Posted by Rachel Schwartz on 11/13/2019 to
Family
The kitchen items needed to prepare a Thanksgiving feast can be broken down into a few general sections, based on the meal: turkey, sides, dessert, and misc. kitchen.
If the meal is the star of Thanksgiving Day, then the turkey is the star of the Thanksgiving meal. Depending on what method of cooking you choose, it also takes the longest to cook. The two most popular methods seem to be roasting turkey in the oven or deep frying it outside. To roast one, you should make sure that you have a suitable roasting pan, like this one from Nordic Ware that is not only large enough to hold the whole bird but also comes with high sides that will make sure any juices stay in the pan. Depending on the size of the bird, a strapped roasting pan--which comes with a cover--would also be ideal. If deep frying a turkey is more appealing, try to find a fryer that either is large enough to accommodate an entire turkey or that specifically lists turkey as one of their feature examples. This Cajun fryer from R & V Works does just that, stating that it can deep fry two turkeys at one time. Regardless of your preferred cooking method, don't forget to baste the meat with seasoning and juice so that it stays moist throughout the cooking process.
Side dishes are just as important as the turkey when it comes to Thanksgiving meals. For many, it's a time to indulge in dishes that seem to only make an appearance for big holidays or special occasions. The idea of stuffing, rolls, mashed potatoes, green beans, mac and cheese, etc. sounds delightful but not only does there need to be enough room on the table for them but there also needs to be something to put them in. Enter casserole dishes which serve a dual purpose--they are something pretty in which to put the food on the table as well as can be popped in the oven to either bake or heat up a dish prior to serving. Less dirty dishes equal more efficient and less stressed cooks. Lodge's covered casserole dishes come in a variety of sizes and vibrant colors to make finding the right dish easy. Gravy may not be technically considered a side but making sure there is a gravy boat (or two) near the mashed potatoes is a must! These little boats are seldom-used the rest of the year but come in handy on special occasions.
Dessert can come in several forms from pie to cookies to fudge, it's all delicious. To prevent your pumpkin or apple pie from falling to bits, using a pie server instead of a fork or knife helps tremendously. A pie cutter, which perfectly cuts 8 equal slices per pie, can also aid the process of cutting and distributing pie to the masses. For fudge and cookies, a serving platter is an easy way to both display the goodies and make them easily accessible for anyone who can't wait until the official mealtime.
The final category of misc. kitchen items is anything needed to actually create all of the dishes that will be served. These are also more likely to be everyday items such as mixing bowls, measuring cups, whisks, wooden spoons, spatulas, and more. This category also includes a few lesser used items like meat thermometers, rolling pins, and pie pans.
Regardless of how much effort it takes or how many pots and pans and utensils get dirty in the process, the Thanksgiving meal is certainly one to look forward to!
