If you're going to be hosting a big dinner party then you're going to want to consider meal prepping some of the dishes. Otherwise, you'll be stuck in the kitchen the whole time while all of your guests are mingling, which you definitely won't want. To find out the tips and tricks for meal prepping for a crowd, Daily Meal spoke with an expert: Jessie-Sierra Ross, a former ballerina turned cooking and home entertaining author, TV food segment creator, and food and lifestyle blogger at Straight to the Hips, Baby .
First things first, do your research before choosing which meals to prep ahead of time. Jessie-Sierra says, " It's important to know and understand not only the recipe you're using, but also the specific ingredients as well. Certain ingredients can manage specific levels of pre-prep .
" She gives the example of how cheesy potato scallops can be baked ahead of time, then reheated when needed. However, you do not want to store peeled potatoes with the intention of putting the dish together later on. Jessie-Sierra adds, "You would be surprised with discoloration and soft spots for your efforts.
" How to plan which meals to prep for a dinner party For dinner parties, Jessie-Sierra Ross — author of "Seasons Around the Table: Effortless Entertaining with Floral Tablescapes & Seasonal Recipes" — uses a combination of dishes that can be prepped ahead of time and principal dishes that are cooked closer to dinner time. She says, " Dishes like stuffings, casseroles, chutneys, .