Can I prepare vegetables and salad ahead of time?!
Can I prepare vegetables and salad ahead of time?
I am having company over. I am making chicken, vegetable medley, potatoes on the barbecue and salad. Oh! and a broccoli dip. Can I cut up my salad and veggies ahead of time? The veggies include mushrooms, zuchini, peppers, onion or will it lose too much of it's nutrional value?
I like to do as little as possible when the company is here. It is more relaxing for me.
Thanks
Answers:
Most veggies can be cut and refrigerated ahead of time without significant loss of quanity or nutrients. As long as it's prepped the same day, you should be fine. After all, most restaurants begin prepping at 6am, and rarely make all components of a dinner plate at the time it gets ordered.
Some veggie like avocados & artichokes (fresh not canned) will turn brown in the air, but rubbing with a little lemon juice will fix that. Also be wary to not put your salad dressing on your salad in advance as the vinegar wilts the lettuce and makes it kind of slimey. Toss the salad right before you serve it for the best results.
Yes, you can cut your veggies up in advance. Salad, too. Just tear your salad, rather than using a knife, so it won't get rusty on you.
You can have most of your prepared before your guest arrives. Choose your salad bowl and prepare your salad. Put in fridge until time to serve with dressing. You can pre cook your vegetable medley place in fridge and heat up at serving time. You also can pre cook your potatoes and place back on grill in time to heat up and ready to serve with your chicken.
I have found in the past to prepare all that I can earlier in the day. Makes serving your guest less stressful and you have time to visit. And it looks like your organized and prepared. I don't like to cook in front of my guest. Seems to make me slightly nervous.
Yes you can. You can make the salad the night before and cover it and put in fridge. In the morning of your dinner cut and peel all your vegetables. Then when it comes time to cook them you have done all the hard work. Just cook and serve.
no just cover them up and put them in the fridge till youre ready