It’s nearly time (Picture: Getty Images)
Christmas is almost here, which means it’s time to prep for the big festive meal.
Given how quickly December 25 will roll around, many will want to get organised and stock up on food sooner rather than later.
There are plenty of Christmas foods you can freeze – but which storecupboard items can you buy now and keep until the big day?
Here are a few ideas for your shopping list, so you can start Christmas day feeling prepared and ready to host.
Christmas pudding
If you want to make a Christmas pudding, you can buy these ingredients now and pop them away in the pantry until you’re ready to bake:
Icing sugar
Granulated sugar
Flour
Almonds
Brandy
Spices
Dried fruit
Eggs (in the carton, stored in the fridge).
Christmas puds, once made, are also fine be kept in a cool, dark, dry cupboard for a period of time.
Nigella’s website says her Ultimate Christmas Pudding recipe is good for up to six weeks, for example, but the folks at BBC Good Food actually say those made with dried fruit could potentially last up to two years, while some can also be frozen, adding far longer to the deadline to eat.
Both pre-made puddings and their ingredients keep well (Picture: Getty Images)
Plus, given ‘Stir Up Sunday’ – the day when the mixture is traditionally mixed before being fed with alcohol afterwards – fell on November 23 this year, you’ve nothing to worry about.
If you don’t want to make one from scratch, you can also buy your Christmas pudding ahead of time. When shopping, simply check the best before date is after December 25.
Stuffing mix
Saving time on cooking this Christmas? Buy a box of stuffing mix.
According to Waitrose, dried stuffing mix can be kept in a cool, dry place for up to one year.
Again, do check the packet for specific best before dates – but on the whole, it’ll almost certainly last you from now until Christmas.
Goose or duck fat
If you like your roast potatoes to be extra crisp, you might want to baste them in goose or duck fat.
Goose or duck fat – for crisp roasties – can be bought in advance thanks to a long shelf life (Picture: Getty)
Tesco’s goose fat says it should be stored in a cool, dry place, and once opened, used within three months. It’s the same for the supermarket’s own-brand duck fat.
So, you can buy now, pop in the pantry, and use when you’re ready to cook. Just make sure to check the label on whatever brand you do buy before you purchase though, and always follow the instructions.
Gravy granules
Gravy granules such as Bisto tend to last for a good while in the cupboard, with a long best before date (printed on the product) – so should see you from now until Christmas.
Sauces like apple, cranberry, horseradish
If you like a dollop of cranberry sauce or a lashing of horseradish to accompany your Christmas dinner, you’re in luck.
You can typically purchase those a few weeks before Christmas, storing them in a cool, dry place. Once opened, they’ll usually keep for a few weeks in the fridge.
Obviously, follow your exact product’s instructions, but as an example, the listing for Colman’s horseradish says: ‘Refrigerate after opening and use within two months’.
Trimmings such as cranberry sauce, horseradish, stuffing and gravy can all be bought in advance of the big day (Picture: Getty)
Mincemeat (and mince pies)
For those who want to make their own mince pies, mincemeat can be kept in the cupboard, then stored in the fridge once opened.
Often, it’ll last for weeks when refrigerated – and as this Tesco Finest example shows, up to six weeks. It’s also the same for Asda’s and Sainsbury’s versions.
Once again, always check the storage instructions on your exact product.
As for ready-made mince pies, while you don’t want to leave them in the cupboard for weeks, many are okay to be frozen, meaning you can buy now and defrost whenever you’re peckish for a festive treat.
Ready-made marzipan
Festive bakers will know that ready-to-roll marzipan, such as Dr Oetker brand, lasts for a while in the cupboard.
That product, as an example, has official instructions of: ‘Store in a cool, dry place. Once opened, wrap any unused marzipan in polythene or foil to prevent it drying out. Do not refrigerate.’
There’ll be a best before date, which you should follow, but it’ll more than likely be dated after Christmas.
The only issue is holding back from snaffling them (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)
Christmas chocolates
Yep, tubs or boxes of Quality Street, Cadbury Roses, and similar, will last from now until Christmas.
They’ve been in shops for a while, and generally can be stored in a cool, dry place for a long period of time, so you can definitely buy now.
That said, chocolates do have a best before date, so do make sure they’re all gobbled up by then (although we can’t imagine you’ll have too much trouble).
Cooking essentials like foil, baking parchment and cling film
Last but not least, an unsung Christmas dinner essential; the supplies you’ll need to cook!
Foil for cooking turkey, baking parchment for sweet treats, and clingfilm for storing tasty leftovers are all handy to have, and three good examples of things you can buy now for the big day.
They’re also easily forgotten amid the chaos of Christmas food shopping, so it makes sense to get them sorted early on.
This article was originally published on December 6, 2022.
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