Top 10 Kitchen Tools You Need for Thanksgiving
As you're planning your Thanksgiving menu, take inventory of your cabinets and make sure you have the equipment you need before you start cooking. Here's our list of must-haves, all tested at the Good Housekeeping Research Institute and best in their class!
1. Potato Peeler
Whether russets or sweets are your family's spuds of choice, chances are there will be a whole lot of peeling going on. Best tool for the job: Oxo Good Grips Potato Peeler ($7.99, oxo.com).
Related: Top 10 Turkey Tips
2. Potato Masher
Once you've cooked 'em, you have to smash 'em. You don't need a fancy tool. Opt for the Cuisipro Stainless Steel Potato Masher ($21, cuisipro.com) for fluffy results.
Related: Portable Cookware and Serveware for Thanksgiving
3. Roasting Pan
To hold the big bird, you want a heavyweight pan with secure handles that's easy to clean. The Circulon 16" Rectangular Nonstick Roaster ($49.99, circulon.com) will do the trick. Bonus, a rack is included.
Related: Roast a Perfect Turkey
4. Thermometer
If you only buy one thing from this list, make it the Oxo Good Grips Digital Instant Read Meat Thermometer ($19.99, oxo.com). It will help you serve your turkey when it's perfect - fully cooked for safety but not overcooked to the point of dryness.
Related: Turkey Day Troubleshooting
5. Gravy Separator
After you've roasted the turkey to perfection, it's on to the gravy. Make sure you get every drop of delicious drippings but none of the greasy calorie-laden fat with the Zyliss Gravy Separator ($14.99, zylissusa.com).
Related: Getting the Turkey to the Table
6. Cutting Board
Display your roasted gobbler on one of these reasonably priced handsome JK Adams Farmhouse Carvers ($34, jkadams.com), then take it to the kitchen to do the carving. The moat around the edges will collect the juices and prevent them from running onto the counter and worse, floor.
Related: Best Red Wines for Your Thanksgiving Feast
7. Electric Carving Knife
Unless you have a super-sharp carver, we recommend the Cuisinart Electric Knife ($49.95, cuisinart.com) which will glide through your turkey, producing even slices with almost no markings.
Related: The Best Tools for Carving
8. Pastry Blender
It's not Thanksgiving without pie! Make dough in about 5 minutes with the Oxo Good Grips Bladed Dough Blender ($9.99, oxo.com).
Related: How-To Cooking Videos for Thanksgiving
9. Rolling Pin
Now that you've easily prepared the pastry dough, you don't want to struggle to roll it out. Using the KitchenAid Professional Series Nonstick Rolling Pin ($30, amazon.com) all you'll need to use is a light sprinkling of flour.
Related: Delectable Pumpkin Desserts
10. Pie Plate
Looking for a pie plate with a bit of personality? Check out the handsome ceramic Emile Henry Pie Dish ($40, emilehenryusa.com) that can also be an oven-to-table server for stuffing or marshmallow-topped sweet potatoes. Find it in fruit shades, like cherry red, apple green, lemon yellow, or fig purple, as well as black and white. Another good option: The classic glass World Kitchen Pyrex 9 1/2" Pie Plate (just $2.99, pyrexware.com).
Related: How to Make the Best Pie Ever
Which kitchen gadgets would you add to our list of must-have equipment?
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Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.
