Anyone who’s ever watched Barefoot Contessa will know she loves to host people, and she'll tell you there's nothing worse than being stuck in the kitchen for hours while your guests have to entertain themselves. In an article on her website, Garten suggests prepping ahead of time, pointing out that anything that can be assembled in advance will help make your cooking stress-free, plus nobody wants to have a full sweat on when friends arrive.

Now discover Guy Fieri’s best cooking tips and hacks

Last updated by Lottie Woodrow.

The Barefoot Contessa’s best-ever cooking tips