The holidays can be a wonderful time of the year—the MOST wonderful according to at least one song. When  the holiday party invites are sent and friends and family come into town, there’s a lot to look forward to. These fun festivities can also bring long to-do lists and a lot of tasks to take care of around the kitchen. But with the right tools and strategies, you can make holiday cooking easier, less stressful, and more enjoyable. The secret is already right there in your kitchen.

Betty is always on your side with timeless expertise, helpful shortcuts, and easy recipes to make holiday cooking and hosting a breeze. Let’s take a closer look at the appliances you already have and unlock even more ways for them to save you time, energy, and money around the holidays. ‘Tis the season to be jolly after all, and your kitchen can, most certainly, play a role in making the holidays run smoothly.

Before we get into the appliances, it’s always a good idea to brush up on your hosting tips. When you’re throwing a party, you want to be able to enjoy it too. With a little planning and a few secrets from Betty, you can plan ahead to ensure that everything runs smoothly, so you can spend less time running around and more time celebrating with your guests.

The first secret to creating a stress-free environment in your home around the holidays? Remember, you’re surrounded by allies! Delegating tasks can make the work of hosting that much easier. If you’ve got guests staying with you, they can pitch in on meal prep, or the kids can take care of keeping the space clean. Any task off your plate means you’ll have more time to focus on what counts: spending time with the people most important to you.

If you’ve never hosted a holiday dinner before, How to Host Your First Thanksgiving is a great place to start. You’ll find expert tips on table setting, tips for the kids, centerpiece inspiration, wine pairings, and more. It’s a whole-home guide for holiday entertaining with possibilities well beyond turkey day.

Once you get started cooking, that’s when the real thinking kicks in. It’s essential to consider which dishes will take the longest and which can be prepared in advance, so you can best allocate your time. When you’ve got a range of cooking appliances at the ready, you’re way ahead in terms of saving time and oven space. Especially for your main dish, if you can dedicate the oven for the turkey or the ham and let countertop appliances handle the sides, you’ll have more time to enjoy the company of your guests.

So how do you organize your prep time? First, prioritize slow-cooking dishes that will take multiple hours. Start with soups or pulled meats that can go in the slow-cooker and let the flavors come alive while you wait. Then, turn to the air fryer or toaster oven for appetizers and sides that come together more quickly. Finally, as the main event approaches, you can move to the microwave to reheat anything you made ahead or warm up any sauces. When you have a plan, everything can hit the table at the same time; fresh, warm, and delicious.