6 Ways to Make Christmas Dinner Easy

It’s safe to say Christmas dinner isn’t the easiest of meals to make. There are more people to cook for, the time and money you need to find to cook it, and different dietary requirements to name a few hurdles to get through!

But it needn’t be that stressful - there are plenty of ways to help make Christmas dinner easy. With the best kitchen appliances and the right tips and tricks, it can be a much easier affair.

To make a traditional Christmas dinner, there are some must-haves:

• Turkey
• Stuffing
• Gravy
• Roast potatoes 
• Brussels sprouts
• Other veg like carrots, parsnips and peas
• Fish or vegetarian alternatives
• Pigs in blankets
• Christmas pudding
• Chocolate log and other sweet treats

Cooking for the whole family is quite a feat, so there’s more to it than just the right ingredients - there’s the kitchenware to think about too. Here’s a comprehensive list of all the kitchen items you need for that all-important feast:

• Oven

• Pots and pans
• Oven sheets and roasting dishes
• Gravy boat
• Chopping knives
• Carving set
• Meat thermometer
• Food baster 
• Kitchen trolley for extra workspace and storage 

The best kitchen appliances for Christmas dinner prep are those that save you time and effort, and of course bring about the best results. Here are the key items to help take the stress out of cooking Christmas dinner.

An electric steamer is a great addition to your Christmas dinner items. When you’ve got carrots, peas, sprouts and endless more veg to cook as well as parboiling the potatoes and parsnips, cooking your veg in an electric steamer will free up some much-needed space on the hob. It’ll also help retain more nutrients than boiling, so you’ll have a healthier meal at the end of it too.

Oven trays and roasting tins may not technically be appliances but they are an essential part of the cooking process, and the right ones help make Christmas dinner easy - or at least more so. Non-stick oven trays are just what you need for roasting the veg and spuds. Not only will food come off easily when serving, but the person who gets stuck doing the washing up will thank you too! And make sure your prized bronze is roasted to perfection as you dig into your dinner by cooking it in a roaster with a rack. It lifts the turkey so hot air circulates and you’re left with a bird that’s succulent and perfectly cooked with a golden, crispy finish all over. When all you need is a simple roaster and rack for results like this, it’s well worth using one.

One of your Christmas dinner must-haves should be a mini electric hob. When you’re cooking for your extended family you’re inevitably going to need more space to boil those extra potatoes and roast the other joints of meat. This handy appliance will take the stress out of getting everything cooked in time and give you extra space when you need it most. The same goes for a mini oven if you don’t have enough room in the main one for all the family’s food. Some even come with hobs on top like the Tower Mini Oven with Hobs - perfect if you’re short on storage or countertop space.

Using a slow cooker for Christmas dinner will make the process a whole lot easier, and give you a much more relaxed Christmas morning. Simply fill it with a joint of meat, set it to cook and let it do all the hard work for you – all you need to do is take it out when it’s done! The meat will be tender and fall right off the bone with no effort required. Check out our slow cookers guide for more on these amazing time-saving appliances.

Take the strain out of peeling all the potatoes and prepping all the veg by investing in a new kitchen knife set. Sharp new blades and comfort grip handles are key to making the task as easy as possible. And with the turkey the star of the show at Christmas dinner, don’t let your perfect roast go to ruin with bad cutting; an electric carving knife will make sure the meat and skin are immaculately sliced.

Always cook a bit too much at Christmas? Keep the extra food warm while you eat with a handy heated server; everyone will be able to help themselves to the extra potatoes and pigs in blankets whenever they want. The popular Tower 3-Pot Slow Cooker and Buffer Server is a great two-in-one to save space on your countertop.