At times, cooking for the family is a tall ask. Then, when the opportunity comes to cook for an even bigger group, it goes without saying that panic stations set in.
This is one of the reasons why a lot of people will turn to one of the many chef agencies London has to provide. In short, they have become more accessible, and it means that all of the aggravation associated with the DIY approach is eliminated as a matter of urgency.
However, for those of you who are looking to take the plunge, this is what today’s article is all about. Let’s now take a look at several tips that you should implement when you are next acting as host for a big crowd.
1. Let the drinks take care of themselves
In the grand scheme of things, serving drinks would seem to be the least of your worries.
As it turns out, this can be the issue that really halts your preparation. You’ll find that in the time you are meant to be chopping vegetables, you’re actually asking guests what they would like to drink. Then, when it comes to taking food out of the oven, you’re busy pouring drinks.
In other words, your entire schedule goes out of the window. To get around this, prepare several pitchers and allow guests to help themselves. Or, get someone to help you.
2. Snacks can be your best friend
Admittedly, they aren’t going to form your entire meal, but by keeping snacks on hand for everyone you can ensure that there’s at least no rumbling stomachs until you serve your dishes. This is a tip that can just relieve a little pressure from you as you cook – and this can be invaluable as the day progresses.
3. Bake, rather than fry
No, this next tip isn’t about any potential health benefits, but rather focusses on the logistics of cooking for so many guests.
As much as some meals are better if they are pan-fried, most of us aren’t blessed with huge pans that are able to take care of such a large amount of food.
It means that you need to think outside the box, and this is where baking your recipe comes into the picture. Generally, baking trays are significantly larger than frying pans and as such, you no longer need to worry about your equipment not being large enough to cope with your increased demands!
4. Keep things warm
One of the biggest mistakes that most of us make when prepping for a larger party is not keeping food sufficiently warm. There’s so much going on, that by the time one dish has finished, the previous one has just gone cold.
There are a couple of options here. The first is using a slow cooker, which will naturally keep your meals warm. The second is just turning on the oven at a low heat – this will do the job and ensure that everything is served as expected.
5. Grill & Utilize Your Backyard
Grilling and BBQ always bring people together so effortlessly, so you would want to use that to your advantage. It’s a bonus if you have your grill in a spacious backyard—it becomes an instant new space for your guests to mingle and talk to each other while you prepare the food.
Make sure you have a good grill to use for this, especially when you’re hosting something a little bit more than casual. If you don’t have one yet, here’s a list of recommended gas grills under 1000 dollars that will definitely come in handy for a lot of bbq parties in your house.