Our Test Kitchen’s Best Tips for Easy, Mess-Free Holiday Hosting

We’re teaming up with our friends at Finish, the #1 recommended detergent in America by dishwasher brands*, to share some of our Test Kitchen's best tips for reducing mess while hosting this holiday season.

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So, you’ve decided to host this holiday season. After carefully curating your menu, picking out the perfect playlist, and finalizing (and re-finalizing) the guest list, there’s little to no time to think about the dreaded aftermath: the cleanup. Though thinking of the inevitable pile of dishes may make you want to scrap the holidays entirely, don’t let it faze you. We at the Food52 Test Kitchen have compiled some of our favorite tricks, tips, and methods for cutting down—and simply navigating through—the holiday hosting mess.

Make Ahead

If possible, try to avoid cooking, setting up, and cleaning everything all in one day. (If you can pull this off, you’re a superhero, and we bow to you.) When planning out your menu, pick things that can be made in stages, or cooked, frozen, and reheated day-of. That way, a good chunk of the dishwashing will already be out of the way, and you’ll only have the final cook- and bakeware to worry about.

To get prepped, it’s smart to start thinking about clearing freezer space in mid-October. Make some stews with that frozen meat you’ve been holding on to, or designate some frozen fruit to be used in your holiday pies.

Batch Your Cocktails

If you’re playing host (and cook) you don’t also want to play bartender. Lucky for you, there are so many cocktails beyond your run-of-the-mill punch bowl mixes that shine in large batches. Plus, batch cocktails are a great excuse to break out the really pretty crystal decanter or heirloom pitcher you love. Alternatively, you can set up a DIY spritz bar, and let your guests choose their own cocktail adventure. At the end of the night, just throw your dishwasher-safe glassware into the dishwasher along with Finish Ultimate Detergent, and you’re golden.

Do a Test Run

This might sound counterintuitive—we hear you. But a trial run, done a few weeks before the event, will not only give you the confidence you need to execute your holiday menu, but it will also give you a better sense of how much your dishwasher can handle, how many things can fit in the sink at once, and whether or not you need to invest in a few more serving plates or wine glasses. Even better, this test run will help you come up with a cleanup strategy to implement day-of.

Figure Out What Can Be Hand-Washed vs. Dishwashed

Should that heirloom china go in the dishwasher? Probably not. But wine glasses, ceramic baking dishes, all non-wood cooking utensils (except your knives!), and plastic cutting boards can all make their way to the dishwasher. (For even more info, check out our comprehensive guide that breaks down everything and anything that can and can’t go into the dishwasher.)

To make clean-up even more efficient, try this hot tip: Remove the silverware caddy, and open up a bit more space for larger items, like a roasting rack (as long as the top doesn’t hit the mechanical parts of the appliance that need to spin and move).

Use Finish Detergent

Of course, the best way to clean up after a big holiday hosting event is with Finish’s all-new Ultimate Detergent. It’s designed to clean even the toughest of food messes, like burnt on stains—even when you skip the rinse—so you can feel confident that every dishwashing cycle will leave your holiday plates and cookware sparkling.

Make a Game Plan

Senior Food Stylist Anna Billingskog has lots of experience in timing and executing dinners as efficiently as possible, from styling photoshoots to cooking for Food52 events. A timeline, she says, can make all the difference. “When I'm prepping, I prioritize getting any and all sips and snacks out on the table and bar first. Be it charcuterie, cheese boards (just let the cheese come to temperature beforehand), or opening wine bottles and letting [them] ‘breathe,’ I know once my guests start trickling in, they’ll have some sips and snacks to keep them busy. This way I can focus on wrapping up what needs doing in the kitchen without worrying if everyone's having a good time.”

She also suggests blocking time to socialize with your guests; this will make the pre-event time feel like a breeze. “I like to keep more passive cooking closer to arrival time—like baking or roasting. So I can converse with my people, but also casually check on the oven.”

Clean As You Go

The ultimate mantra in any professional kitchen is this: Clean as you go. This eliminates both stress and mess in a few ways. By not letting cooking vessels, pans, or even the countertop sit with caked-on food, you’re going to have an easier time getting things clean—and if you do end up letting things sit too long, Finish Ultimate can help you tackle even the toughest conditions. Even more importantly, not being confronted with One Giant Mess at the end of the gathering is going to make you feel so much better once the last of the guests have left.

Lean on Others

Our Test Kitchen Director, Allison Buford says it best: “I believe I heard this from Ina Garten, but when your friends offer to help, take them up on it! Even little tasks (washing dishes, picking herbs, etc.) will involve them in the dinner, and hopefully relieve you of one less thing to think about.”

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How do you avoid holiday hosting mess? Share your best tips below!

Our friends at Finish are experts in kitchen clean up, as the #1 recommended detergent in America by dishwasher brands.* Their new Finish Ultimate detergent is engineered to tackle burnt-on stains in the toughest conditions—like hard water and old dishwashers—even when you skip the rinse. So you can enjoy your holiday meal, and leave the dishes to Finish.

*Recommended by more dishwasher brands in the U.S. based on co-marketing agreements.