Tips for Hosting Thanksgiving Dinner, According to Experts

The holidays are fast approaching. And hosting Thanksgiving dinner can be a stressful process. So, we gathered expert advice to make it as stress-free and memorable as possible.

[{"selector":"#anim-83669eb2-7f1a-42b8-a336-45985f38af7c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-451937bb-6cc5-41bd-a49e-fef9cd1a5cd8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(76.92307%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b7845f2f-1eec-4cb5-ad86-5edb44964d02","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-07af8422-f43e-49d1-8090-d2b946a7ebba","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-812.19489%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6afd409e-75a8-454c-b0c1-a28e884e0dff","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-85599959-099b-4534-a350-df3cea947f6d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-161.05264%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-97c64d58-a296-46bd-b290-83c7a834776c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f29e6bcc-469c-4bff-a22d-78b1bafe7b39","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -205.90278%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Arrow CONTINUE READING Learn more

Experts revealed tips for preparation, beverages, trending foods, and commonly forgotten items. Time to bust out your finest dinnerware and deck the house into a Michelin-rated restaurant!

[{"selector":"#anim-b33a8d6d-b2ce-4d1d-a986-fb93605152b9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f9b710f7-801c-438d-b1da-2595aa7da8f4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-106.62651%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

Yes, Boring, but Lists Are Your Friend

[{"selector":"#anim-00d7a113-e9e7-4cd6-9e06-f608bd2e2224","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-95d7bb44-10df-474e-b1f3-f98ef30a08cc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -100.42001%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5f973494-754e-4a27-85d8-e97cc76ac8cb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9fd3c428-a3e3-473f-ac0f-52bb5975955c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(117.09678%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1b91e2fa-2b54-4bcf-ad4b-995147ae4588","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-faa70bc2-65b5-4167-955c-cf244936019a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Jon Stephens stated: “One of the best ways to make hosting Thanksgiving a little less chaotic is to make thorough lists in advance of the event. Learn more

Know Your Crowd

[{"selector":"#anim-20c384e1-36ff-4be0-8b42-5877af204264","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ced54c82-078c-419a-8267-3f60e699feaf","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -100.07637%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ce19c73a-0bba-4f59-b1fa-ad16da5ebbd4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3ff468c3-51b0-4b20-bc59-130d8394890a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(117.09678%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4ce797d8-4fcf-4966-b007-4a7b59f9e236","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-45028aeb-1963-4b22-89e2-e9ac4530a70d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Naturopathic practitioner Julius Cermak suggests polling your guests to know what they prefer: “Know the taste buds at your table: At our first Friendsgiving dinner, we served about 6 traditional dishes. Learn more

Double Check Cooking Times

[{"selector":"#anim-e89d847e-52ec-4354-a502-349df356176a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-43cd4a99-1909-46c1-8873-75d410e97871","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -101.2993%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f0c19930-16a2-4f41-95e7-bf88c7dabedf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9a4cad8d-9b9b-45e5-b535-987cf01b17b4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(117.09678%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4178124a-1cfd-4741-90fb-d6476cc47af9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3a412c68-21f9-4c71-ba2c-d698cb7a0523","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Shirlene Kyin, Director of Operations of Soylent, makes an excellent point of checking cooking times in advance: “It’s important to check the recipes of dishes you’ll be making for Thanksgiving and put together a cooking schedule well ahead of time. Learn more

Let Guests Bring Dessert

[{"selector":"#anim-09d219e7-0a8b-48fa-a224-978f718e2d0d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-60518d66-4a3c-4035-a94c-f447c5ec9480","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -100.42001%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-563205ce-9fe4-4c1d-a149-8c0facb9c1f9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-98095275-d5de-4078-8a90-cbba318f09c2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(117.09678%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aa2954c2-6ee6-48fd-a6c2-894d0a28e4bd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-29128d8e-367c-4a33-adb7-5fd84550ad34","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Julius also recommends letting guests bring dessert: “Everyone wants to bring something. Dessert is the easiest dish to outsource. It does not eat up your limited oven space. It’s not critical to tablescapes or dinner presentations. Learn more

Swipe up to read the full article.

[{"selector":"#anim-28f4555d-7df9-4254-b896-f6e03ff3f8cd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7b240aff-72ef-48c8-8285-dbff36000677","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 270.61581%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b36f12fa-baee-4a1a-87e3-223df79be850 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-3.977040330082403%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Learn more

[{"selector":"#anim-9faed5c5-d7b2-4fcc-8af6-e115698d8739","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aae7ef10-8271-4f68-9f4b-d91155929cf9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(259.40593%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5b2eb773-ae4c-40fe-89f6-683e1cea4adc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6c234ac3-e870-420d-994a-81d946a8fcad","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(42.07921%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-11dd4532-1663-438c-86a5-a105ad090ca6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-693d6fb9-6e08-4264-9b9e-27a836df57df","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-44.55445%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aeb2700e-c3dd-40a0-81fa-6f11e29ea8c3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-721e3e97-52da-43d1-8f54-53a9caa7d980","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-260.89109%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-53d375ac-ea93-4b41-ab62-e9ab5431ec0a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-42752a52-df71-468c-bd7c-291f34f258d9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(151.50000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6ce7a432-0af3-481d-93fc-42a61e876bb7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1c4b0e43-c9c0-4d86-a70a-b47225f550ca","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7d6cbe84-b88f-4587-bea4-3f6bd093636d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-154.5%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-78b388bf-4f77-4409-bfd3-f2486fb3974a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]