Thanksgiving Planner: The Four Week Plan

• Plan the menu.
• Order your turkey, roast, duck, ham, etc.
• Create a timeline for make-aheads, freezing, thawing, reheating, and Thanksgiving Day cooking.
• Making fresh cranberry sauce? Purchase and freeze berries before the stores run out.
• Clean out your freezer.

• Confirm your guest list.
• Finalize your shopping list. Break it down into what can be purchased ahead, such as canned goods, and what perishables should be picked up closer to the day. Make your first shopping run.
• Make foods you can freeze: rolls, pie crusts, cornbread for stuffing, casseroles, and soups.
• Do a test run on new recipes.

• Clean out the fridge.
• If you're roasting a frozen turkey, pick it up and start thawing. Note that thawing in the fridge will take one day for every 5 pounds of meat. A 15-pound turkey will require three days to thaw thoroughly.
• Review the menu; are you on target with make-ahead dishes?
• You're so well prepared, you might have time to whip up some appetizers to store in the freezer.

• Pick up that fresh turkey you ordered.
• Purchase fresh produce.
• Make pie crusts and refrigerate (if you haven't gone the frozen route).
• Set the table or decorate the buffet.
• Set up the bar.
• Lay out serving pieces and utensils.

• Wash and prep produce.
• Remove giblets and neck from turkey cavity and make turkey stock for gravy. (Don't use the liver in the stock. If you want it for the gravy, cook it separately, mince it, and add to gravy at the last minute.)
• If you're brining your turkey, give it no more than a 24-hour soak.
• Assemble stuffing but do not put it in the turkey until just before roasting. Better yet, put it in a separate pan, moisten with your homemade turkey stock, refrigerate, and bake it on Thanksgiving Day.
• Bake pies and make cranberry sauce.
• Arrange frozen dinner rolls on a sheet pan and thaw overnight in the fridge. (Otherwise, thaw at room temperature on Thanksgiving morning.)
• Make sure your camera is charged and ready.

This is when all your advance work pays off and you look like a genius. Yes, there might be dishes to be prepared on the day, but you won't be in a panic. Do remember to map out oven and stove time for items brought by guests. Here's what you might have to plan for:

• Stuff and roast turkey (or bake dressing).
• Mash potatoes.
• Make gravy (if you haven't made it ahead).
• Toss salad.
• Warm or bake bread and rolls.
• Reheat frozen dishes.
• Arrange appetizer platters.
• Whip cream for desserts.
• Chill or open wine.
• Heat cider, make coffee.

Congratulations! Now give yourself a solid hour or more to relax and get yourself ready to greet your guests. And just in case things go sideways:

Find tried-and-true Thanksgiving recipes.

See step-by-step cooking tips in our Top 10 Thanksgiving Videos.

Get menus, ideas, and inspiration from our Ultimate Guide to Thanksgiving.

And finally, discover delicious ways to eat up Thanksgiving leftovers.