For The Designated Family Chef, Holiday Is Lots of Work -- But Worth It, Most Agree
By Hadas Kuznits
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A new survey has measured out, state by state, how much time people spend preparing their big holiday meal.
One woman we spoke with today at Reading Terminal Market admitted it's a lot of work.
"About four or five hours of prep the day before, and then, on the day itself, another two or three hours," she said.
According to the Del Monte "holiday meal census," Pennsylvanians spend nearly six hours on average cooking for the holiday. What goes into making the meal?
"It's shopping, prep, refrigeration, storage, and then Christmas Eve," another woman lists, "and Christmas Day is the entire assembly."
Everyone seems to have his or her own tradition about how to get the cooking done.
"I put the turkey in in the morning, and we go to the movies," said another woman. "It's on a timer, so it's almost done. And when we get back I prepare everything else."
And being the designated family chef is a lot of work, especially for large and diverse families.
"Some people eat pork, some don't, some only eat vegetables, some like turkey products," recalled another woman. Is she able to handle it?
"I cater to everybody!" she replies.