12 Unexpected Kitchen Tools and Appliances That Will Make Thanksgiving Dinner Prep so Much Easier
Thanksgiving should be one of the least stressful holidays. The only achievement you’re aiming for is to eat yourself into a coma, something many of us can do at any moment, without any preparation. But there are several hidden sources of stress: from the expense of organizing it all to organizing travel so everyone can make it to appetizers, not to mention the stress of preparing the holiday dinner. The hapless host must not only feed a large group, but also ensure everything is served on time, and then clean up the dreadful mess.
Luckily, modern science and engineering occasionally turn their genius to the kitchen, resulting in a list of tools and gadgets you might not immediately think of but that can make cooking, serving, and cleaning up after a Thanksgiving dinner a whole lot easier.
Automatic pot stirrer
Do you have an automatic mixer ? Probably not. Do you need one? Probably yes. One of the biggest challenges of Thanksgiving dinner (or any large dinner party) is balancing multiple dishes and making sure they’re all ready at the right time. Many dishes require constant stirring to thicken, prevent sticking, and prevent burning, but it’s easy to forget about that when you’re juggling a dozen other tasks. Having a mixer on hand will ensure your gravy never burns again.
Electric turkey fryer
If you’re a purist, you might imagine a Thanksgiving turkey as something that’s pulled out of the oven with much fanfare. If you’re a bit adventurous, you might try deep-frying your turkey, which leads to injuries and property damage every year (because turkeys tend to explode in deep frying), including about five deaths per year. But if you want a turkey faster and with a crispier crust than your oven can provide, invest in an electric turkey fryer . You’ll get a crispy, tender bird much faster without the fear of your turkey turning into a bomb. Plus, using one frees up your oven for other things, giving you a little more space.
Omental cage
Don’t have a stuffing rack ? No problem, no one has one. But you should definitely get one, because it makes removing all the stuffing from the turkey much easier. You form a stuffing rack and insert it into the turkey, and when the dish is done, simply pull it out, and all the stuffing is ready—no annoying scraping and much less mess.
Grease separator
You’ll be judged on many aspects of your Thanksgiving table, but people judge gravy far more than anything else. If you want smooth, silky, and delicious gravy, you need a grease separator . Simply pour out the grease and let it strain out the solids. The fat will rise to the top, and you can pour this delicious, filtered fat into a gravy-making bowl. It’s a simple tool, but its impact on your gravy-making skills will be astounding.
Electric buffet
Here’s the secret: no one can time it right. Your side dishes will be ready before you are . Something will delay the main course, and you’ll be left with plates of mashed potatoes or stuffing. Dinner will be delayed altogether, or your guests will be late, and your hot appetizers will congeal and get cold. Take advantage of a compact buffet : keep a few dishes warm for as long as you need them. Whether you need to buy time with the side dishes to finish a recalcitrant turkey, or your guests are stuck in traffic, it’s the difference between a microwaved Thanksgiving and a piping hot meal ready to serve.
Digital measuring spoons
Measuring portions can be maddening. You pour, weigh, scoop, and hope you don’t spill anything. At some point every year, I simply stop measuring precisely and start improvising, eyeballing everything. By the time guests start arriving, I’m usually just dumping everything into bowls and pots with a kind of “wild abandon.” A digital measuring spoon eliminates the need for a scale or measuring cup. Simply scoop out the required amount and pour off the excess until you get the right amount. Then pour it into the dish and move on to the next ingredient you need to measure. Over time, those saved seconds will pay off.
Mini pie maker
Are you making pies for Thanksgiving? Does everyone on your guest list agree on what kind of pie they want? Or will you bake four large pies, only to have half left over when everyone’s gone? Leftover pie isn’t exactly a disaster, but unless you plan on devoting your entire life to eating pies, it can be a big waste. A mini pie maker allows you to a) make plenty of pies for guests who b) don’t stay. Plus, it bakes pies quickly, so if you miscalculate the amount needed, you can whip up a few more at the last minute.
Food warming mats
Keeping food warm is a challenge for most Thanksgiving cooks. Dishes are removed from the stove and left to sit while you ponder the rest of the dishes, herd guests away from the TV and into the dining room, and conduct the toasting and carving ceremony. By the time the gravy is passed around, it’s lukewarm, a disappointing temperature. The solution: a warming mat . An electric buffet can keep the side dishes warm, while a warming mat cooks everything else, leaving you to arrange the plates and bowls until needed.
5-in-1 tool
If you’re like me, you know how much time is wasted searching for tools while preparing a big meal. First, you can’t find what you need. Then you find it, but after using it, you have to clean it for the next time. Then it gets stuck under potholders or kitchen towels, and you spend two minutes searching for it, trying to look calm and unflappable in front of your guests. Make your life easier with this 5-in-1 tool or something similar. It combines a cutting tool, spoon, spatula, slotted spoon, and spatula into one silicone wonder. Use, wipe, use again—and eliminate the need to clutter your kitchen with all those extra tools.
Floor cleaning brush
If you’re planning to use a hand mixer for some Thanksgiving dishes, like mashed potatoes or desserts, a whisk scraper is a must. Instead of scrubbing your whisks and bowls in the sink while preparing them for the next dish, you can wipe them clean in seconds and get right back to cooking. Plus, a whisk scraper allows you to catch every last drop of food without spilling it all down the drain.
Splash protection
If you fry, you know that a splash guard is essential. But traditional splash guards make it difficult to stir and flip food while cooking, as you have to constantly lift the screen. This splash guard works differently: it protects the surrounding area from splashes while providing full access to the surface and food, allowing you to flip, stir, baste, or season as needed without risking splatter. This won’t necessarily speed up cooking, but it will make cleanup significantly easier and quicker , since you won’t have to scrub the sides.
Turkey lift
If you’ve ever cooked a turkey (or roast), you know the “last mile” challenge: transferring it from the pan to a serving platter or cutting board. If you’ve done it right, the turkey will be tender and easy to carve, which can make transferring it a mess. A turkey lifter is the simple solution you never knew you needed. Place a turkey lifter under the turkey when you place it in the oven, and when it’s done, you can easily remove it whole.