17 Ingenious Thanksgiving Cooking Tips From Your Favorite Food Stars
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No Thanksgiving kitchen disasters are in your future if you're copying tips from the pros. Start preparing for the most important food holiday of the year by learning how to prep a turkey like Tyler Florence, adding a secret ingredient to your pecan pie like Ina Garten, and making the best use of your leftovers like Ree Drummond. Since your favorite food stars and Food Network personalities know best, take a page out of their book and bring their tips into your own kitchen this Thanksgiving.
Leave torn-up bread (and cornbread) out overnight to dry it out before making stuffing.
Get the recipe: Tia Mowry's cornbread stuffing with fennel and sausage
Assemble casseroles ahead of time so all you have to do is put them in the oven.
Get the recipe: Trisha Yearwood's sweet potato soufflé
Double-cook sweet potatoes for caramelized greatness.
Make lightened-up mashed "potatoes" with cauliflower.
Spatchcock (split open) your turkey or chicken before roasting or grilling it.
Get the recipe: Giada De Laurentiis's crispy truffled turkey
Mix butter with fresh herbs and rub it ALL over your turkey (and under the skin).
Greatly reduce the amount of time it takes to cook a Thanksgiving turkey by removing the spine.
Cook your stuffing outside of the turkey.
Get the perfect amount of stuffing inside by using a piping bag.
Then cook it for an hour and a half at 375°F.
Get the recipe: Tyler Florence's oven-roasted turkey with sage butter
Stuff the inside of your turkey with a bundle of fresh thyme and remove it after cooking.
Get the recipe: Ina Garten's herb-roasted Thanksgiving turkey
Use a pie bird when baking pies to vent the steam and to ensure a crisp crust.
Use maple syrup and orange zest in pecan pie for sweetness and freshness.
Get the recipe: Ina Garten's pecan pie recipe
Use a heating pad to keep dishes warm when you transport them.
Use your leftovers to make a Thanksgiving panini with turkey, cranberry sauce, and gravy.
Get the recipe: Ree Drummond's Thanksgiving leftovers panini
Add brussels sprouts to leftover mashed potatoes.
Turn leftover Thanksgiving turkey into a cheesy turkey casserole.
Get the recipe: turkey casserole