Winter is coming and, like it or not, there’s more than tidying up that has to be done when it comes to your kitchen.
No matter the family member reading this article, you all have to understand that preparing the kitchen for the winter holidays is the most important thing that can be done this time of the year!
This is because the holidays also mean some time off work and, therefore, you wouldn’t want to spend your free time preparing your kitchen during the holidays or searching for something that should have been in sight!
This is why, in the following lines, we’ll present you with some tips, tricks, and secrets from RTA Cabinet Supply on how to properly prepare your kitchen for the winter holidays!
Stove Maintenance
Winter means that you will turn your back to the trusty old grill and start using the stove!
Thus, you will have to tune-up, clean, and do some maintenance of this kitchen appliance!
The easiest way to do so is to remove the burner covers and the stovetop grates – after you’ve turned off the gas knob – and wash all of the spots and cracks that you see.
When it comes to the oven, nowadays, most of them have a self-cleaning feature that you can turn on.
Refill the Stock of Pantry Items
Depending on the area you live in, you may want to take heavy snow into consideration.
As we all know, heavy snow implies a good stock of shelf-stable foods!
For this, you should add some canned soups, broths, vegetables, and even tuna to your pantry.
Naturally, don’t forget the snacks, rice, and all types of pasta!
As mentioned above, given that you will have some time off work, you won’t want to waste it with an impromptu shopping session during a blizzard or heavy snow!
Inspection and Insulation of Water Pipes
Obviously, preparing your kitchen for the winter holidays doesn’t mean only food and appliance cleaning.
Interior water pipes can be seriously affected if they are not properly insulated for the winter.
It is important that the pipes under your sink are not exposed to the outside temperatures.
For this, make sure that they are well insulated. On top of that, you can also leave the door of your sink cabinet open so that the hot air in your house can travel through that spot as well.
Pump Up the Jam
First of all, keep in mind that you do have to take full advantage of the benefits that the autumn months come with.
If you do so, not only that you’ll save some money, but you will also enjoy some really delicious holidays!
Take some time off when needed and stock up on sauces, jams, spreads, canned fruits or vegetables, and so on.
After all, what’s better than enjoying a piece of toast with some peach jam in the middle of the winter?
Add to that some green or white tea and you are set for a good mood!
Cooking Schedule
We all know that, during the winter holidays, a whole variety of meals can be cooked.
We also know that most of the time, without the proper planning of certain dishes, we end up not tasting them!
In this respect, it is essential that you come up with a cooking schedule for the duration of the winter holidays.
Naturally, some of the dishes will have to be prepared before the season actually starts – such as potato dishes, casseroles, or vegetables that can be cut and stored.
Tableware Rundown
Obviously, every knife, plate, fork, and spoon must be ready for the winter holidays and for the guests that are bound to visit your home.
On top of that, knives must be sharpened so that you don’t ruin your home-made bread or honey-baked ham while trying to cut it!
Check your spice cabinet, utensils, cooking oils, and cookware. Make sure that you have everything you need for the dishes that you plan to cook!
The Bottom Line
The winter holidays are all about having a good time with the family and with your closed ones!
Therefore, you wouldn’t want to sacrifice some of that good time with a shopping session – or sacrifice a delicious dish just because you are missing that one essential ingredient!
Because of this, take some time and start preparing your kitchen for the winter holidays long before they actually begin! Don’t leave it all for the last week or a couple of days prior to the big events!
