What do professional chefs do to make Thanksgiving dinner taste so amazing? You’d actually be surprised at the tips they use to transform a traditional meal into something gourmet. Whether it’s choosing a fresh turkey or making the most of their time, professional chefs aren’t reinventing the wheel each holiday season; they’re simply giving it their all.
Skip the Frozen Turkey
You never want to purchase a frozen turkey. Not only do they take days to thaw, but a fresh turkey will always taste better. The key to having the best turkey this Thanksgiving is to find a turkey that hasn’t been pumped full of solution. This means you want to look for an all natural bird. If you want the turkey to be extra juicy, you can always plump it up with your own brine.
Spice things up with Fresh Spices
Spices are used throughout the Thanksgiving dinner. From the cornbread dressing seasoned with sage to the pumpkin pie with cinnamon and nutmeg, you’ll use a variety of spices. The key is to use fresh spices. If you can’t purchase spices from the produce department, at least purchase new spices instead of using the same spices you used last holiday season.
Use Real Cream and Butter
How do you get the best mashed potatoes? Simple. You use real cream and butter. You also make sure to season the water you cook the potatoes in with a healthy dose of salt. Some people even recommend using chicken broth in place of water.
Reinvent the Classics
Instead of having a plain pumpkin pie, do a pumpkin pie with a brown sugar, butter, and pecan topping. Instead of making green bean casserole with canned ingredients, make it with fresh. The idea is to look for ways in which you can make old favorites even better.
Make your Own
Skip the canned cranberry sauce this year and make your own. You can also make your own rolls and cornbread dressing. Instead of opening a box or can, make an effort to make something from scratch.
Put in more Effort
Speaking of putting in more effort into your side dishes, you should also put the effort into your ingredients. Bake your own cornbread for the dressing, make your own pie crusts, etc.
Prep ahead of Time
Last, but not least, use a tip from the pros and prep ahead. Peel and chop your potatoes the night before and store in the refrigerator submerged in water. You can also bake your pies and the cornbread for your dressing the night before.
Is your Thanksgiving dinner missing something? Take a tip or two from the pros and create the best Thanksgiving dinner you’ve ever had. Now throw on your chefworks jacket and prepare to play the role!
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