to dinner time, all you’ll have to do is reheat and serve.
4:00 p.m.: Now is the time to get your dessert ready. Take the pie out of the fridge, whip the cream, prepare the coffee for brewing, and place the tea bag in the teapot. Just don’t make the coffee ahead of time – this is one thing that can’t be reheated!
5:00 p.m.: To see if the turkey is done, check the internal temperature by using a cooking thermometer. If the thermometer reads 180 degrees, the turkey is done! If not, check the temperature every 15 minutes until cooked.
5:00 – 5:30 p.m.: Once the turkey is cooked it should sit for a couple of minutes before carving. This is the perfect time to finish the gravy and place the side dishes into their respective serving platter.
5:30 – 6:00 p.m.: Dinner is served! Just don’t forget to start the coffee maker before sitting down.
Having a plan for the day of your Holiday Get-Together will help ease the stress of entertaining and ensure that everyone has a good time – even the host!
9:30 a.m.: After you’ve had a chance to indulge in your morning coffee, set the table including all linens, place settings, décor items, and any serving utensils.
10:30 a.m.: The turkey should be at room temperature before it is placed in the oven. This also ensures that you don’t freeze your fingers off stuffing it! Allowing it to sit for about 90 minutes should do the trick - in the meantime, you can finish preparing the stuffing.
12:00 p.m.: Before getting your hands dirty stuffing the turkey, preheat your oven.
12:30 p.m.: Place the turkey in the oven. Now would be a great time to refuel by eating some lunch. You’d be surprised how much energy you need to slave over a hot stove!
1:30 p.m.: If you are serving white wine with dinner, place it in the fridge to chill it now. If you haven’t already prepared your side dishes, get busy cooking! Try pre-cooking some of your recipes so that you can relax with your guests pre-turkey. Closer to dinner time, all you’ll have to do is reheat and serve.
4:00 p.m.: Now is the time to get your dessert ready. Take the pie out of the fridge, whip the cream, prepare the coffee for brewing, and place the tea bag in the teapot. Just don’t make the coffee ahead of time – this is one thing that can’t be reheated!
5:00 p.m.: To see if the turkey is done, check the internal temperature by using a cooking thermometer. If the thermometer reads 180 degrees, the turkey is done! If not, check the temperature every 15 minutes until cooked.
5:00 – 5:30 p.m.: Once the turkey is cooked it should sit for a couple of minutes before carving. This is the perfect time to finish the gravy and place the side dishes into their respective serving platter.
5:30 – 6:00 p.m.: Dinner is served! Just don’t forget to start the coffee maker before sitting down.
