The holiday entertaining season has arrived! Are you hosting Thanksgiving this year? If so, we have curated a list of the best kitchen tools and gadgets to buy that are essential for home cooks to make it just a little bit easier when preparing, serving and hosting Thanksgiving dinner at your place.
10 best kitchen tools to make preparing and serving Thanksgiving dinner a little easier
With the holiday season approaching, your kitchen will be a little busier than usual. No more so than the days around Thanksgiving.
So, is it OK to cheat a little bit when making Thanksgiving dinner from scratch for your family and friends? This is a question we once asked ourselves with great sincerity. We’re not talking about buying a pre-cooked turkey and claiming it as your own. Or pretending you made the pumpkin pie even though it’s pretty clear it came from your local bakery.
No, we’re talking about smaller shortcuts: maneuvering around chopping onions with only a knife, for example. Coring apples with a lot less fuss and bother. Moving past a mortar and pestle to grind the spices for the sweet potatoes.
The answer to this question, dear reader, is an emphatic heck, yeah! In fact, what are you waiting for? If there’s a kitchen tool or gadget that takes some of the dirty work off your hands while preparing the Big Feast, we say go for it.
Because the most profound act of self-care you can do on Thanksgiving Day when you’re the primary cook is take whatever help is available, be it from humans or machines.
While Thanksgiving ranks among our most favorite holidays, we know first hand just how stressful hosting the annual gathering can be. Between choosing the right bird, settling on a menu and then grocery shopping, not to mention all the actual cooking. And we haven’t even gotten to décor, music or setting the table yet.
We know it’s a lot. But there is at least one way you can make preparing and serving your Thanksgiving meal a breeze. Stock up your kitchen with every vessel and utensil you’ll need for the holiday season ahead of time. So throw away that crooked old potato masher, because with the right tools a delicious and less stressful meal is possible.
Whether you’re in charge of the big dinner, or you’re just bringing a side dish or two, we’ve found 10 kitchen tools to help you get the job done. From the items you’ll reach for in your everyday cooking to more Thanksgiving/holiday season specific gadgets, our picks will help you pull off the perfect meal, from sides to the centerpiece turkey.
10 best kitchen tools and gadgets for thanksgiving dinner
1. le creuset signature round dutch oven
Dutch ovens are great for soups and chilis, but they’re also an ideal vessel for making turkey stuffing, as well as mashed potatoes, large quantities of gravy or steaming vegetables. Le Creuset’s Signature Round Dutch Oven is among the best thanks to its durability and even heat distribution.
BUY NOW: $500.00 for a 9 – Quart.
2. chef’n freshforce potato ricer
If you want your mashed potatoes absolutely lump-free but still fluffy, consider a Chef’n FreshForce Potato Ricer. A ricer will produce smoother and creamier mash versus the more rustic style of a masher.
BUY NOW: $53.28.
3. studiopatró linen apron
A good quality, well-fitting apron like this Cross-Back Linen Kitchen Apron from Studiopatró will not only allow you to cook more comfortably and confidently, but it will also ensure you greet your guests looking pulled together.
BUY NOW: $94.00.
4. great jones hot dish
The Great Jones Hot Dish is more than just for casseroles. Able to withstand oven heat up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s great for baking cobblers, crisps, roasted veggies – you name it. It’s also microwave and dishwasher-safe, so you don’t have to worry about reheating food or washing the dish. Plus, how cool is the fun retro design?
BUY NOW: $90.00.
5. cuisinart electric spice and nut grinder
It’s a well known fact that spices (and spice blends) taste better when you start whole and grind them yourself. Level up your meal by making your own with Cuinsinart’s Electric Spice-And-Nut Grinder.
BUY NOW: $39.95.
6. thermoworks dot
Nothing will deflate the Thanksgiving joy more than carving into an undercooked turkey. Likewise, nothing is sadder than a dry, overcooked bird either. Eliminate the chance of an error with the simple ThermoWorks Dot. Just set the temperature you want and it will accurately notify you when your bird is done.
BUY NOW: $34.30.
7. material the reboard
For the mountain of prep work you’ll face on Thanksgiving, you need a good cutting board (or several). Material’s The reBoard is made from 100% recycled material and is extra durable.
BUY NOW: $35.00.
8. messermeister elité wood handled carving set
Without a good, sharp knife and a fork to hold your bird steady, carving a turkey will be difficult. Make it seamless with this Elité Wood Handled Carving Set Messermeister.
BUY NOW: $279.99 – $299.99.
9. top notch kitchenware french style rolling pin
While a wine bottle may work in a pinch for the occasional baking project, if you’re aspiring to create perfect pies you’ll need a good rolling pin. This Black Walnut French Style Rolling Pin from Top Notch Kitchenware is both beautiful and functional. It’s more agile than a handled pin and it doesn’t stick to the dough as much as less expensive models do.
BUY NOW: $34.99.
10. emile henry french ceramic ruffled pie dish
Emile Henry’s French Ceramic Ruffled Pie Dish creates a beautiful presentation on the table, whether it’s filled with your famous homemade pumpkin pie, cornbread, or biscuits. The large ruffle also makes forming a decorative pie crust border easy as, well, pie.
BUY NOW: $39.96.
10 essential kitchen tools and gadgets for Thanksgiving dinner
Wondering what to buy in the world of gadgets if you’re cooking Thanksgiving dinner this year? That’s our take on the best kitchen tools and gadgets to buy that are essential for home cooks to make it just a little bit easier when preparing, serving and hosting Thanksgiving 2024 dinner. Many of these would also make a thoughtful holiday gift for the chefs in your life. We hope you have a delicious and stress free holiday filled with love and gratitude, dear reader.
