I’m pretty sure that at one of the restaurants where my older daughter has worked, she set a one-day “tab” record within the past few years on Thanksgiving. (Tips about $800?)
Has anyone ever cooked a turkey ahead and just served the next day? I love the smell, but it just makes the kitchen so hot and it’s so messy carving, and discarding the ugly carcass and just trying to pull it all together!! I now do the mashed potatoes a day ahead and put them in the crockpot the day of.
I think I’ve cooked a turkey ahead of time. If not, I’d be willing to try it. My family likes the make-ahead mashed potatoes better than regular ones (perhaps because of the “extra” ingredients the recipe calls for: sour cream, cream cheese, lots of butter).
Please. No judgement. I started cooking our Christmas turkey on Christmas eve day a few years ago. I was tired of spending the entire day in the kitchen and missing out on kids and grandkids. I actually cook two smaller turkeys rather than one huge one. We love leftovers.
I tried a few different things to reheat it the next day and wasn’t happy with any of them. I finally found the best solution - one of those rectangle casserole crockpots. I lay the the turkey slices in the crockpot, pour some turkey broth over the top and reheat it in the casserole crockpot. It turns out nice and hot and very moist and tasty.
The stuffing and mashed potatoes and corn are also heated in crockpots.
The only thing I cook on Christmas day is a special green bean recipe (no cream of mushroom soup) made the day before but not yet cooked, and the dinner rolls.
I’ve been reading different recipes of make ahead turkey and I’m going to try it this year. Williams Sonoma says to cut it in chunks, then cover tightly in foil. The next day pour stock over it and cover loosely in foil for about 45 minutes. Then carve the chunks before serving.
I think this might be better than slicing it all up the day before, that way would seem to dry it out more.
I typically do a 28 lb. turkey, so won’t be able to use any crockpot.
My mom didn’t want to do thanksgiving about 30 years ago. So we went out. None of us really liked it, but then again…I hadn’t hosted one yet. Now I totally understand.
I love reading this thread because I both love Thanksgiving and dislike it, too! I love our large extended family being together but I would love if someone else in the family would step up and host or at least bring something. One year a cousin offered to bring mashed potatoes. She handed me a bag of Bob Evans prepared containers which I then had to open, find a dish and heat in the microwave. Seriously? It’s a holiday, you walked in with your family of 6 and you couldn’t make them from scratch? !! So, I do all the cooking myself. Everyone has a great time and I dearly love them all.
So be it.
As to cooking turkey the day before- yes! DH slices, puts in a Nesco roaster and covers with turkey broth, puts in refrigerator overnight . Next day plug it in and keep warm and serve right out of the toaster.Works well- we have about 30 guests so we serve buffet style.
“Has anyone ever cooked a turkey ahead and just served the next day?”
Yes. One is cooked ahead of time, unstuffed, but that is used for leftovers/to be sent home with family members. It is also used to make gravy ahead of time which can be a nuisance at the last minute. Then another is cooked the day of to be the turkey that is served.
@leftrightleft Your story reminded me of this old letter that is a hoot. Some people need to have specific instructions spelled out. I agree with you. How hard is it to make mashed potatoes from scratch?!
https://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/2009/11/26/awkward-family-story-the-thanksgiving-letter/
^^ hilarious!!!
@leftrightleft , I had never heard of a nesco before and had to google it. How large of a turkey to do roast and how large is your nesco. Do you use that because it just keeps it warm?
@doschicos - great idea to make that gravy the day before, instead of a last minute scramble!
Crispy skin is my favorite part of turkey - we never have much left for next day. You can take off the skin and crisp it up in a frying pan. While I prefer Thanksgiving at home - both times I’ve been great. Food was good, more pie choices. Lots of vegetables. Both the spa and the club had one round table for us. After the meal we either strolled around or sat in their lounges. Didn’t feel hurried at all.
I mentioned this thread to my husband, and he was all about it. I broke my hand 2 weeks ago, so not sure if I can cook, and we’ve been blending families for the holidays. It looks like nobody is overly sentimental about Thanksgiving on our side, and I know that my daughter’s boyfriend’s mom is easygoing, so we might jump in here. To be honest, it’s me that will be sad.
@HotCanary , this is just one year. You have an injury, so you are trying something new. If you don’t like it, there are lots and lots of years in your lives to try other things or to go back to your previous traditions.
The year my S was born I invited my usual group of friends for Thanksgiving, but told them to make reservations somewhere just in case because his due date was just a week later. Luckily, nothing unexpected happened. 
His birthday is 11/29, so it is never on the day itself, but often shortly thereafter.
The last two years I cooked Thanksgiving dinner at the apartment of S and his GF. We arrived on Wednesday so I could get a head start. I made the pies and a couple root vegetable dishes here, since naturally they had only one oven. Last year her parents also came and they and H and I stayed in a B&B about 5 minutes walk away. We had a wonderful time. Alas, they just had a (traumatic for S) breakup, so there won’t be a repeat.
I love hosting a big Thanksgiving, but unfortunately we are remote from family here and my old friend group has scattered, divorced, or died so it is usually no more than 4. One of my nieces in CT has been hosting for a number of years now, and most of the family tries to come. When I had my chocolate business, it was impossible for us. When we are able to go, I always make a few dishes and a dessert and bring them down to help her out.
I asked GF if there were any traditional family dishes she’d like. She said they always went to a restaurant and she usually ordered steak!
@conmama, wow, a 28 lb turkey is a lot to wrestle with, although I’m sure it looks magnificent! Have you ever considered getting 2 14-16 pounders instead? They tend to have a good meat to bone ratio and cook a lot faster. Also, the smaller carcass is easier for making turkey stock. I always cut any remaining meat off after dinner and pop the carcass into a big pot with an onion, carrot, celery rib, etc so we have fabulous stock the next day for creamed turkey.
We are having Thanksgiving at an inn for the second year in a row. I do not love it, but after several deaths and weddings/engagements in the immediate family, we are trying to forge a path with new extended family by marriage whom we don’t yet know well enough to be comfortable doing the intimate dinner at home thing.
My H uses the turkey carcass and makes stock a the day after Thanksgiving. He makes an amazing turkey soup from a Jamie Oliver recipe that uses the stock and turkey meat plus coconut milk, chillis, lemongrass, shallots, lime, and few other ingredients. I like it better than the turkey!
I haven’t read the whole thread, but we’ve used Whole Foods the past few years. They do a great job and it’s not too expensive. Their dressing is amazing!
We use our grill as an extra oven and cook a turkey in there. For those who don’t want to heat up their house it really helps. I also serve smoked prime rib and stuffed spice ham - I know many don’t like turkey.
I don’t know anyone who goes all out like I do for Thanksgiving. We have people flying in from all around the country, no one is local and I have 20 something people sleeping over 2 days. I have a pool house for all the cousins.
I also give various gifts each year. This year I’m making limoncello, orangecello and orange and vanilla cello and putting them in small bottles as gifts. The family is crazy about my homemade liquor so it’s soaking now as we speak.
My husband also had t shirts made and a different color for each family so we are wearing pj pants and t shirts for the day.
@eyemamom - oh, my gosh! That all sounds so fun!
@Bromfield2 If you have a moment to share a link to the recipe, that soup sounds fantastic.