Everyone seems to have a party to go to every weekend. And as much as we love being social, it can be exhausting cooking for large groups! This blog post is all about how you can cope with cooking for large groups without burning out.
#1 Plan ahead
The first tip is to plan ahead when you know that you have a large group to dinner with – start cooking the day before! That way, when everyone arrives, all you need to do is set out some snacks and wait for your guests to arrive hungry at the door. The next tip is also important: make sure to choose recipes that can be made in advance or don’t take too long, such as a chicken and rice casserole from scratch! The last thing anyone wants on their weekend night off is slaving over a hot stovetop.
If possible, try making dishes that use similar ingredients but require different methods of preparation. This will help reduce stress as well since not everything has to be timed perfectly with each other’s recipe steps. For example, if one person decides they want something spicy, you can make a spicy casserole that doesn’t require much preparation time, but if someone else wants something milder, then there is less of an issue. As a result, the former person can enjoy their dish while the latter takes longer to cook theirs.
#2 Do most of the prep work beforehand
Another great tip is to do most of the prep work beforehand. When you have a lot going on, it’s easy for things to slip your mind! If you chop all of your ingredients ahead of time, then that is one less thing that can go wrong as dinner gets closer and closer. The next step in doing this well would be labeling those prepped food items, so everyone knows which dish goes with what ingredient when they are ready to put their dishes together.
#3 Keep it simple yet tasty
When cooking for a large group, it’s also important to remember that simplicity is key. This isn’t the time to try out a new recipe – you want everyone to enjoy their meal, not spend the entire time puzzling over what they are eating.
That doesn’t mean your dish has to be boring, though! There are plenty of recipes that are simple but still taste amazing. For example, InstaPot recipes are perfect simple yet amazing. Plus, if there are any ingredients that might be unknown or intimidating to some guests, you can always offer up an explanation (or better yet, a demonstration) on how best to cook and eat them.
#4 Keep your kitchen clean
This one might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s still worth mentioning: make sure to keep your kitchen clean! This will help reduce stress levels and make it easier for everyone to move around.
If you have the time, try doing a quick sweep of the kitchen before guests arrive. That way, you can focus on cooking instead of worrying about messes. If there are any spills or accidents, don’t worry – we’ve all been there! Just take a deep breath, grab some cleaning supplies, and get to work.
In conclusion, cooking for large groups doesn’t have to be stressful! With these tips in mind, you’ll be able to cook up excellent meals that everyone will love – without burning out in the process.
