10 Essential Kitchen Tools for Thanksgiving

Potato Masher

This is one Thanksgiving tool that’s a must-have for any day of the year. But on T-Day, when humble spuds become one of your table’s most important dishes, a potato masher is particularly essential. It also comes in handy for mashing other root veggies on your menu as well as avocados, apples and nuts. Our tip? Choose one with a durable and ergonomic design, so you can really get mashing!

Carving Set

Rest assured, when it comes to carving a turkey, just any old knife won’t do. You need a high-quality carving set, and we'd choose something lightweight and stainless steel with a sharp blade and nice handles, so it’ll give you a clean cut and look good on the table. A sharp blade helps maintain the turkey’s texture and juiciness and doesn’t require as much force as a dull blade, which reduces the risk of injury. With a professional-grade knife in hand, you’ll make carving your turkey look like slicing butter.

Roasting Pan

When it comes to stocking your kitchen with Thanksgiving cooking tools, a large, stainless steel roasting pan is a must-have—and makes sure it comes with sturdy handles to give you a firm grip for lifting your turkey in and out of the oven. You'll also want a rack to allow the heat to circulate, so your meat can drain all of those delicious juices as it cooks. Bonus if it’s dishwasher safe!

Stock Pot

When you’re cooking for a Thanksgiving crowd, having a stock pot with a generous capacity is not a nice-to-have but a must-have kitchen tool. We always like one that comes with a tempered glass lid. From vegetable stock to leftover turkey soup, you can keep tabs on what’s sizzling without lifting the lid and releasing too much heat. 

Turkey Carving Board

A carving board is a Thanksgiving tool that you don’t want to go without. Bonus if it’s dual function—sturdy enough to hold the main attraction after roasting and fancy enough to serve it, too. We also recommend choosing a board that has deep grooves for collecting juices, which can be used for marinades and gravies, and spikes or prongs for holding the turkey securely in place while carving. There are a lot of lightweight options available that are a breeze to handle and easy to clean. Perfect for prepping and impressing your guests like a pro!

Ceramic Pie Pans

If there’s anything we love more than Thanksgiving pie around here, it’s a kitchen tool that’s both sensible and stylish, and then includes your pie pans! We like to use ceramic pie pans because they look more presentable plus they're convenient—you can take your pumpkin pie from the oven to the table in one chic trip. Plus, they’re often freezer, oven and microwave safe, which makes them a win for everyday use, too.  

Oven Mitt

Every Betty needs a red-and-white oven mitt when they’re baking up a storm! We love this one because it’s made of soft, waterproof material to keep your hands comfy and dry as well as a heat and slip-resistant silicone exterior to keep your hands safe and secure. We also love that it touts a cute and classic polka dot design. No matter how you show up in your kitchen (i.e., messy bun and well-worn apron) this fun and festive mitt will serve as a playful reminder not to sweat the small stuff. 

Meat Thermometer

Wouldn’t it be great if someone created a handy turkey tool that kept track of your bird’s progress so you don’t have to? Enter the meat thermometer. Jokes aside, you need one, and we recommend one that is compact yet has an easy-to-read dial. These features will help ensure that your turkey is cooked to a temperature that is safe for eating (165 degrees Fahrenheit) and maintains its juiciness and flavor. In other words, it will help you avoid the age-old turkey tragedy: overcooked and dry meat. 

Pie Server

While we condone eating the pie right out of the pan on everyday occasions, Thanksgiving requires a more sophisticated kitchen tool. To make portioning and serving your pie both easy and elegant, recommend choosing one that has stainless steel serrated edges. We love a server that has serrated edges on both sides, so it’s easy for both right-handed and left-handed cooks to use. "Pro tip: Make your pie serve work double duty! You can also use your slice cake or even cut your post-Thanksgiving pizza. 

Basting Brush

A basting brush is your not-so-secret weapon for juicy, succulent meat and crispy skin. We’re big fans of this Betty Crocker™ non-stick basting brush not only because it perfectly matches the oven mitt mentioned above, but because it’s made of silicone, which is ideal for holding sauces, glazes, marinades and washes. Not to mention it’s easy to clean—one of the key factors in choosing the best Thanksgiving turkey tools.