Food & Wine's Guide to Essential Thanksgiving Tools

Thanksgiving is a time for family, food, and fun, but it can also be stressful, no matter your skill level. If you have never made a Thanksgiving meal, even choosing a turkey to buy can be daunting. Of course, food comes first when it comes to a Thanksgiving dinner success story, but the meal is only as good as the tools it takes to make it.

After testing hundreds of products all year, including over 50 Thanksgiving tools I tested personally this season, here are our recommendations for high-quality and dependable purchases that will help you make meals to remember.

Just the Essentials

• ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE, $111
• Cooks Standard Stainless Steel Roaster, $70
• Great Jones Hot Dish, $40
• Oxo Good Grips Stainless Steel Smooth Potato Masher, $16
• Staub Round Cocotte, $300
• Riedel VINUM Wine Glasses, $57
• Our Place Dinnerware Set, $250
• Lenox French Perle 65-Piece Flatware Set, $128
  

Turkey Tools

Roasting a turkey doesn’t have to be as complicated as it's often made out to be. Simply put, defrost your bird, put it in one of our favorite roasting pans, season it, moisten it with a turkey baster as it roasts, and ensure it’s cooked through with an accurate instant-read thermometer. If you are a brave soul who fries your turkey, that's more involved. But we tested deep fryers and found one for every setup. No matter how you cook it, you’ll need a carving knife, and we also prefer a carving board over a regular cutting board to catch the juices. We like our turkey with gravy, and a gravy boat is necessary to reduce tabletop mess. Trust us, we’ve done it every other way.

Wüsthof Classic 9-inch Hollow Edge Carving Knife

We loved the Wüsthof Classic Carving Knife during our carving knife testing. It’s a high-quality knife with a long, thin blade and a slightly curved edge that will easily slice through any turkey, no matter how it's prepared. It is made of high-carbon stainless steel and is very sharp. The hollow oval-shaped indentations along the knife's edge leave air between the food and the blade, resulting in smoother slices. The handle is comfortable to hold, even when wet or greasy.

Cooks Standard 14-inch by 12-inch Stainless Steel Roaster

The Cooks Standard Roaster is a sturdy, stylish roasting pan with a perfect mirror-shiny finish that performed well during testing. It is small enough to be easy to handle but large enough to roast a family meal or even a dessert. It also heats up quickly and evenly, making it ideal for gravy. We recommend this roasting pan for seasoned cooks and beginners alike.

Bayou Classic 44-Quart "Big Bird" Kit

The Bayou Classic turkey fryer is an excellent traditional option for those who want to cook a whole turkey quickly. It has a large capacity and heats quickly, making it ideal for large gatherings. Like most turkey fryers we tested, you need to read the instructions well before use.

Made In The Butcher Block

This heavy-duty carving board is made from beechwood and has a deep juice groove to catch any drips. It is also very durable and can handle even the most brutal cuts of meat thanks to its weighted style. It was one of the heavier carving boards we tested, but we found that a plus.

Pottery Barn Emma Beaded Stoneware Gravy Boat

This elegant gravy boat is made in Portugal from stoneware and has a classic beaded design that seamlessly blends with any dinnerware or serveware. It is perfect for serving gravy at formal dinners but just as helpful for an impromptu weeknight gravy. It was one of our favorites when we scoured the market for gravy boats.

OXO Good Grips Angled Turkey Baster with Cleaning Brush

This angled turkey baster makes it easy to reach around a turkey and prevent spills. I tested all sorts of basters, including many delicate glass ones, and this was the most durable. There is nothing worse than a greasy baster, and it was also the least messy out of all the turkey basters I used. I also like that it has a built-in stand and measurement markings. It's made of plastic and dishwasher-safe, but we recommend hand-washing.

ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE

This instant-read thermometer is incredibly accurate and fast. It is also very durable and can be used in various cooking applications. Its fold-out design means the thermometer is always ready to use and also preserves battery life. No wonder we always put it on the top of our best instant read thermometer lists. It's also the only thermometer I use at home, and I have tested many. I trust its accuracy.

On the Side

While the turkey is the main attraction, many people love the side dishes more. Whether you make everything from scratch with your vegetable chopper or lean on your can opener, we've vetted the best options.

No matter which type of stuffing you prefer, it will be fan-favorite in one of our tested casserole dishes. Lumpy or smooth, a potato masher is a must, as is a great vegetable peeler to nimbly liberate potatoes from their skins or peel a lemon for a welcome martini. And who can get by without a Dutch oven or half-sheet pan for roast vegetables and toasting toppings?

