Make your holiday feast fit for a king with these fantastic techniques for your kitchen appliances
It’s a comforting scene. The morning is spent opening gifts and sipping on coffee while festive Christmas music hums in the background. Then, it’s on to the kitchen to prepare everyone’s favourite holiday dinner.
Using your kitchen appliances paired with some tips, time, and planning, you can make this year’s meal easier to prepare than ever before.
The Turkey Thaw (with and without a kitchen appliance)
Regardless of whether you’re cooking a turkey or a ham this year, you’ll need to plan ahead, at least by a few hours.
Using a Temperature-Controlled Thawing Drawer
To properly thaw your main dish, you may want to pull the turkey out of the freezer a few days before. The rule of thumb is that it takes 24 hours for every 4-5 lbs of meat to defrost.
If your fridge has a temperature-option drawer in it, place it in there and turn the setting to thaw. Otherwise, just set it into a pan to catch the drips and pop it onto a shelf. If you want to brine your turkey, start while it’s still partially frozen.
You can keep a defrosted, uncooked turkey in the fridge for about two days.
Using the Cold-Water Method
Uh oh, you got caught up in the Christmas activities and forgot to pull the turkey out of the freezer… Don’t worry! You can always use the cold-water method. This method takes about 30 minutes per pound to thaw.
Tips for cold-water thawing:
- Using a leak-proof plastic bag, squeeze out the extra air and seal.
- Breast-side down, place the bird in your sink or a large bucket.
- Fully submerge the turkey with cold water. You may need to weigh the bird down with something heavy like cans or a casserole dish.
- Change the cold water every 30 minutes.
- Cook immediately after water thawing.
Using the No-Thaw Method
The guests are due tonight, it’s noon, and you just realized the turkey is still sitting like a block of ice in the freezer. Don’t panic.
It is actually possible and completely safe to cook a frozen or partially frozen turkey! Set the oven to 325° Fahrenheit and increase the cooking time by 50% (if frozen) and 25% (if partially). As the turkey thaws, the temperature of the oven will keep the meat out of the danger zone. Remove the giblets when they are thawed enough and add your seasoning halfway through cooking.
Ideal Meat Temperatures
When cooking a large piece of meat, it’s important to make sure the internal temperatures reach a safe number to avoid getting everyone sick for the remainder of the holidays. Here’s a guideline for common protein temperatures:
Turkey
The breast should be 165° Fahrenheit, while the thighs should reach a temperature of 175° Fahrenheit.
Beef & Lamb
Rare – 125° Fahrenheit
Medium rare – 130° to 135°
Medium – 135°to 140°
Medium well – 140°to 150°
Well done – 155°+
Ground beef & lamb – 160°
Pork
Medium rare – 145°
Medium – 150°
Well done & ground – 160°
When checking the temperature of your meat, be sure to insert the thermometer directly into the centre of the meat, away from a bone. Bone tends to conduct heat more than the meat, so if you measure based on the bone temperature, you may have undercooked your meat!
Just Desserts
The roast is taken care of – but don’t forget those after-dinner treats! Use your appliances to the best of their specializations with these delicious suggestions.
1. Bring Us Some Figgy Pudding!
Anyone with British heritage knows that it isn’t Christmas without a steamed pudding. But did you know there is an easier cooking appliance to make these sweet or savoury treats that you cook in a bowl? Rather than steaming them for hours in a pot of boiling water or possibly drying them out in a microwave, why not try cooking your pudding in a steam convection oven? Available as a countertop or wall-mounted unit, this is one of the best appliances out there for making the moistest puddings, cakes, and breads, as it uses steam, circulated by a convection fan, to generate heat.
2. As Good As Your Grandma's Shortbread
One of the most popular items on any baking tray is crumbly and buttery shortbread. If you’re looking for a way to make this traditional cookie that melts in your mouth, you need really soft, but not melted, butter and consistent heat when baking. And the best way to bake with even heat is by using the latest top-of-the-line electric or gas ranges that can heat quickly and efficiently without scorching. If using a gas oven, make sure to rotate your trays for more even baking, and increase the temperature by 25 degrees for crisper shortbread. If using an electric oven, use the middle tray for even baking and use a ceramic shortbread pan for the best looking and tastiest cookies.
3. Don't Trifle with Your Trifle
You can’t beat cook ranges that have induction cooktops for creamy custards. Unlike radiant heat from a traditional ceramic or coil burner, induction cooktops can be controlled that much easier. This way, you won’t overheat your custard or cause your eggs or cream to split or curdle, making for an off-putting trifle. Other delicious desserts that will cook perfectly using an induction cooktop include:
- Smooth pastry cream
- Velvety mousse
- Unforgettable fudge
- Golden caramel
4. Seriously Good Stollen
This traditional yeast bread is typically made from dried fruit and then glazed. As many who bake bread know, proofing and baking dough can be a long and tedious process. However, there are new appliance reviews that suggest dual oven ranges that offer a baking drawer are a great way to allow the dough to rise faster, as it acts as a proof box. Unlike a microwave, which can’t hold large metallic loaf or sheet pans, you can set your baking drawer at 200 degrees to proof your dough and use the other oven for baking the bread. This also allows you to bake more than one loaf at the same time.
Are you looking for the best appliances to help you effortlessly prepare meals for large family gatherings? Come and speak with the appliance experts at Genier’s in Vernon, BC. We offer a wide range of BC appliances, everything from refrigerators with thawing drawers to kitchen ventilation. Come see us today!