Holiday season is just around the corner. Here are some kitchen prep ideas to get your home ready for the gatherings, people, and cooking that will be coming.

Clear the counters:

Although it may be a simple task, a clean work space will do wonders. It opens up space and gives you room to do all of your cooking. Also, the kitchen is usually the gathering place where everyone congregates in. Getting rid of clutter and putting away decorations opens it up and gives your guests space as well.

Clean out the fridge:

It may seem like an obvious thing to do, but it can often get overlooked when it comes to crunch time.  Start by geting rid of the food that is expired; also toss the things you haven’t touched in awhile. Make room in the fridge not only for the leftovers but also the gifts that are coming in the next couple of months.

Plumbing:

Nothing can ruin your post-meal happiness better than a clogged drain or broken garbage disposal while you’re trying to clean up. A clogged kitchen sink is often caused by grease and potato peels and other scraps making their way down the drain. Avoid this by scraping plates and dishes into the garbage before piling them up in the sink.

The garbage disposal is a beast in and of itself. Although it is great for getting rid of scraps, you need to make sure your using it properly. Start with small bones, ice, and other hard materials to clear out any obstructions in your drain. Then go on with other foods. It’s important to run cold water while you’re using the garbage disposal because it flushes the food through the pipes and avoiding buildup that can potentially clog your drain.

After you’re done with cleanup, keep the disposal smelling fresh by running citrus fruits through it.

Oven Prep:

Be sure to throughly wipe down your oven, both inside and out. We don’t mean running the self-cleaning option. The self-clean cycle is hard on your oven and you don’t want it to break down before the holidays. Instead take a washcloth soaked in soapy warm water and clean it the old-fashioned way. The next thing to do is to check if the temperature is accurate. Don’t risk over, or under cooking your main dish. Simply set your oven and place a thermometer on the center rack. Once it is fully heated, compare the thermometer to the oven setting.

Stock up on Essentials:

You don’t want to run out of the essentials during your holiday gathering.

• Garbage bags
• cling wrap
• aluminum foil
• leftover containers
• dish soap

Sharpen Knives:

How do you expect to carve your turkey with a dull knife set? With all of the cutting, chopping, and dicing going on in the next few months, you want to make sure that they are up to the task. Not sure how to do it? Here’s a handy video on how to sharpen you knife set.