How to get your kitchen ready to host Thanksgiving – 8 steps from professional organizers for a smooth and seamless setup

Our kitchens work hard over the holidays, whether you are cooking up a storm, hosting a dinner party or entertaining guests over a festive cocktail.

It is, therefore, essential to get your kitchen ready for Thanksgiving guests – just as you would plan your decorations, tablescape or menu.

Here are the seven things organizers and chefs always do to avoid any Thanksgiving hosting mistakes, to take the stress out of setting up and cleaning away post-celebrations.

How to get your kitchen ready for Thanksgiving guests

Whether you have a large kitchen or are hosting Thanksgiving in a small space, you can never do too much prep work to ensure the actual day runs smoothly. Here's where to start.

1. Clear off counters

When a holiday requiring so much cooking comes around, it is essential to keep kitchen counters clear to maximize your workspace while also giving guests space to put down food, gifts, and drinks, advises Lauren Allen, chef and founder of Tastes Better From Scratch.

Your prep work should always begin by decluttering your kitchen, removing non-essentials from the kitchen entirely, and cleaning down surfaces, she says. Use a fall-scented disinfectant, such as the fall leaf scented MRS. MEYER'S CLEAN DAY Multi-Surface Everyday Cleaner available at Amazon for a seasonal touch.

You might be amazed at how even just a quick clear-out can be perfect for making more counter space in a small kitchen – perfect for hosting guests in a limited footprint, so use a kitchen decluttering checklist and get to work.

'Get rid of anything that isn't needed and think about how to order the tools in a way that looks good,' says Edwin Nino Delgado, Founder and Owner of Puget Sound Cleaners. 'This not only gives you more room to work, but it also makes your kitchen look better.'

2. Take the chance to deep clean

As tedious as it may be, deep cleaning a kitchen is a must to prepare a kitchen for Thanksgiving guests, says Sean McGrath, professional cleaner and founder of Cleaning Technique.

‘Take the opportunity to give your kitchen a thorough deep clean. When you’re catering for family and friends it must be as clean as possible before you start cooking, as you want to ensure that you are preparing food in a hygienic environment to minimize the chance of contamination.

‘When deep cleaning your kitchen, it’s important that you start at the highest point and work down. So, light fixtures, air con, high shelves – clean anything up high and work your way down from there. That way, as dirt and particles drop and settle, you’ll be able to clean them up as you progress.’

Shari Solomon Cedar, CEO of commercial cleaning company AK Building Services, recommends cleaning your oven inside and out, to 'make your turkey appear more appetizing while it's baking,' and mopping the floors the right way.

'For the oven and your kitchen floor, use Simple Green Industrial Cleaner and Degreaser (#1 Bestseller at Amazon),' she says. This product is versatile and will leave your floors and oven spotless. Simple Green products are safe and are available at your local Home Depot store or at your local grocery store. If you have baked-on grease in your oven, try the Easy Off Heavy Duty Trigger Cleaner Degreaser,' which is available at Target.

For cleaning your stainless steel appliances or refrigerator, Cedar recommends the Weiman Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polish Trigger available at Target, which cleans shines, and protects, cutting through grease and grime in seconds.

You should also tackle deep-cleaning your sink, which will be heavily used when hosting. For this, try Bar Keeper's Friend, which is also available at Target. 'Your sink must be spotless when your guests arrive,' says Cedar. 'This is a liquid cleanser will remove all the stains from porcelain or stainless-steel surfaces.' You can also try using lemon to scrub your sink, for an eco-friendly cleaning alternative.

'If your refrigerator is white, this product will remove unsightly stains from the surface and the handles,' adds Cedar. 'Stay away from the powder formula as it is more difficult to use and remove.'

3. Take stock of what you already have at home

Although it is unlikely that your guests will start to rummage through your kitchen storage, it is important to declutter a pantry and declutter a fridge to stock-check what you already have before writing your shopping list, says Allen. This prevents duplicates that will either go to waste or take up much-needed space for food storage and stowing leftovers, she explains.

'Sometimes we lose track of products in our kitchen, especially when it comes to dry food,' says Jade Piper, operations manager for BetterCleans. 'Take this opportunity to look through your pantry for things that have gone bad or perhaps are still in date but you know you’ll never open them.

'If it’s something like this that still has longevity, then donate it to your nearest food drive. When doing a clear out like this I like to take the opportunity to make a list of all the foods I didn’t consume! This has really helped me with buying unnecessary items next time I go grocery shopping,'

If you do need to stock up, these food storage ideas will extend the life of your groceries and reduce food waste.

4. Plan out a menu before food shopping

Once you have taken stock, then you can get to planning meals and shopping, says Lauren Saltman, professional home organizer and founder of Living Simplified.

‘Menu plan early and don't forget that your guests might be around before Thanksgiving so be sure to have extra snacks and food on hand,' she says. 'Then, create a detailed shopping list and get to the grocery store before they get crowded or run out of an important ingredient.'