Oxo Good Grips Pro Y-Peeler

This Y-shaped peeler is ergonomic and easy to use, no matter how big your hands are — a key factor when I sought to find the best peelers. This was the favorite in my household, no matter who used them. I already owned an earlier model, and it was still in good shape after years of use. It has a sharp blade that can easily peel vegetables of all kinds and is a helpful tool for removing potato eyes.

Oxo Good Grips Stainless Steel Smooth Potato Masher

This potato masher has a fine, alternating grid pattern that produces silky-smooth mashed potatoes. It is also made from durable stainless steel and has a comfortable handle. It was the only one that didn’t hurt my hands after extended use during tests, where I mashed over 20 pounds of Yukon gold and sweet potatoes.

Great Jones Hot Dish

This casserole dish is ceramic and has deep sides, perfect for layering casseroles or stuffing. It is also oven-safe up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit and can be used in the microwave and freezer, which is why it is one of our favorites — and perfect for leftovers.

Nordic Ware Naturals Baker's Half Sheet

This two-pack of sheet pans is made from aluminum and evenly conducts heat. They are also durable and resistant to warping at high temperatures, so they will be trusty helpers whether you’re making rolls, roasting veggies, or toasting nuts for a dessert or salad. I normally like a sheet pan that can go in the dishwasher because I can be lazy, but these are my favorite, even though they are hand-wash only. I choose them every time due to their superior performance, because who wants warping at high heat?

Staub Round Cocotte

The Staub Round Cocotte is the best Dutch oven on the market, according to our exhaustive testing. Made with high-quality materials and construction, it performs flawlessly in every kitchen task due to its unique spiked lids. It's also versatile enough to use for a variety of dishes, whether you’re using it for potatoes, turkey, or stuffing.

KitchenAid 3.5-Cup Food Chopper

We found that the KitchenAid Chopper is the best vegetable chopper on the market and was my favorite when we tested all sorts of choppers. I had previously used one from another brand for many years, but this became my new go-to because of the controls, which enable me to slow it down when I want a rougher chop. It's easy to use and makes quick work of chopping vegetables for stuffing and salads. It's also dishwasher-safe, so cleanup is a breeze.

Don't Forget Dessert

Many cherished Thanksgiving memories come when baking with a rolling pin in hand. Whether it’s your beloved apple pie in one of these gorgeous best pie dishes or a sweet cream galette, a freshly baked dessert is the finishing touch to any meal and a special way to treat guests.

We've tested foundational products you can’t bake without, like a hand mixer for whipping fluffy cream or a stand mixer for Parker House roll dough. But we've also selected tools you may not know about, like Silicone baking mats. They are great for keeping cookie sheets safe from stickier items like candied pecans for the top of a sweet potato casserole or parmesan tuille.

Pyrex Basics 9-Inch Pie Plate

The Pyrex BasicsPie Plate is the best pie dish on the market, according to us. It's made with durable glass that won't shatter and is also dishwasher-safe. It's also very affordable, making it an excellent value for the price. I often make pies to take to friend's houses and love that I can gift one of these and not worry about getting back. You can also pick them up anywhere on the cheap.

J.K. Adams Dowel Rolling Pin

We chose the J.K. Adams Dowel Rolling Pin as our favorite rolling pin on the market, thanks to its stellar performance. Made with high-quality maple wood and construction, it rolls dough evenly and smoothly. It's also very affordable, making it an excellent value for the price and the handy tool you’ll use to make a pie crust.

Breville Handy Mix Scraper

The Breville Handy Mix Scraper is one of the best hand mixers we’ve tried. It's easy to use and has a variety of speeds to choose from. It's also very powerful and can handle even the most demanding mixing jobs we threw at it during at-home testing.

Kenwood 5-Quart Chef Kitchen Machine

We like the Kenwood 5-quart Chef Kitchen Machine because it’s powerful, versatile, and easy to use. Most of its parts are dishwasher-safe, so cleanup isn't messy, a requirement for any stand mixer we test and award the overall best.

Silpat Silicone Baking Mat

We love Silpat Silicone Baking Mats because they are nonstick, heat-resistant, and easy to clean. It's also reusable, so you won't have to keep buying new baking mats. We have a feeling you’ll get plenty of use through the various tasks required to pull off a Thanksgiving meal. They also last forever. I have had the same set since I discovered this miraculous invention in culinary school. They're still like new.

