One mother-of-two is preparing Christmas dinner in advance, finishing the entire dish more than a month before the big day.

On the big day, everything is prepared—even the gravy—so she can save valuable time by popping it all frozen in the oven. After her technique went viral, she shared her process.

As a mother of two, home cooking expert, and food waste campaigner, Kate Hall believes that making the most of her family’s meals while also spending quality time with them is essential.

She came up with a method to make Christmas food (very) early because she knew how essential it is during the holidays

and wanted to avoid problems like food shortages, price increases, and the hassle of being alone in the kitchen on the big day cooking.

It all began in 2020 when she made a Christmas dinner in advance as a fallback in case something unexpected happened,

like them being unable to visit their relatives. But cooking with a baby and a preschooler got difficult,

so Kate started preparing and freezing single ingredients years ago to save food waste when she was on maternity leave.

When she discovered she could use her freezer as a ‘pause button’ for different ingredients, it was her ‘lightbulb moment.’

This sensible method naturally extends to cooking and preserving Christmas dinner in addition to helping with everyday food management.

She gave an explanation of her process and urged others to give it a shot.

For a hassle-free Christmas Day roast potato experience, the 37-year-old suggests a smart tactic.

In the days leading up to December 25th, par-boil twice as many potatoes as you’ll need and freeze the extras. According to Kate’s method,

the potatoes should be peeled, chopped, and boiled for five minutes before being placed on a tray and frozen for one to two hours,

being sure to keep them apart to avoid sticking. After the potatoes are frozen, place them in a reusable, sealed freezer bag.

Simply bake the potatoes as usual on Christmas Day. When preparing Christmas dinner, Kate doesn’t overlook the vegetables.

She peels, chops, and blanches—that is, quickly cools the veggies in ice water after short submerging them in hot water for 1-2 minutes—every vegetable before freezing it,

taking care to prevent cooking. It is crucial to remember that the veggies should not be defrosted at this

step of the procedure because cooked fruits and vegetables taste better straight out of the freezer.

It is advised to freeze uncooked meat in its original packaging, including gammon and turkey. Should that not be feasible,

you have the option to encase the meat with cooking foil and clingfilm before putting it inside an airtight freezer bag.

Make sure the meat is completely defrosted before cooking it, preferably in the refrigerator’s bottom. A turkey will take 8 to 12 hours per kilogram to defrost, so schedule ahead of time.

Kate gives some additional advice if you want to try your hand at making your own Christmas dinner ahead of time.

She begins by emphasizing that roast potatoes are a great initial step to take and that cooking them straight from frozen enhances their flavor.

In order to make sure everything suits your taste preferences, she also thinks it’s necessary to have a test run. Lastly,

she suggests freezing leftovers the same day, as long as they are refrigerated within two hours of cooking, because they can be used for soups or frittatas later on.

Kate finds that planning her Christmas dinner in advance not only reduces stress but also works out financially,

allowing her to spread out the expenses over two months. She uses special offers on food that is about to expire,

bulk discounts, bargain buys, and discounts to keep her Christmas food costs to a minimal. This reduces the possibility of food waste.

With her unusual method to food preservation, Kate claims to save over £1.000 (about $1.250) over

the course of a year since she avoids last-minute purchases by freezing components individually.

Food must be frozen carefully though.

However, it’s not as simple as one may believe to freeze food. Kate claims that it’s critical to stay out of

the 8°C to 63°C temperature range, which she refers to as the ‘food danger zone,’ as bacteria grow rapidly in those circumstances.

Therefore, it’s important to chill food as quickly as possible and refrigerate or freeze it within two hours if you’re done cooking

and won’t be eating it right away. However, avoid putting hot food directly in the refrigerator or freezer to avoid boosting the temperature of other food.

When defrosting, be sure to take off any packaging before placing the food on a plate in the refrigerator’s bottom or

using a microwave on the defrost setting. After that is finished, the meal should be eaten within 24 hours or, if you chose to cook it in a microwave, immediately.

Most families get together at Christmas to spend valuable time together, and the most anticipated part of the day is probably the Christmas dinner. However,

if you’re a member of the royal family, things work rather differently. See why, even on Christmas, Prince William and Kate Middleton don’t have meals with their children.