GOT THE TURKEY? CHECK
Angie’s List offers checklist to help you host a stress-free holiday feast
As millions of Americans tighten their apron strings in anticipation of the annual mad dash to get Thanksgiving dinner on the table, Angie’s List has a few words of advice to end the tradition of stress, mess and general anxiety over the country’s only original holiday.
According to a nationwide Angie’s List poll: 92 percent of members will spend the holiday with family and/or friends. More than 50 percent of those hosting are expecting five to 10 guests at their table. 65 percent will travel for the Thanksgiving holiday by car. Just over 10 percent will have help preparing their home to receive guests.
“There’s nothing that will wreck your holiday faster than having something go wrong at the last minute,” says Angie Hicks, founder of Angie’s List. “A little bit of advance work is the key to making sure you offer and/or receive the holiday of your dreams.”
Angie’s Thanksgiving Checklist:
Week of the Big Day:
Avoid running the self-clean cycle within one week of a holiday dinner. Ovens have a tendency to fail during or right after a self-cleaning cycle.
If you’re using a travel agent, confirm itinerary details.
The Big Day:
Relax and enjoy your family
Avoid Turkey Day Turmoil
Angie’s List says don’t let oven troubles become a recipe for disaster on Thanksgiving
Planning a big turkey dinner and plenty of pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving? If so, you’ll want to make sure your oven is in good working order so you can avoid Turkey Day turmoil.
A recent Angie’s List poll found that 74 percent of respondents report using their oven once a week or less throughout the year and 94 percent report never having their oven serviced.
“If you don’t use your oven regularly, you could be setting yourself up for problems,” said Angie Hicks, founder of Angie’s List. “It’s a good idea to check your oven before you get elbow-deep in your Thanksgiving dinner preparations to make sure it’s working properly.”
Don’t let oven trouble be a recipe for disaster this Thanksgiving. To help out, Angie’s List offers the following tips:
•Keep it clean. Whether you own a gas or electric oven, the best way to keep it healthy is to clean it. Periodically installing clean drip pans for burners will help reduce cleaning time. Don’t just throw away dirty drip pans. Failing to replace these can damage the wires beneath and cause a short.
•Don’t set yourself up for failure. Avoid running the self-clean cycle within one week of a holiday dinner. Ovens have a tendency to fail during or right after a self-cleaning cycle.
•Check the temperature. A good way to check this is to buy a basic cake mix and follow the directions exactly, cooking for the exact time recommended. If the cake is dry or undercooked, the temperature might be off. Do this test well before the holidays. If you do find a problem with a heating element, replace it immediately. In most cases, a bake or broil heating element can be replaced quickly without having to pull the oven away from the wall.
•Don’t sweat it. If an oven has moisture appearing on the outside of the oven door or appears to ‘sweat,’ it probably means you have a faulty door gasket. Gaskets maintain proper cooking temperatures and should be replaced at the first sign of a leak.
•Shut the door. If your oven door does not close properly, heat can escape. Make sure the door closes tightly and evenly. If not, you may have broken or bent door hinges or door springs that should be replaced.
•Play it safe. Whenever you perform extensive maintenance work on your appliances, take the necessary safety precautions. Shut off electrical and gas lines when working on them. Consult an appliance-repair professional for major repairs. Remember, preventative maintenance can help extend the life of your appliances and ensure your safety.
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