Nothing takes more of a beating in the kitchen during the holidays than my cookware. From roasting pans to pots, they have to tackle grease, spills, and the occasional burn.
So, I asked professional chefs how they get their pans and cookware ready for the busiest time of year – and it isn't as overwhelming as I expected.
How Pro Chefs Prep Pans for Holiday Cooking
1. Degrease
A thorough degreasing now will save last-minute scrubbing when you're trying to get dinner on the table.
There are few kitchen cleaning tasks as odious as cleaning kitchen grease, so tick it off your to-do list early, suggests Adam Gallagher, recipe creator and co-founder of Inspired Taste.
Not only will thoroughly degreasing your pots and pans ahead of time save stress on the main day, but it will also mean you are not rushed. This will ensure better results for nicer tasting food, and a decreased risk of a fire. Dawn PowerWash Dish Soap Spray, available at Walmart, is a good quick fix for grease, helping to remove 99% of grease and grime in half the usual time.
Adam adds, 'I always start by deep-cleaning my most-used cookware: stainless-steel pans get a quick polish with a baking soda paste to restore shine.'
Arm & Hammer Baking Soda is super affordable at Walmart, helping to scrub away grease without damaging the surface of your cookware.
2. Reseason
From cast iron to wood, reasoning now will reduce the risk of burnt food.
With your pots and pans clean, it is a good time to reseason cast iron and care for wooden cutting boards.
Odette D'Aniello, founder and CEO at Dragonfly Cakes, shares, 'Cast iron and carbon steel pans get re-seasoned with a thin layer of oil, then baked low and slow in the oven to bring them back to life.' This Lodge Seasoning Care kit, from Target, comes with everything you need to remove stubborn build-up and reseason the surface, with 100% pure canola oil free from additives.
Odette continues, 'Wooden spoons and boards get a coat of food-safe oil to keep them from drying out. It’s also a good time to make sure non-stick pans are not scratched or warped.'
For wooden utensils and cutting boards, I use organic coconut oil, available at Walmart, coating each freshly washed and dried tool in a thin layer before baking in a 375°F oven for two minutes and letting them cool.
3. Check Handles
One loose handle could spell disaster.
Before you can organize your pots and pans again after cleaning, you should check each of their handles for wobbles, Odette continues. Just one loose handle could spell disaster for your dinner should it come free completely.
A simple screwdriver set, from Walmart, should be enough to retighten any loose bolts for added security. A very loose or rusty handle that will not tighten could be a sign that it's time to replace your post and pans.
We recommend opting for a stainless steel pan set, such as the Cuisinart Chef's Set from Wayfair, to create a non-toxic home.
Plus, unlike non-stick pans, they are dishwasher safe to make cleaning up post-hosting simpler.
4. Organize Trays by Size
Keep trays stacked neatly for an easy grab-and-go system.
With the pans out of the way, the next thing to check is your baking trays and roasting tins.
When organizing cookware for the holidays, Adam shares, 'My baking sheets and roasting pans are sorted by size and, closer to the event, lined with fresh baking parchment [from Walmart] or silicone mats [from Wayfair], so they’re always ready to grab in the moment.'
I love the Umbra Peggy Pegboard Organizer, from Amazon, to organize my baking sheets in my kitchen storage. The adjustable pegs make it easy to slot each tray into place without them leaning or falling over, plus, it expands to make the best use of space.
5. Don't Forget Accessories
Don't forget to check pan lids and cooking accessories.
With pots, pans, and trays clean and neat, the final step is to check their extra accessories. Storing pot lids somewhere easily accessible, for instance, can make finding the right lid quick when you have several pots boiling. These sticky cabinet door pan lid holders, from Amazon, are ideal and make great use of vertical storage to save space.
Similarly, the WrapNeat Wrap organizer, from Wayfair, can make tearing off just the right amount of foil and parchment paper from rolls quick – a lifesaver when you're juggling several trays at once and don't want to add scissors to the mix.
Beyond this, Adam adds, 'Finally, I give the oven a quick clean and check the internal oven thermometer with an analog thermometer from Amazon to make sure everything bakes evenly. This way, I don’t have to guess if the cookies are done.
'Before any big roast or bake, I like to check the essentials, like timers and oven mitts, so nothing slows me down once the cooking starts.'
What to Shop
The PowerWash spray breaks down grease quickly, so you do not have to leave pots and pans to soak for hours.
Seventh Generation Free & Clear Dishwasher Detergent Packs have an enzyme-rich formula that cuts through tough grease and food residue without fragrances, dyes, phosphates, or chlorine.
Baking soda is a natural abrasive that helps break down tough deposits without scratching delicate surfaces such as metal and glass. Mix into a paste with water or use with vinegar for fizzy cleaning. It's safe for use in most areas of your home.
Stainless steel is non-toxic and does not risk warping or peeling like non-stick pans do. Better yet, these pans are dishwasher safe, speeding up your post-hosting clean-up.
The Umbra Peggy Organizers can be fully customized to fit any pots, pans, and trays in your cabinets and drawers, keeping them neatly stacked without damage.
These adjustable pan lid holders screw into your cabinet doors, and expand to hold any-sized lid. They are perfect for keeping them neat and out of the way, but still easy to access when cooking a large meal.
Meet the Experts
Adam is the co-founder and recipe tester at Inspired Taste, and has over 15 years of experience as a food blogger and content creator.
Odette has over 25 years of experience in the specialty food industry, and is the founder and CEO of Celebrity Gourmet Ventures Inc, under the brands Celebrity Cake Studio and Dragonfly Cakes. She is also the host of Celebrity Gourmet Podcast, a show that features inspiring stories and insights from successful entrepreneurs and leaders in the food and beverage sector.
It also pays to use knife sharpeners, as recommended by professional chefs, ahead of holiday carving.
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