As the festive season approaches, you’re probably already gearing up for the busiest cooking days of the year. And as we’re sure you don’t need us to tell you – whether you're hosting a Christmas dinner for family or catering for a larger event, having the right tools at your disposal can make all the difference. From preparing the perfect roast to ensuring your kitchen remains safe and hygienic, it’s essential to be fully equipped.

And with more than 35 years of experience behind us here at Butchers Equipment Warehouse, we have a long history of providing market-leading butchers equipment to professional cooks and butchers looking to get themselves prepared. So in that spirit, here are a couple of key preparations it’s worth making before the festive season begins in earnest!

Make sure you're equipped with the top tools you need for festive roasts

The cornerstone of any successful festive meal is the roast, and it’s crucial to have the right butchery and kitchen tools to prepare and carve it. The first essential is a carving knife. A long, sharp carving knife allows you to slice through meat with precision, ensuring that each portion is even and presentable. Alongside this, you’ll need a boning knife. This smaller, more flexible blade helps with de-boning your meat, making it easier to prepare and serve.

Don’t forget to ensure you have a reliable meat thermometer to help you cook meat to the perfect temperature, whether you're roasting turkey, beef, or lamb. A meat thermometer takes the guesswork out of your cooking, ensuring that your meat is juicy and tender. A sturdy roasting pan with a rack is another essential. The rack elevates the meat, allowing it to cook evenly and preventing it from sitting in its own juices.

And of course, don’t overlook a couple of other useful assets – for example, tongs or a baster, which can help with basting and turning the meat for maximum flavour.

Sharpen your knives

No matter how good your knives are, they’re only as effective as their sharpness. A sharp knife improves efficiency and reduces the risk of accidents. It might sound counterintuitive, but actually dull knives require more force, and can easily slip, which makes them far more dangerous to use. Keep your blades in good condition by honing them regularly. A honing steel will realign the blade's edge, ensuring it remains sharp for everyday tasks.

If your knives need more than just a quick touch-up, make sure you have a sharpening stone or take your knives to a professional sharpener before the festive season begins. A well-maintained knife will glide through your Christmas roast with ease, making food prep faster and safer. With sharp knives, you'll also work more efficiently when preparing side dishes and cutting vegetables.

Take care to ensure that you're storing food properly

Proper food storage is essential, especially when you're working with large quantities of ingredients during the festive season. Meats, in particular, need special attention to ensure they stay fresh and safe. You might want to consider using a vacuum sealer to keep meats fresh for longer periods. Vacuum sealing helps preserve texture and flavour, keeping your ingredients at their best even if they’re stored in the freezer for a while.

Make sure you have plenty of food-grade storage containers for storing prepped ingredients. These containers help you stay organised and prevent cross-contamination. They're perfect for storing both raw and cooked food safely. Additionally, check that your fridge and freezer are running at the correct temperatures – 0–4°C for the fridge and -18°C or lower for the freezer. Keeping your storage units in good working order will help you avoid spoilage and keep your food fresh during the busy cooking period.

Get tooled up with everything you need for proper hygiene

Hygiene is essential when handling large amounts of food, especially raw meat. Make sure you have the right sanitation tools to maintain cleanliness in your kitchen. Anti-bacterial cleaning sprays and wipes are a must for keeping surfaces like counters and cutting boards sanitised after every use.

To prevent cross-contamination, use separate cutting boards for raw meat, vegetables, and cooked food. Plastic and wooden boards are both suitable, but they must be cleaned thoroughly after each use. It's also important to keep disposable gloves on hand when handling raw meat to prevent bacteria from spreading. You’ll need to ensure that you have paper towels or microfibre cloths for quick clean-ups during food prep.

A hand sanitiser for your kitchen team is another necessity, along with a waste disposal system for quickly getting rid of food scraps and raw meat packaging. A clean, well-maintained kitchen is essential for both food safety and efficiency, and these simple tools will help you stay on top of hygiene.

Re-examine your workflow

And last but not least! When you're cooking large meals, efficiency in the kitchen is crucial to avoid chaos. Before the festive season kicks into full gear, take a step back and evaluate your kitchen’s workflow. Are your tools and ingredients arranged in a way that makes sense? Consider setting up distinct workstations to prevent bottlenecks. One area can be dedicated to prep, another to cooking, and a separate space for plating – of course, if it all isn’t set up that way already.

It’s also important to check that all your equipment is in good working condition. Don’t wait until the big day to discover that your oven isn’t heating properly or your mixer is faulty. Give your kitchen a once-over and test your tools and appliances ahead of time to avoid delays or mishaps.

Finally, stay organised. Keep your workspaces clean and clutter-free, with utensils, tools, and ingredients easily accessible. This will help you stay efficient when you need to move quickly, allowing you to focus on preparing the perfect festive meal.

That’s all the essentials covered! If you need a couple more tips, check out our other post on getting your equipment ready for the peak season. And if you’re looking for new blades, you’re in exactly the right place. At Butchers Equipment Warehouse, we're proud to offer a range of reliable tools that are sure to impress anyone who loves spending time in the kitchen this Christmas, whether they're a professional chef or a home cook.

Why not browse through our extensive selection of chef knives and the rest of our website to see what else we have available? If you need any advice or have questions, feel free to contact our friendly team on 01254 427721 – we're always happy to help!