Ten Tricks for Effortless Thanksgiving Hosting

Free up valuable fridge space by relocating half-empty sauce bottles, jellies, and pickle jars to a cooler, making room for prepped meals or a marinating turkey.

Save time on the big day by chopping vegetables and herbs a few days ahead and storing them in the fridge, labeled and organized by recipe.

Cut down on peeling time and mess by microwaving garlic cloves for 20 seconds first, which makes the skins slip off easily.

Hang go-to recipes at eye level to keep them clean and easy to reference. If using a tablet, protect it from spills with a zip-top bag while keeping the touchscreen usable.

Toss potatoes in the dishwasher on a rinse cycle, no detergent needed, to loosen dirt. The heat and humidity make peeling much easier afterward.

Prepare mashed potatoes in advance and keep them at the perfect temperature using the slow cooker's warm setting, freeing up stovetop space.

Transfer hot gravy to a thermos to keep it warm until serving time, freeing up a stove burner for other dishes.

Label serving dishes ahead of time so everything has its place, which makes serving smoother and avoids last-minute shuffling.

Simplify cleanup by encouraging guests to bring their own takeout containers for leftovers, and keep a few extra cardboard ones on hand so everyone leaves with a share.

Customize these tips to fit your own gathering, and if all else fails, keep ready-to-drink batch cocktails on hand to keep everyone content.