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Kitchen is a place we tend to take good care of and keep clean. However, if you’re planning a gathering, there’s a chance it may need some extra attention. Nowadays, our gatherings have been reduced to just a handful of family members or close friends, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still throw a great celebration. While we’re focused on small gatherings for our safety, there’s still lots of work to do to get your kitchen ready before your guests arrive. Take a look at these tips for preparing your kitchen for a gathering.
Checklist
Make sure to start by creating a checklist of all the things you will need for the night. Since the focus of the kitchen is always on the food, make a list of the ingredients you’ll need for whatever dish you plan to serve. Make note of serving dishes, plates, utensils, and anything else you would need for your meal. Are you cooking everything fresh or reheating your food in a warming tray? These are important items to consider so you are fully prepared by the time your first guest knocks on the door.
Clear Out the Space
The mess in the kitchen is always much greater then in your other rooms. The counter is always a convenient place to set down bills, keys, purses, and other items you don’t want out during your kitchen gathering. Make sure your entertaining space is clear and organized.
Any old or expired food should be taken out of your refrigerator. If you ask people to bring any food items, you’ll want to make sure you have plenty of space in your fridge until the food is ready to serve. Guests will usually bring a bottle of wine or other beverages out of courtesy, so it’s a good idea to make some room beforehand.
Prep Your Items
If you want to make sure there is no rush and everything will be ready on time, the best way is to cook and prepare your food the night before the party. Going through the hassle at the last minute to finish setting up and cleaning be overwhelming. You won’t be able to enjoy the night if you’re too busy preparing everything while the gathering is taking place. The various tasks that can be completed ahead of time, should be. And since kitchen space is such a commodity, you want to maximize your counter and serving space the best you can, which is a much simpler when you’ve already done most of the cooking and cleaning ahead of time.
Cook the Foods You’re Known For
If your kitchen gathering is going to be smaller, it’s not advised to experiment with your food. We all like to try new foods, but when you’re serving food for guests, stick with what you know. You want to serve food that tastes good that you are confident to serve. If it’s a dish you’re comfortable with that you’ve prepared 100 times, you’ll feel much less stressed out about your meal prep.
Keep It Cool
One important thing you need to overlook is making sure for your party space is fresh and cool. Open the windows or turn on the AC before your guests arrive. It’s much easier to heat your kitchen later rather than try to cool it down. Especially if you are cooking and using the stove or oven, once people start to fill in, your kitchen will turn into a sauna in no time.
Cheers Time!
If you consider yourself a good host, you probably know you must supply your guests with some cool refreshment. Especially during summer, a fresh cocktail is the best way to kick things off. Keep a large-batch drink chilling in the fridge so it’s ready to serve. You’ll feel like a great host when pouring a ready-made drink for your thirsty guests and give them something to do—drink and drink some more! You can’t go wrong with a refreshing margaritas.
Music Makes People Happy
No matter your party theme or number of guests, you have to take care of the atmosphere. Music is the best source of entertainment to liven the party and bring your guests together. Music and food go together so well, it’s almost an insult to have one without another.
If your kitchen is the heart of your home, your guests will be drawn to the warmth and relaxation of your gathering. With these helpful tips, your kitchen will be ready to host your next special gathering. And if you need any new kitchen appliances or cooking accessories to make sure your gathering goes off without a hitch, take a look at our wide selection of refrigerators, ranges, ovens, dishwashers and cooktops for sale. Our expert team is always happy to answer any questions and provide any information needed.
