19 Essential Tools You Need To Make Your Thanksgiving Feast
Thanksgiving is our favorite time of year for joy, reflection and gratitude—and let’s not forget—indulgent feasts with family and friends.
But with so much to prepare, it can be hard to know where to begin. That’s where we come in. Our resident chefs have compiled a list of everything you need to make sure your kitchen runs smoothly come Thanksgiving—app to entrée, aunts to in-laws.
Hungry for more? Explore our Thanksgiving Shop to snag everything you need for the biggest meal of the year. You can even buy your tools online and pick up in a store closest to you to ensure you have it all for the big day!
Roasting Pan
If you didn’t inherit one of these, it might be time to invest in one.
A good roasting pan is a must to get a perfectly golden turkey or ham. If you can find one with nonstick coating, it’ll save you a lot of cleanup time. Look for one with tall sides to prevent splattering and a V-shaped rack to allow for even air circulation.
Cutting Board
Save your countertops and get a large cutting board to carve your turkey on. Words from the wise: choose a cutting board with deep juice grooves to catch any drippings.
Turkey Baster
One of the best ways to ensure your poultry cooks up with crisp, golden-brown skin and moist, mouthwatering meat is by basting it in its own juices. Try to find a baster with an angled tip to access hard-to-reach juices in the back of the pan.
Twine
Oft forgot, twine is what ensures your meat stays tender and your stuffed vegetables hold their shape. It’s not just about practicality—it’s also about presentation.
Tying up your turkey with care and precision adds an elegant touch.
Meat Thermometer
You’ll want to make sure your turkey or ham is cooked to a safe temperature, and having a thermometer is going to help you do that.
Try to find one that’s easy to use and test it for accuracy before the big day.
Carving Knife & Fork
You can go manual, but an electric carving knife makes carving your turkey quick and easy, with restaurant-quality cuts every time. Either way, you’ll need a carving fork to help you serve and steady the meat while slicing.
Cookware Set
High-quality cookware might be the unsung hero of this whole operation. From soup to stuffing and mashed potatoes, you’ll need a variety of pots and pans in different sizes to get it all done.
Serving Dishes
Quietly ensuring your meal goes off without a hitch, these essential pieces of tableware are the key to a successful celebration. You’ll want a range, including everything from large platters for serving the turkey and other mains to serving bowls for sides like mashed potatoes and stuffing—plus, don’t forget the gravy boat.
Vegetable Peeler
This one tool will save you a lot of time and effort in prep, allowing you to quickly peel potatoes, carrots, and other vegetables without having to use a paring knife.
Potato Ricer
There’s more than one secret to light, fluffy mashed potatoes, and a potato ricer is one of them. If you’ve never used one before, it mashes the potatoes by pressing them through a perforated disc, which removes any lumps for the ideal texture.
Baking Dishes
Whether you’re making pies, casseroles or stuffing, you’ll want a few of these on hand.
Baking dishes come in a variety of sizes and shapes, so think of your party size and portions, and choose what’s right for your needs.
Baking Sheets
From roasting vegetables to other apps, baking sheets offer a spacious, flat surface that allows you to cook multiple items at once with an even heat distribution.
Rolling Pin
You’d be surprised how handy a rolling pin is in Thanksgiving prep.
You’ll want it to roll out dough for pies, cookies and other pastries, but you can also use it to crush crackers and nuts for cheesecake crusts and pecan pie.
Pie Dish
The heart and soul of Thanksgiving, pie dishes are the custodians of all your cherished family recipes and the bearers of homemade goodness.
Look for a deep glass or ceramic dish with a wide rim that distributes heat evenly, preventing over-browning and under-cooking.
Pie Weights
Never heard of ‘em? Well, now you have, and you won’t go back. Pie weights do a superb job of keeping the bottom of your pie crusts from shrinking and bubbling.
Cooling Rack
With all the hustle and bustle, a cooling rack will serve as a valuable assistant in meal prep. These help with cooling turkey, pies and casseroles while making sure they set properly.
Food Processor
If you don’t have food processor, this is going to be a lifesaver. From chopping vegetables and making pie crusts to pureeing soups and sauces, it’s a valuable tool in your prep arsenal.
Knife Sharpener
The best way to avoid a knife injury is to work with sharp knives. Sharp knives will also help you speed through chopping vegetables and carving the turkey.
Countertop Oven
Your oven’s got a big job on Thanksgiving, so having a countertop oven is a great way to tackle your side dishes so everything comes out on time.
Hungry for more? Explore our Thanksgiving Shop to snag everything you need for the biggest meal of the year. You can even buy your tools online and pick up in a store closest to you to ensure you have it all for the big day!
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