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We all go into Christmas Day with the same confidence. This is the year everything will be perfect. The turkey will be juicy, the gravy will be silky smooth and nobody will be Googling ‘how long does a frozen chicken take to cook’ at 9am.
And yet somehow, every single year, something goes wrong.
Christmas dinner is a high pressure event involving too many dishes, too little oven space and at least one relative who insists on giving unhelpful advice while holding a mince pie.
If your Christmas dinner didn’t go quite as planned this year -we’re here to help
The good news is that most festive disasters are completely predictable and even better, they are preventable when armed with the right tools.
Here are the most common Christmas dinner mistakes people make every year – and my recommended products that will save you in 2026.
Turkey that’s either raw or painfully dry
The classic Christmas fear. You carve into the turkey and it is either pink and wobbling or so dry it could be used as loft insulation.
This usually happens because people guess cooking times or rely on vibes rather than strict cooking and temperature rules.
How to fix it next year:
Turkey, like chicken, is fully cooked at 74 degrees celsius. However, you should pull your turkey from the oven at 67-70C and let it sit for covered for 30+ minutes. The temperature will continue to rise and finish cooking the turkey to juicy perfection.
A meat thermometer takes the guesswork out of this.
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Running out of oven space
At some point on Christmas morning it dawns on you that the oven simply cannot hold the bird, the roast potatoes, the stuffing, the pigs in blankets and the extra tray of parsnips that your mum insisted on bringing.
Cue panic, stress and someone helpfully suggesting you ‘just put it on later’.
There’s always something that needs to go in the oven you’ve forgotten about – so what can you do about it?
How to fix it next year:
If you happen to be one of the few households that doesn’t already own one – might I suggest an air fryer for those unexpected extras?
This one from Ninja won’t take up too much countertop space due to its vertical design but fits plenty inside. I’ve cooked a small chicken in each of the two drawers before.
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Lumpy gravy that causes embarrassment
You can forgive slightly soggy sprouts. You can forgive overly crisp Yorkshire puddings but you can’t forgive (or hide) lumpy gravy.
No one wants the embarrassment of lumpy gravy at the dinner table
Gravy lumps have the power to derail an entire dinner. They usually appear because you are rushing, distracted or trying to whisk with one hand while grabbing a spoon with the other and answering questions about where the bottle opener is.
Apart from slowing down and taking your time with the gravy, what else can you do?
How to fix it next year:
Get prepped for perfect gravy next year with a simple kitchen tool. This gravy whisk is ideal for breaking down lumpy sauces as you build them.
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If they gravy has already seen better days, my suggestion is to blitz it at the end with a good hand blender. If you don’t already have one, this option from Braun has one speed and is very affordable.
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Potatoes that refuse to crisp
If your spuds are looking a little lackluster, it might be time to upgrade your baking tray
Everyone wants golden crispy roast potatoes. Nobody wants pale soggy ones.
This mistake often comes down to overcrowding trays, not enough heat or simply using the wrong equipment.
How to fix it next year:
There’s not much you can do apart from giving your spuds as much room as possible.
I suggest investing in a XL baking sheet, like the ones here. They don’t need a particularly deep side on them, as you should avoid using too much oil or fat anyway for the best crisp.
Popping them on a wire rack once cooked will also help to keep them crispy.
Do NOT leave them sitting in the pan unless you want soggy spuds.
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The aftermath that nobody wants to talk about
Christmas dinner does not end when the plates are cleared. It ends hours later when you are faced with mountains of washing up and leftovers stuffed into random containers that may or may not have lids. Get prepared for next year by treating yourself to some new serving dishes that you’ll actually like.
How to fix it next year:
Grab yourself some nice Pyrex cook and freeze dishes for next year, rather than relying on old takeaway containers that are terrible for environment and simply are not going to last.
This set of four is made from glass (with tightly fitting plastic lids).
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Christmas dinner will probably never be completely stress free. There will always be too many timings to remember and at least one moment where you consider ordering a takeaway instead.
But with the right products on hand, next year can be calmer, smoother and far more enjoyable. And that alone is worth planning ahead for while this year’s chaos is still fresh in your mind.
