Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
In order to not lose your head before, during, or after Thanksgiving mealtime, you should have the following items in your kitchen.
Kitchen Essentials for Thanksgiving Day
- Storage containers
- Roasting pan
- A trusty knife or two
- Cutting boards
- Mixing bowls
- Cookware
- Serving dishes
Why should you make sure you have the basic kitchen essentials?
Because people are coming. Hopefully, you like most of them.
It's a holiday, so emotions and expectations are often amplified. All those people will be converging on your house, and...gulp... you're not quite sure how you're going to manage it all.
Never fear; you've come to the right place.
But before you keep reading, consider this: on Thanksgiving or any major holiday, you want to set yourself up for success - especially if you're hosting. So, what does success look like for you?
And remember, you cannot control other people's actions. So, what does success look like for YOU?
Does it mean you set a perfect table and serve decadent food to a few close family members or friends?
Or does it look more like a massive potluck, with several families and every guest bringing their favorite dish to share?
Once you know what success looks like, work backward from there.
One of the ways to do this is to ensure you are adequately stocked on the essentials pertinent to your objective. For example, if you're having overnight guests, you want to ensure you have clean towels, linens, and guest rooms or areas. If you're cooking, you must ensure you have all the right Thanksgiving Day kitchen essentials.
Storage Containers
You NEED storage containers! I'm listing this at the beginning because you need them both before and after dinner. They enable you to prepare as much food as possible in advance and then store leftovers.
I recommend having two types of storage containers - ones you keep and ones you buy specifically to send home with others, stuffed with leftovers. Make it very clear that you don't want the containers back.
Roasting Pan
A sturdy roasting pan is a Thanksgiving kitchen essential for cooking your main dish, whether that's turkey, ham, or roast beef. Make sure it's large enough to accommodate the size of your turkey, ham, or roast.
I used the non-stick All-Clad roasting pan with a rack for a long time. The 13x16 size is perfect for a large chicken or small turkey.
Why I love it: It has two raised handles, which means you can very safely pull this out of the oven. No one wants a major burn (physical or emotional) on Thanksgiving. The non-stick pan makes it easy to scrape out the flavorful drippings and turn them into an easy gravy.
Pro tip: If you cook a bird, you also need a way to transfer it to a cutting board. You don't need a unique tool for this. You can insert a sturdy wooden spoon or knife honing rod into the cavity, then use tongs in your other hand to brace and balance the bird as you transfer it to your cutting board. Make sure the roasting pan and cutting board are side by side so you can do it quickly and without the risk of fumbling a piping hot turkey all over the counter or floor.
Chef's Knife and Carving Set
It is imperative to have a sharp chef's knife for preparing ingredients and a carving set for slicing the turkey. A trusty knife is an indispensable Thanksgiving kitchen essential.
There are many opinions about knives and much to be said about them. If you feel overwhelmed about picking out a knife, but know you want to upgrade, I recommend you decide how much you want to spend. Then, pick one from this list from Serious Eats: The Essential Knives Every Home Cook Needs.
Even before I came across their assessment of knives, I already owned and loved the Wüsthof 8-inch Classic Chef's Knife
Why I love it: Easy and comfortable to grip correctly, retains a sharp edge for a long time, especially when used on a wood cutting board.
Cutting Boards
I recommend having several cutting boards and at least one high-quality, end-grain one. You can use color-coded to help avoid cross-contamination or just be diligent about frequently washing the ones you have.
I personally use the end-grain board from William Sonoma. This is just one of many, many good options for an end-grain wood-cutting board.
Why I love it: It's so dang heavy that it doesn't move. This might be a drawback to some, but I like it. It's also an end grain board, which means my knife stays sharper longer.
However, just make sure you have a board you like, and make sure it doesn't slip while you're using it.
Pro tip: if you have a cutting board that slides around a little, dampen a paper towel and lay it flat between the counter and the cutting board. It should help anchor the board in place.
Kitchen Timer
A kitchen timer will help you keep track of cooking times, helping you prevent dishes from overcooking or burning. Some thermometers have built-in timers that you can use when you need to be watchful of an item being cooked to a specific temperature. You can also just use a separate kitchen timer.
And don't be afraid of setting alarms on your phone. I have one that goes off Thursday morning at 8 am labeled "Take the pies out of the freezer." Because no one wants a frozen pie!
Pots and Pans
Ensure you have the right cookware to cook all the dishes you plan on making. (You are planning your menu, right? Not planning a menu is a major pitfall - See my post Six Thanksgiving Pitfalls to Avoid!)
This includes the main dishes, side dishes, sauces, and gravies.
For example, if you want a pie, and you don't have a pie plate, you have a problem. So, write out your menu and then take stock of what you'll need to prepare, cook, and serve each dish.
In addition to the roasting pan, knives, and cutting boards previously mentioned, I recommend baking sheets, a large pot for boiling potatoes, medium and small pots for making sauces and gravies, and a 9x13 pan for a sweet potato casserole or mac and cheese.
Mixing Bowls and Utensils
I recommend a good set of stainless steel or plastic mixing bowls. These are great for preparing salads, sides, and desserts.
I recommend using large mixing bowls to prepare ingredients unless you are mixing very small amounts of something. Trying to keep too many ingredients in a small bowl often leads to spills and unnecessary messes.
Whereas if you have a large bowl, you can mix the heck out of something, and it will all stay in the bowl.
Essential utensils include whisks, spatulas, and mixing spoons. I also like to ensure I have plenty of tasting spoons readily available. Sometimes, this means using disposable spoons.
Most Thanksgiving dishes don't require a stand mixer such as a Kitchen Aid or Bosch, so I don't consider it essential.
Pro tip: a food processor is something else that isn't essential but is nice to have on hand. It's how I make my favorite pie crust (Easy Pie Dough from Serious Eats), as well as my favorite homemade cranberry and apple relish.
Thermometer
A reliable, instant-read thermometer helps ensure the turkey, ham, or roast beef is cooked to a safe temperature while preventing overcooking or undercooking.
I personally use the Thermo-Pro instant-read thermometer. It has a whopping 123,000+ reviews on Amazon and has a 4.6 star rating. It has a foldaway probe, comes in red and grey, and a magnetic back, so it can live on the front of the oven, microwave, or fridge. It takes less than two seconds to give an accurate read. I've had mine for over six years, and it still gives accurate reads.
Serving Dishes and Utensils
A platter for the meat, bowls for potatoes, veggies, and salads, and serving utensils for each dish are crucial to have planned and set out.
Whether you use disposable serving dishes, like a foil roasting tray and pie plates, or you have heirloom pieces that come out just for the holidays, write out a plan for what serving items you need for all the dishes you will be serving.
Pro tip: Remember the butter! A butter dish and knife can be oft-overlooked items.
One last pro tip
Remember table settings, including plates, glasses, silverware, and napkins.
Oftentimes, as a host, it can be easy to focus on the main task, such as cooking Thanksgiving dinner, and overlook or under plan the supporting aspects, such as place settings and centerpieces.
So long as you have these essentials, you'll be well-equipped to host a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner for you and your guests.
Cheers!
Susan
P.S. What about you? What type of holiday dinner will you serve? Will it be an intimate meal or an all-day potluck while you visit with a bunch of people?
Join the Discussion!