TIMING IS EVERYTHING
As if cooking every Thanksgiving dish wasn’t enough work, there’s the added challenge of making sure they’re all ready to hit the table at the same time. Between prepping the food, managing grill space and dealing with hungry guests, it can be a serious challenge. Luckily for you, we’ve created a complete Traeger Thanksgiving timeline to help you plan out your schedule and stay on track throughout the day. With a little prep and planning, you can make cooking an incredible wood-fired feast look effortless to your guests.
BEFORE THE BIG DAY
There’s a whole lot to do before you ever fire up the Traeger. Obviously, you’ll want to buy all your ingredients ahead of time so you’re not scrambling to find a grocery store that’s open during the holiday. If you bought a frozen turkey, you’ll need to start thawing it in the refrigerator up to 5 days in advance, depending on size. And whether you have a frozen or a fresh turkey, you’ll want to brine it overnight to infuse it with maximum moisture and flavor.
Beyond that, there are a few things you that you can prep ahead of time to clear up extra grill and kitchen space on turkey day. Pies can be made the day before and then popped in the oven for a quick reheat before dessert (or, in the case of pumpkin pie, just served cold). Casseroles are another great candidate for prepping the day before – they’ll spend less time on the grill the day of. Remember, even little tasks quickly add up, so every advantage counts.