Set the Table

While we love cooking products, housewares are important to us, too. We continually search for the best dinnerware and fabulous flatware sets to set a great tablescape, regardless of whether it is a holiday. 

We’re constantly evaluating wine glasses for every type of wine. And since many of us love all the accouterments, we’ve also tested top wine decanters to ensure your wine is properly aerated.  As with any special occasion, it’s time to pull out those cloth napkins and tablecloths you never use. Ensure you grab a few trivets to protect your table from burns when a casserole dish comes straight out of the oven. And, of course, our tested and approved food storage containers will house your leftovers to enjoy the next day.

Our Place Dinnerware Set

The Our Place Dinnerware Set is one of the best dinnerware sets we found on the market — and there are many sets out there, making it the perfect set for your Thanksgiving tablescape. It's made with high-quality ceramic and is dishwasher-safe. It's also very affordable, making it an excellent value for the price. It is a consistent favorite among our editors and discerning buyers alike.

Lenox French Perle 65-Piece Flatware Set

The Lenox French Perle Flatware Set is our favorite flatware set for entertaining. It's made with high-quality stainless steel and is also dishwasher-safe. We love that it is affordable for such a large set that should last many years, and due to the number of pieces, it should be able to feed your party — no matter the size.

Riedel VINUM Glasses

Whether you’re sipping while preparing the meal or sharing a bottle when it’s time to eat, these sleek and universal wine glasses by Riedel enhance the aromas and flavors of any wine. They're shorter and more comfortable to hold than other options and store easily in smaller spaces. While they're on the pricier side, these expert-loved glasses are a worthy investment for serious wine drinkers — or anyone who wants to kick their feet up after a long day of cooking.

Made In Decanter

While you’re still preparing, pour one of your favorite bottles into a decanter to aerate by the time you’re ready to sit down and eat. Made In's compact decanter is perfect for small kitchens and tight spaces, so it easily became one of our favorites. It's also easy to grip and pour, with a wide bowl allowing proper aeration. The angled neck makes it easy to top off glasses without spilling. We also love that you can buy the wine glasses and decanter in a set for a host gift.

Terrain Antiqued Brass Candlestick

We love that the classic brass candlestick from Terrain is versatile enough for formal and casual dining occasions. It's also affordable, so you can invest in several to create a dramatic tablescape. The low profile makes seeing your guests across the table easy, even with a full-sized taper candle. It's also sturdy and won't tip over easily.

Le Creuset Silicone Trivet

This durable and heat-resistant silicone trivet from Le Creuset is easy to clean and comes in various colors to match any kitchen décor. It's also a must to catch hot dishes coming straight from the oven as you play oven Tetris. It was the most versatile out of the trivets we found. It's also affordable, making it an excellent option for everyday use, not just special occasions.

Solino Home Classic Hemstitch Tablecloth

We found this linen tablecloth from Solino Home to be an excellent value for the price, among others we featured. It's available in various sizes and colors, and the classic hemstitched edge gives it a touch of elegance. It's also machine-washable, making it easy to wash out any wine spills or mashed potato messes.

Williams Sonoma Hotel Dinner Napkins Set of 12

These simple yet elegant cloth napkins from Williams Sonoma can be used for any occasion, from formal dinner parties to casual family meals. They're made from pure cotton and come in a variety of colors to choose from. I like that they are always in stock, so I can easily replace napkins that become stained or ripped in the wash. They're also machine-washable, which makes them a favorite at my Thanksgiving dinner table.

Glasslock 18-Piece Set

Thanksgiving doesn’t end on Thursday night. These durable and airtight glass storage containers from Glasslock are perfect for keeping your turkey, stuffing, and all the other favorite sides fresh for enjoying the next day. They're also microwave- and dishwasher-safe, making them easy to heat up quickly. The thick glass walls also protect food from staining or retaining smells.

Our Expertise

Jennifer Zyman is a Senior Commerce Writer for Food & Wine and a recovering restaurant critic with a culinary school degree and over 15 years of food writing experience. Her work has appeared in Atlanta Magazine, Bon Appetit, Eater Atlanta, The Kitchn, Local Palate, National Geographic, Southern Living, and Thrillist. She wrote this story using our testing insights and research, as well as her personal insights she gathered after months of testing Thanksgiving-related products in her own kitchen.