Rachael Ray shares 3 ways hosts can stay calm when things 'inevitably' go wrong on Thanksgiving

• Ray shared a few tips with Insider for staying calm and collected during the holiday season.  
• She advised against trying a recipe you've never made before during the holidays to avoid stress.  
• Ray said the key to a host's success is being an early riser.

Rachael Ray knows the holiday season is hectic. 

"I think people get very nervous about holidays, and it's the wrong occasion to be nervous," Ray told Insider at the Blue Moon Burger Bash during the New York City Wine & Food Festival in October. 

The celebrity chef shared a few of her go-tips for staying calm and collected — including pouring a glass of wine if needed. 

Ray suggested making dishes that feel 'secure' instead of experimenting 

Food plays a significant role during the holiday season, so Ray told Insider that hosts shouldn't overextend themselves in the kitchen by trying brand-new recipes.

"You need to stick with something you feel very secure about," she said." Don't try and make something you've never made before or with tons of ingredients."

Ray said to keep things simple for large meals, but if things go awry, there's usually a way to save it. 

"There is nothing you can't cook with a bit of stock, a little bit of olive oil, a hot oven or hot pot," she said. "And if something goes too far, it becomes a soup." 

She added: "Only you know what happens in your kitchen."

Keep calm with a cup of tea — or glass of wine — if you'd prefer, Ray said

According to Ray, it's important to keep a level head when hosting for the holidays because it's "inevitable" that something will go wrong. 

"Especially if you have a hot kitchen or lots of kids running around," she told Insider. "It's going to get weird. So you have to be prepared to be calm."

Whether hosts need a sip of herb tea, a vodka soda, or a glass of wine, Ray said the goal is to "stay chill."

Being a morning person is a good thing during the holidays, according to Ray

Hosts have a lot of responsibilities during the holidays, but getting an early start on the to-do list can ease some tension. 

"Even if you keep the simplest plan in the world, if you're not out of bed while it's still quite dark out, you're screwed," she said, adding that self-care should also be a priority. 

"You need to be in and out of the shower early," Ray said. "Brush your teeth, get clean, make sure you smell OK, and then get to work. Seriously, because inevitably, things will go wrong."