10 Things Thanksgiving Hosts Always Forget Until the Doorbell Rings
These are the most-forgotten about hosting details that you won’t be forgetting this year! Add these to your “reminder list” before Thanksgiving rolls around.
You remembered the turkey. The potatoes are peeled, the table is set, and there’s a pie sitting patiently on the counter. You are, by all appearances, ready to host Thanksgiving.
And then the doorbell rings.
Suddenly, someone needs a place to hang six coats, everyone is standing in the kitchen, the butter is rock-hard and you realize you never bought ice. Oh and where’s the Bluetooth speaker for the music? And where is it’s charger? Why can’t I find the bottle opener?
Sound like you?
Before the first guest arrives, run through this list of commonly forgotten hosting details. None of them are particularly glamorous, but each one can make Thanksgiving dinner feel much easier.
You will definitely be the hostess with the mostess this year!
1. Make room for the coats
You probably have space and hangers for your own family’s jackets, but what happens when eight more people arrive wearing coats, hats and boots?
Clear out part of the front closet, gather extra hangers and decide where purses, shoes and children’s belongings (even things like diaper bags) can go. If closet space is limited, designate a bedroom or bring a clothing rack into the entryway.
It’s a small task that prevents the front hall from becoming a mountain of outerwear approximately three minutes into the gathering.
2. Put the drinks somewhere other than the kitchen
If the drinks, ice and glasses are in the kitchen, your guests will be in the kitchen (usually while you’re trying to drain potatoes and remove an enormous bird from the oven. No pressure, right?).
Before anyone arrives, create a self-serve drink area ideally somewhere else. Set out glasses, water, wine, a signature drink and anything guests might need to prepare it themselves. Put out a big bowl with ice and beers or seltzers. It doesn’t need to be fancy. Guests will be able to help themselves which will free up time for you, and it will help everyone settle in and get comfortable.
Taking on individual drink orders while checking the gravy? No, hunny!
3. Buy more ice than you think you need
The ice maker attached to your refrigerator was not built for Thanksgiving. Or even worse, you pull out an ice cube tray that’s half empty (“my husband never refills this thing”, I’ll chuckle and lie).
Pick up at least one bag of ice and transfer some to a bucket or insulated container before guests arrive. You’ll need it for cocktails and cooling other drinks, but it can also help quickly chill a bottle someone brings to dinner.
Worst-case scenario: you have leftover ice. This is considerably better than serving everyone a room-temperature beverage.
4. Serve an appetizer that doesn’t need you
Guests will arrive hungry but this does not mean you should prepare an intricate appetizer while also preparing dinner.
Set out something completely self-sufficient: cheese, crackers, olives, nuts, cut vegetables, dip or a simple grazing board. Place it away from the kitchen, ideally near the drinks, so everyone has somewhere else to gather.
Choose food that can safely sit out for the expected length of time, and don’t make so much that everyone fills up before dinner.
5. Soften the butter
This one is tiny but maddening: warm rolls served alongside butter that has the consistency of a brick.
Put the butter into a covered dish early enough to soften before dinner. If you want to make it feel special, mix softened butter with herbs, roasted garlic, maple syrup or flaky salt.
(Just remember to follow appropriate food-safety guidance and avoid leaving perishable foods at room temperature longer than recommended.)
6. Make an oven-space plan
The turkey may be the main event, but stuffing, casseroles, roasted veggies and dinner rolls will all need their own moment in the oven.
Write down the cooking temperature and timing of every dish. Decide what can be prepared early, what can be reheated and what can go into the oven while the turkey rests. Create an oven itinerary that you can follow day-of. If your dinner plan allows, try to use other cooking methods: slow cookers, air fryers or Instant Pots could all play a role.
Also make sure you have somewhere heat-safe to put each dish once it comes out. Your countertops will appreciate a few strategically placed trivets.
7. Match every dish with its serving utensil
You can own twelve wooden spoons and still somehow have nothing suitable for serving mashed potatoes.
Before dinner, place every serving bowl and platter on the counter. Assign each one a utensil: serving spoon, slotted spoon, tongs, carving fork, ladle or pie server.
You’ll immediately see what’s missing, and you won’t have to dig through a drawer while everyone watches the gravy slowly develop a skin.
Bonus points for labelling each empty dish with a sticky note so you remember what goes where.
8. Empty the dishwasher AND the garbage
You’re going to want your dishwasher to be empty when the evening begins. This allows dirty prep tools, dirty dishes and used glasses to disappear throughout the gathering instead of forming a precarious tower beside the sink. For those guests who will help to clean up, they’ll have an obvious place to put things.
Empty the garbage, recycling and compost too. Put fresh garbage bags in the bins and leave extra bags somewhere easy to find (I like putting extra bags at the bottom so when the full one gets pulled out, there they are!).
This may be the least exciting Thanksgiving advice on the Internet. You’re welcome.
9. Prepare for the leftovers
Everyone wants Thanksgiving leftovers, but usually it’s the host that ends up with everything.
Ask guests to bring containers, save clean takeout containers or pick up an inexpensive reusable set. As clean up commences, start distributing leftovers. Your guests are going to appreciate you, even the following day!
10. Set up coffee and dessert before dinner
By the time dessert arrives, the kitchen is chaotic and you, the host, is probably tired.
Set out dessert plates, forks, napkins and the pie server before guests even arrive. Fill the coffee maker with water, measure out the coffee and arrange mugs, tea and sweeteners together.
When the moment comes, all you’ll need to do is press a button, warm anything that needs warming and accept everyone’s admiration for being so exceptionally organized.
One last thing: leave yourself time to get ready
The house doesn’t need one more pass with the vacuum. The table does not need another decorative object. Nobody will notice the fingerprints on the refrigerator (except maybe your mother-in-law, but that’s okay).
Give yourself a stopping time. Let’s say, at least 30 minutes before guests arrive. Go get ready! Take a breath. Drink a glass of water! Have you eaten today? Grab a small snack.
Thanksgiving dinner will likely not unfold exactly according to plan. Someone may be late, someone may spill a drink and there is always a chance the gravy will require emergency intervention (we have the solution to that, by the way).
But the people you love will be together, dinner will eventually reach the table and thanks to this list, there will be ice.