Festive Winter Holiday Cooking Essentials for Your Kitchen

Essential Tools for Easy Festive Cooking

A few reliable pieces of kit will carry you through the whole festive season:

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• Slow cooker — ideal for hands-off stews, joints and puddings.
  If you are in the market for one, you can:
  
  read our Crock-Pot 6.5L Slow Cooker review
  browse slow cookers on Amazon
  or
  explore options at Tower Housewares.
• Heavy-duty roasting tray — for turkey crowns, beef joints and trays of roast vegetables.
  Look for a tin with sturdy handles and a non-stick surface; this selection of roasting trays on Amazon is a good starting point.
• Sharp carving knife and board — makes serving roasts neater and much less stressful.
  A simple carving set is often enough; see carving knife sets on Amazon.
• Oven-safe casserole dish — great for braises and dishes that go from hob to oven to table.
  A cast-iron or enamel casserole is particularly versatile; browse casserole dishes on Amazon.
• Digital thermometer — no more guessing if the centre is cooked through.
  A simple probe thermometer is enough for roasts and puddings; see digital meat thermometers on Amazon.

For more detail on choosing a dependable slow cooker, have a look at our

Crock-Pot 6.5L Slow Cooker Review
and our roundup

Slow-Cooker Comfort Dishes for Chilly Autumn Evenings.

Baking Tools for Christmas Treats

Winter baking is much smoother when you have the basics ready to go:

• Stand mixer or electric whisk for meringues, cake batters and whipped cream.
  If you bake often, a stand mixer can be a worthwhile investment;browse stand mixers on Amazon.
• Non-stick baking trays and loaf tins for biscuits, traybakes and festive breads —baking tray sets on Amazon can be surprisingly affordable.
• Rolling pin and pastry board for mince pies, sausage rolls and tarts.
• Seasonal cookie cutters for biscuits and children’s baking projects.

If you enjoy seasonal bakes, you might also like our

Spooky & Delicious Halloween Recipes
for ideas that easily carry into winter.

Stocking a Winter-Ready Pantry

A small selection of store-cupboard staples makes it simple to pull together an impressive festive meal:

• Root vegetables such as carrots, parsnips and potatoes.
• Onions, garlic and leeks for the base of soups and stews.
• Baking spices: cinnamon, mixed spice, nutmeg and ground ginger.
  You can pick up spice sets for Christmas baking on Amazon.
• Dried fruit, nuts and marmalade for quick puddings and sauces.
• Good stock cubes or stock pots and gravy granules for easy sauces.

When your pantry is ready, you can quickly turn to recipes like our hearty stews,
soups and slow-cooker dishes on the Recipes page without an emergency supermarket dash.

Festive Meal Ideas to Try This Winter

A few reliable recipes can see you through the whole season:

• Slow Cooker Apple & Cider Pork Shoulder
  
• Hearty Beef Stew with Root Veggies (Slow Cooker)
  
• Lentil & Butternut Squash Soup (Vegan, Slow Cooker)
  
• Turkey Chili with Beans & Corn (Slow Cooker)
  
• Sussex Honey & Mustard Chicken Thighs
  

All of these recipes can be prepped earlier in the day, leaving you free to enjoy guests and family instead of hovering over the hob.

Final Thoughts

Taking an afternoon to gather your festive winter cooking essentials pays off all season.
With a dependable slow cooker, a few sturdy trays, and a well-stocked pantry, Christmas cooking becomes calmer, cosier and much more enjoyable.