Essential Kitchen Tools 

Thinking about cooking the 25-pound turkey, the sweet potatoes, the perfect gravy, and the pumpkin pie can make turkey day seem like a mountain to climb.

But the best part about making a Thanksgiving feast is that there are plenty of Thanksgiving cooking tools out there to make it a breeze. 

Even if most of your kitchen appliances are going to be put to the test over the holiday season, that doesn’t mean that you can’t use other tools and options to help make your Thanksgiving table irresistibly delicious! 

From must-have for home cooks to a great gift idea for those hosting the big day, this list of tools is at a great price and perfect for this time of year. 

Baking Sheets –  We use baking sheets for so many things. Baking cookies, roasting vegetables, and even as a placeholder to stack things in the fridge.

When you’re cooking a ton of food during the holidays, all space is precious. 

Electric Knife –  A sharp knife is a must for cutting through all that turkey meat. Or ham meat if that’s your thing.

Using an electric carving knife keeps is slow and steady and helps to make the slices even in size. 

Pie Dishes – Everyone needs a good pie plate or two! That homemade pie dough loaded with all the best sweet fillings is the best way to end a big meal.

My Strawberry Pie and Buttermilk Pie are always a hit. 

Wooden Spoon – Having a good wooden spoon might not seem like that big of a deal, but this really is an essential kitchen tool.

Wooden spoons are great for scraping for gravy, scraping the sides of mixing bowls, and getting out all the goodness from the cranberry sauce cans. (just to name a few tasty uses) 

Large Cutting Board – A large cutting board or carving board comes in really handy during this time of year.

It’s great for chopping up fruits, veggies, and meats – and the good news is that it can double as a charcuterie board for appetizers and snacks as well. It’s a handy option to have while the main dish is cooking! 

Wire Rack – Wire racks are a great idea as they help cookies, cakes, breads, and pies cool down differently.

Anytime I make my Soft Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies, I have them firm up a bit on a cooling rack like this one. 

Immersion Blender – The versatility of this handy little tool is why it’s on my list.

It’s great for mixing juices, blending fruits, and even chopping food into smaller bits. Plus, you can use it for making the fluffiest mashed potatoes! 

Fine Mesh Strainer – A strainer is great for pasta, cleaning veggies, or just to help separate ingredients until you are ready to use them.

I like to get different sizes to use because not all of my needs require a big strainer. 

Aluminum foil – I’m not ashamed to admit that aluminum foil is a staple in my kitchen. It’s great for covering casseroles, covering pie crusts so that they dont’ burn, and even cooking up simple foil pack meals. 

I love that it can be used in the oven and on the grill and is perfect for keeping food wrapped up in it to stay warm. 

Meat thermometer – Having an instant-read thermometer is the best way to ensure that your turkey is done baking.

It’s as simple as inserting the metal tip into the bird and making sure that it’s cooked to at least 165 degrees. 

Potato masher – In our house, mashing the potatoes is a job for the kids!

It’s the perfect way to have them help in the kitchen and be a part of the cooking process. (and let’s be honest – mashing potatoes is a great way to get out some frustration, too!)

Rolling pin – A rolling pan is a must for baking needs. I use a rolling pin for making homemade pie crusts, rolling and breaking cookies and crackers for other recipes, and also for getting the dough to stick together quicker than kneading. 

Turkey baster – If you’re marinating the turkey, having a good turkey baster on hand is a must! It’s a great tool to use, even if it is just once per year. 

Vegetable peeler – Having roasted vegetables is a staple on our holiday table. I love using a good veggie peeler that makes the process painless and simple.

Thanksgiving Meal Casserole Dishes

In our house, the perfect pairing for a big juicy Thanksgiving turkey is any kind of casserole!

From corn casserole to sweet potato casserole, they all just scream Thanksgiving Day. Side dishes like casseroles are the perfect way to create a large meal to share with family and friends. 

You can even get personalized casserole dishes for the holiday season to be sure that they get returned to you when everyone is done.

The only thing that you have to worry about is remembering to ask for it back! 

If this is your first time making the casserole for the big meal, don’t stress! All that you need to do is a little prep work, and casseroles basically bake themselves to perfection. Time to stock up on some of these Thanksgiving essentials. 

Large Rectangular Baking Dish – This casserole dish is the one I used last year – and I love how the dishes turned out.

Plus, it was easy to clean and simple to load up with all the ingredients. I can whip up my famous Sausage Cornbread Stuffing in no time at all. 

Casserole Dish with Lid – If you’re going to be using your oven for multiple dishes, having a solid casserole dish with a lid is a great plan. That way, it cooks without absorbing any other flavors. 

Best Roasting Pan 

If you have a big bird for the holidays to cook, then you need a big roasting pan to do it! 

Roasting Pan with Rack and Lid 12 Quart – Having a roasting pan like this is so much better than a flimsy disposable pan!

It’s sturdy and strong and provides an even cooking time to the meat. 

Originally published November 2023

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