Make sure you check your pantry before heading out to the shops, to check what you have and what you need to pick up. 'Do a pantry inventory to ensure that the menu will go as planned,' says Joseph Passalacqua, owner and CEO of Maid Sailors, which will ensure your seasonal recipes for fall taste as good as they look. 'And create an organized pantry system that perfectly works for you and your kitchen so you can enjoy your time in the kitchen, especially when this is shared with your nearest and dearest.'

5. Group items together so they’re easy to find

Organizing kitchen appliances is a must year-round, but it is particularly prudent before you host guests at Thanksgiving, suggests Amy Bloomer, professional organizer and founder of Let Your Space Bloom.

She recommends grouping similar items in your cabinets and drawers. ‘This makes it easier to find what you need quickly. For example, store pots and pans near the stove, baking supplies together, and utensils in a designated drawer,’ she says.

6. Prepare your appliances

Once you have grouped your appliances and utensils and organized your kitchen drawers, then you can check over everything you are going to use and ensure that they are working efficiently, adds Lauren Allen, chef.

‘Make sure appliances like your oven, stovetop, microwave, and dishwasher are cleaned. Check that small appliances like a blender, mixer, Instant Pot, etc are accessible and ready to use.

‘Nothing derails a dinner party like a dirty oven or broken appliance,’ she warns.

Ken Doty, COO at The Maids also advises cleaning your food disposal, and making sure it's working efficiently. 'Don't forget your garbage disposal,' he says. 'Chopping up a whole lemon and letting the disposal work its magic will suffice.'

7. Divide your kitchen into zones

There are six key zones of kitchen organizing, and setting up a clear distinction between them all can help you to settle into a smooth flow when cooking up for your Thanksgiving guests, says Lina DaSilva, cleaning expert and founder of Toronto Shine Cleaning.

‘Divide your kitchen into zones based on activities – prep, cook, serve, and wash. This streamlines movement and ensures that tools and ingredients are at hand where needed. It also helps when it comes to cleaning up after hosting too,’ she adds.

8. Prepare your dinnerware

Finally, once your kitchen is ready for hosting, make sure your table will be too. Check for any breakages, before cleaning your dinnerware and cutlery and storing it all in one place, ready to bring your fall table decor ideas to life.

'Wash your fancy dishes, glassware, serving dishes – the ones that we use for special occasions, maybe once or twice a year,' says Cedar. You should also take the time to polish your cutlery, with Piper's expert hack to polish cutlery.

'Sometimes, no matter how much you scrub a knife, fork, or spoon, you’re left with water spots on them once they’ve dried,' she says. 'A great tip I have for this is to put some hot water and a few tablespoons of white vinegar in a bowl (depends on how many you do at once) and submerge your cutlery in there to soak until the water is cool enough to handle.'

Then using a microfiber cloth or tea towel, wipe down each utensil for a streak-free shine. 'And don’t worry, they do not stay smelling of vinegar,' assures Piper.

You can also use a dry microfiber cloth to polish your glassware. It may also be necessary to remove cloudiness from drinking glasses.

FAQs

What kitchen utensils do I need for Thanksgiving?

When preparing a kitchen for Thanksgiving, it helps to have a set of quality utensils to hand, including at least one wooden spoon, measuring spoons and cups, a basting brush, a spatula, a whisk, tongues, a meat thermometer, and a carving knife. These are the absolute essentials to have on hand, with extras a bonus to help the meal go more smoothly.

You might also want to perfect your home bar bar setup, ready for shaking up cocktails with friends and family.

What should I cook first for Thanksgiving?

You should always start Thanksgiving cooking with whatever will take the longest. Usually, this is the turkey or other meat you have chosen for your centerpiece. While this is in the oven, you will have plenty of time to cook everything else to accompany it, such as the sauces, vegetables, and stuffing.

Our roundup of the best turkey roasting pan is a handy guide to acing your Thanksgiving turkey.

It also helps to prep the various elements the day before so you can focus on cooking and hosting on the day.

Meet our experts

Lauren Allen

Lauren Allen is the founder of Tastes Better From Scratch. As a chef, her primary focus is recipe creation, and has recently launched her own cookbook, available at Amazon.

Lauren Saltman

For professional organizer Lauren Saltman of Living. Simplified., decluttering, and organizing are how she lives her daily life, whether she is organizing her home, a friend’s office, or a client’s garage, her resourceful approach yields happy clients who learn to incorporate techniques for a happier and more simplified lifestyle.

Amy Bloomer

Amy Bloomer owns Let Your Space Bloom, a home organizing company. She's been in thousands of homes, helping families, professionals and retirees to transform their space, and in turn, their lives.

Lina DaSilva

Lina DaSilva is the founder of the award-winning Toronto Shine Cleaning. With over 5 years of industry experience, she specializes in residential cleaning and home organization. Her venture focuses on offering living wages and empowering homeowners to enjoy cleaner, more organized spaces.

It is not just your kitchen you have to get in shape for Thanksgiving. You also need to consider getting your bathroom ready for Thanksgiving guests and styling an inviting guest room to ensure overnight guests feel welcome in your space. This attention to detail is perfect for ensuring your home is always the first choice when the holidays roll around.