13 Essential Tools You Need to Make Thanksgiving Dinner

Every job is made easier if you have the right tools. That is especially true in the kitchen and extra, especially true in the kitchen duringThanksgiving. From the items you reach for in your everyday cooking (agood chef’s knife,a baking sheet) to a few Thanksgiving specific gadgets that will make your prep that much easier—this is the equipment you’ll need to pull off a seamless Thanksgiving meal.

After you’ve chopped all of the carrots, onions, and celery for your triple batch ofstuffingby hand, you’ll never want to tackle another Thanksgiving without this magical piece of equipment. If you don’t have one already, now’s the time. Cuisinart also has 11- and 14-cup food processors, but we’ve found that an 8-cup is plenty big.

Cuisinart Elemental 8 Cup Food Processor from $100 atamazon.com

We love this gorgeous copper roasting pan fromWilliams-Sonoma’s Professional series. Elegant and lined with stainless steel, it’s the perfect vessel to showcase your bird.

Williams Sonoma Professional Copper Roasting Pan with Rack, on sale for $130 (was $200) atwilliams-sonoma.com

Mashing potatoes often leads to overworking and, subsequently, gummy potatoes. The key to a light, airy, ethereal mash is this simple tool. Just fold the hot cream and butter into your riced potatoes, and you’re done.

OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Potato Ricer, $26 atamazon.com

Le Creuset 7¼夸脱轮荷兰烤肉锅大enough to hold extramashed potatoesand comes in gorgeous colors like this matte navy blue. The thick cast-iron sides retain heat longer and will keep your food warm while sitting out on a Thanksgiving buffet.

Le Creuset 7¼-quart round Dutch oven, $308-$385 atlecreuset.com,williams-sonoma.comoramazon.com

You cannot have enoughrimmed baking sheetson hand for Thanksgiving prep. From biscuits to roasted vegetables, to even roasting a spatchcocked turkey, these all-purpose pans are our most used piece of equipment.This set from Nordic Wareincludes three different sizes to cover every job.

Nordic Ware 3-Piece Baker's Delight Set, $33 atamazon.com

A sturdy carving board like this handsome maple one fromBoos Blockis essential for carving your bird. The deep moat collects any juices(hot tip: whisk those into your gravy!)and keeps them from spilling on to your countertop. We also like this model because it has sturdy handles on both sides so you can carry your turkey right to the table.

John Boos Reversible Maple Cutting Board with Juice Groove and Handles, 24 x 18 x 2.25 in. Inches $176 atsurlatable.comoramazon.com

You will need a serious knife to tackle all of your cutting, slicing, and chopping jobs.Zwilling’s Kanren lineunites German and Japanese knifemaking techniques for a knife that has the durability and weight of a German knife, but with a lightweight, agile Japanese blade. We even use this 8-inch chef’s knife to carve our turkey.

Zwilling Kanren 8" Chef's Knife, $150 atwilliams-sonoma.com

This organic, scallop-rimmedLaurel Pie dish from Farmhouse Potteryin Woodstock, VT is the perfect piece to show off yourpecan pie.

$125 fromfarmhousepottery.com

We love the clean lines of these black and white porcelain baking dishes from Revol. They come in a variety of sizes and are perfect for everything fromcorn puddingto stuffing.

Starting at $40 fromfood52.comor atamazon.com

Save yourself from extra knifework and usea mandoline slicer. Whether you’re slicing 5 pounds of potatoes for acheesy gratinorshaving Brussels sprouts for a slaw, this tool will make quick work of an otherwise tedious task. This model from Benriner is extra-sharp (keep those fingers back!) and has 4 attachments for all julienne sizes.

Benriner Mandoline Slicer, with 4 Japanese Stainless Steel Blades, $45 atamazon.com

This2-quart saucepan from Danskis a great size for makingcranberry sauceor theseApple Brandy Hot Toddies, but it’s also chic enough to fill with gravy and bring right to the table. Did we mention that the lid also doubles as a trivet?

Dansk Kobenstyle Saucepan, $90 atsurlatable.comoramazon.com

For storing leftovers, organizing yourmise en place, or sending extra stuffing and turkey home with loved ones, you’re going to need some goodstorage containers. And a lot of them. We keep stacks of these reusable plastic delis in our Test Kitchen. From half-pints to quart-size, your fridge will be organized, and you won’t have to fret about getting that glass casserole dish back from your sister-in-law.

Food Storage Containers with Lids, 36 pack for $18 atamazon.com

A good instant-read thermometer is crucial when you need to know if your turkey is finished. The Thermoworks ThermoPop is smaller and less expensive than other true instant-read thermometers, and it will accurately read the internal temp of your food in under 4 seconds.

$29 fromthermoworks.com