The idea of cooking for a large group of people could be daunting even to cooking enthusiasts. It could be a family gathering, a friends’ get-together, or a party, but the gist would be to manifest your impressive cooking skills. More often than not, most would not resist the temptation to hire a chef for the function.
However, hiring a chef would not bring out the much-needed pomp and color compared to when the food would have been prepared by yourself. So, it’s you, your kitchen, and the output. It better be sumptuous. Below are some stress-free tips for cooking food for larger groups of people.
- Cook over a Smokeless Fire Pit
Cooking for a large group of people should never be boring, especially when you have friends or relatives around you. You could spice up the whole cooking experience over a smokeless fire pit insert. One of the pros of using a smokeless fire pit insert when cooking for a large group of people is the ability to prepare meals outside the house while recreating memories in your backyard. The spectacular setting of cooking or grilling food over a fire pit surrounded by a group of people is pretty comforting and cozy. It creates a connection that is much deeper than conventional indoor cooking. The sounds of crackling wood and the delicious aroma make the whole experience unmatched.
- Plan Ahead
Cooking for a large group of people slightly differs from your daily meal preparation. It requires adequate and timely planning. Cooking for a group of people should start the day before. You do not want to be caught off-guard on the main day—endeavor to prepare as much as possible before D-day. Ensure you have all the required ingredients, prepare the snacks, arrange the dishes where they are readily accessible, and tidy up your kitchen. Planning not only makes the cooking process seamless but also saves on finances. For instance, with proper planning, you could settle for meals with similar ingredients but different recipes. This could come in handy in saving a few coins.
- Keep it Simple
Simplicity is key when cooking for a large group of people. Remember, this is not the right time to experiment with new recipes. The primary goal is to have your company enjoy the meal, not to spend time figuring out what you just served them. Avoid using ingredients you have not tried before; they could be stressful for no good reason. This does not mean that you cook a boring meal. It is better to work with a recipe that worked for you before; scale it up if necessary. The idea behind simplicity when cooking for a large group of people is to ensure everyone knows what they are eating.
Therefore, it is advisable to familiarize or explain to your guests some of the unusual ingredients you might have used.
- Consider Using Buffet Style Serving
Once you have prepared the meal for a large group of people, consider using a buffet style of service. Buffet-style serving is ideal for a large group since it offers more opportunity for crowd movement. Unlike plated meals, where guests stay at their tables the entire time, the buffet serving style allows them to move through the line as they serve. This offers the opportunity for interaction, meeting someone new, or even changing tables, thus making the whole place buzzing.
Further, buffet serving gives you company room for personalized portions. Undoubtedly, we all have different levels of appetites. Plated meals tend to be restrictive since they pay zero consideration to the different appetite levels of the guests. Serving someone’s personalized portion significantly reduces wastage since you only serve what you can comfortably consume.
- Keep Your Kitchen Tidy
This might seem to be a specific point. Nonetheless, do not trivialize it. A clean kitchen will come in handy in reducing stress levels and allowing for more effortless movement for everyone around your kitchen. You can be almost sure that when with guests, the kitchen will always be crowded. Also, keeping your kitchen clean allows you to focus more on cooking than cleaning. You will tend to worry less about the messes and concentrate on the output.
Further, a clean kitchen inspires the guests to enjoy their meals. Imagine eating food from a dirty kitchen; the appetite levels plummet almost immediately. Therefore, cleanliness of the kitchen could be a small part of the cooking but critically important. Do not overlook it!
Conclusion
In summary, cooking for many people should not be stressful. Plan and prepare the meals simply, tidy up your kitchen area, use buffet serving style for your guests and try cooking over a smokeless fire pit. With these five suggestions, it should be easier to prepare sumptuous meals for many people easily.
