Hosting Thanksgiving? 7 Must-Have Kitchen Gadgets

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, now is a good time to take stock of your kitchen inventory and see if you have all the equipment you need to host Thanksgiving dinner. Roasting pan looking a little rusty or perhaps your carving knife is a little dull? Old equipment doesn’t necessarily have to be cause for concern—why not take this as an opportunity to upgrade your cooking arsenal? Here are 7 must-have kitchen gadgets you can use to take turkey day to a whole new level.

#1 Digital Kitchen Scale

Cooking is both an art and a science, and while many of us have the art part down, a surefire way to improve your cooking is to embrace the science—start measuring your ingredients by weight instead of by volume. The value of precise measurements over the traditional scoop-and-level-off technique is most visible when baking, where just a little extra flour can turn those pumpkin cupcakes into rock hard bricks. Additionally measuring by weight improves the repeatability of the cooking process—if you know exactly how much mass you put into a process, that’s one less variable you have to worry about when replicating the results. If you’re already have a scale, you’re ahead of the game, why not level up the convenience with a dual function digital kitchen scale that doubles as a cutting board? The KML-9 DualPro Digital Kitchen Scale has a removable cutting board which can help you save space on the kitchen counter when you’re slicing pecans for that pecan pie.

#2 Electric Stand Mixer

While we’re on the subject of cooking as a science, it’s importance of time as a variable in mixing dough—specifically we’re talking about the development of the gluten matrix as you mix flour, eggs and water. Gluten is essential to the structure of breads and baked goods, and the longer flour and water are mixed, the tougher your final product becomes—it can make the difference between chewy gingerbread cookies and the pie crusts for your apple pie. On Thanksgiving day you’ll likely have to juggle your efforts between a variety of baked desserts. An electric stand mixer like the Hamilton Beach Electrics All-Metal Stand Mixer can help you nail those mixing times with scientific precision ensuring that your pies, cakes and breads come out exactly as the recipe book intended.

#3 Thermometer

It wouldn’t be Turkey Day without the Turkey, and that’s why it’s crucial that you don’t undercook the turkey—salmonella is not a fun way to spend Thanksgiving dinner. Ensure your turkey and other meats are thoroughly cooked to perfection with the help of a meat thermometer. Simply plug it into the turkey and routinely monitor it through the oven window so that you’ll know that the turkey is well done when you take it out of the oven. If you really want to level up your turkey cooking game, consider investing in a wireless grill thermometer—you’ll be able to monitor your Thanksgiving ham as it roasts from the comfort of your living room couch.

#4 Food Processor

When it comes to Thanksgiving desserts, no turkey day dinner would be complete without finishing it off with a slice of pumpkin pie topped with whipped cream. If you ever tried beating fresh pumpkin into a puree by hand, you’ll understand how difficult it can be to pull this Thanksgiving staple off without relying on canned pumpkin puree. Enter the food processor, where with the press of a button you can transform the toughest of pumpkins into a puree with the press of a button. If you ever have a need to slice and dice vegetables in a hurry, a food processor can be a lifesaver during the hustle and bustle of making Thanksgiving dinner.

#5 Carving Set

In America, a popular Thanksgiving tradition is for the head of the household to kick off the dinner with the ceremonial carving of the turkey. If you want this time honored tradition to go off without a hitch, it’s important to invest in a decent set of cutlery. A good set of knives can help you serve slices of ham, turkey, sausage and steaks like a professional surgeon. If you want to be prepared for every dish, this 17-piece Artiste Collection by Cusinart will help you bring your kitchen up to speed.

#6 Electric Turkey Roaster and Fryer

Not just for state fairs anymore, the deep-fried turkey has made a resurgence in recent years as an alternative to the traditional roast turkey. When you’re deep frying something as large as a turkey, you have to be extra careful that your Butterball doesn’t turn into a fireball and ruin the centerpiece of your turkey day dinner. Fortunately we here at Buydig have you covered, with this Masterbuilt Butterball Oil-Free Electric Turkey Fryer and Roaster—it features a double wall construction, tempered glass lid and an adjustable thermostat for temperature control, all with no propane required.

#7 Stainless Steel Roaster

Sometimes the traditional roasted turkey is the best way to go about a Thanksgiving dinner—garnished with herbs and spices and roasted to perfection, it’s the most fitting centerpiece for a turkey day dinner. If you’re roaster has seen better days, save yourself the typical hassle of cleaning by investing in a stainless steel rectangular roaster by Cuisinart—it’s much easier to clean than traditional roasters and with its riveted stainless steel handles it makes placing and removing the turkey from the oven much less of a hassle. With added features like drip-free pouring and the ability to wash it in the dishwasher, you’ll have more time after the dinner to converse and enjoy company with your family, guests and friends.

What do you consider your go-to, MUST-HAVE kitchen gadgets for holiday entertaining? Let us know in the comments below!