What are the must haves for Thanksgiving dinner?

34 Traditional Dishes You Need To Make The Ultimate Thanksgiving Menu

of 35. Roast Turkey. A straightforward and easy way to roast a turkey.
of 35. Green Bean Casserole.
of 35. Candied Yams.
of 35. Perfect Mashed Potatoes.
of 35. Perfect Gravy.
of 35. Dry Brined Turkey.
of 35. Classic Stuffing.
of 35. Cranberry Sauce.

What is the most popular side dish on Thanksgiving?

Three of the New York Times cooking section’s most popular Thanksgiving recipes are potato-related: a mashed potato casserole, potato gratin and cheddar mashed potatoes.

What should a guest bring to Thanksgiving?

Be a gracious guest and show up with something thoughtful or — in the spirit of the holiday — something edible!

#1 An appetizer, side dish, or dessert.
#2 Wine, whiskey, champagne, cider, or [insert your favorite drink].
#3 Flowers or centerpieces.
#4 An edible treat for the next morning.

What time should Thanksgiving dinner be?

The Earlier the Better. I’m all for Thanksgiving dining earlier – it can be 2 p.m., 3 p.m. or even 5 p.m. in your home, but should certainly start earlier than your usual 7 or 8 p.m. dinner.

How far in advance can I cook for Thanksgiving?

between one and three days

Can you make Thanksgiving side dishes ahead of time?

Most can be prepped, assembled, or even totally cooked anywhere from a day to a month in advance. From mashed potatoes and stuffing, to gravy and casseroles, these are the Thanksgiving sides to make ahead.

What Thanksgiving side dishes can be frozen?

Thanksgiving Dishes You Can Make Ahead and Freeze

Roasted Kabocha Squash Soup. Jacqui Wedewer/The Daily Meal.
Pumpkin Kale Lasagna. Courtesy of Jason Goldstein, Chop Happy.
Spinach Lasagna.
Loaded Mashed Potatoes.
Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes.
Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole.
Garlic Mashed Potatoes.
Loaded Potato Soup.

What can you make ahead for Christmas dinner?

10 classic Christmas recipes you can make ahead

Make & mature Christmas cake. This traditional festive fruitcake is best made well in advance, and can be fed regularly with brandy, sherry, whisky or rum.
Easy mince pies.
Golden roast potatoes.
Super-simple cranberry sauce.
Best ever Yorkshire puddings.
Pigs in blankets with a twist.
Make-ahead gravy.
Spiced red cabbage.

How do you reheat mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving?

If you are reheating them in the oven, stir in the stock and butter pieces, then spread the potatoes out in a baking dish. Reheat at 350˚F for 20 to 30 minutes, or until the potatoes reach 165˚F. Another nice thing about leftover mashed potatoes is that you can use them as a blank canvas and add in other ingredients.

How do you keep mashed potatoes from getting gummy?

Warm the milk and butter. Heat the ingredients at a low temperature, stirring occasionally, to prevent the milk from scalding and butter from burning. Then fold in the dairy to the mashed potatoes just until it’s incorporated — don’t over-stir.

Why do my mashed potatoes get gluey?

Overworking the potatoes. When potatoes are mashed, starch is released. The more you work the potatoes, the more starch gets released. When too much starch gets released, the potatoes become gummy, gluey, and unappetizing.

Can you fix gluey mashed potatoes?

The bad news with gluey mashed potatoes is that there’s no real way to fix them. Once you’ve incorporated that excess starch into the mix, you can’t take it out.

Should you soak potatoes for mashed potatoes?

Eating healthy should still be delicious. Soak the baking potatoes for just a few minutes in cold water to release some of their starch so the cooked spuds don’t get gluey. A combination of starchy bakers and more waxy, buttery Yukon Golds creates an ideal creamy-yet-fluffy final texture in the mash.

What is the difference between mashed and whipped potatoes?

So how are creamed potatoes different from mashed potatoes? Mashed potatoes can have butter and perhaps a bit of milk. Creamed (or whipped) potatoes are beaten with an electric mixer — or one of those old-time hand-held manual mixers — and they have lots of butter and cream to create a smoother texture.

Can I use a food mill for mashed potatoes?

If you want to step up you mashed-potato game, regardless of whether you like them fluffy or creamy, a food mill or potato ricer is your best bet.

What is the best tool to mash potatoes?

The Best Tools for Mashed Potatoes, Whichever Way You Like Them

Potato ricer. A potato ricer is widely regarded as the best tool for mashed potatoes that are smooth and fluffy.
Food mill.
Potato masher.
Immersion blender.
Hand mixer.

What kind of potatoes should I use for mashed potatoes?

Choose higher starch potatoes like Russets or Yukon Golds for the fluffiest, smoothest and most flavor-packed mash. Russet varieties mash up light and fluffy, while yellow-fleshed potatoes like Yukon Gold have a naturally buttery flavor and creamy, dense consistency.

What is the difference between white and russet potatoes?

The long white and russet are similar and contain higher amounts of starch, with a low moisture content. The russet potato is rounder and has a brownish skin with a lot of eyes. In contrast, the long white is longer (hence the name) and has a thin, grayer skin.

Are russet or Yukon Gold better for mashed potatoes?

Here’s my secret though—even better than Russets for mashing are Yukon Golds. They’re a little more expensive than Russets, but worth it! They’re naturally creamy when mashed, never mealy, and have a slightly buttery flavor all on their own. Yukon golds make the most perfectly creamy, buttery mashed potatoes.

How do you make mashed potatoes thicker?

Cornstarch, flour, tapioca, powdered milk, or a hard cheese like Parmesan are all great ways to get your potatoes a little thicker. Don’t forget to sample your potatoes after adding your thickener so you can add more seasonings if needed!