8 Food52-Approved Essentials to Make Thanksgiving a Breeze

To make this year’s Thanksgiving extra special, we’ve teamed up with our friends at Finish, the #1 recommended detergent brand in America by dishwasher manufacturers*, to highlight some of our most essential products and tools.

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As a cookbook author and recipe developer, I spend most of my time thinking about food: what I want to make, how to improve recipes, dishes I want to try, and how to make cooking more accessible. When it comes to the holidays, I’m menu planning and scheming months ahead to ensure the best possible day with the lowest stress levels. A key part of this process is making sure my kitchen has all the tools and gadgets it needs to make Thanksgiving prep as easy as pie. From roasting racks to storage containers, I’ve rounded up eight of my favorite go-to items that I’m sure will make your holidays the celebration that they should be.

1. ZWILLING Ceramic Nonstick Stainless-Steel Roasting Pan with Rack

There’s no debate that turkey is the star of Thanksgiving. In order to cook a flawless bird, you need the right tools for the job—and this ceramic roasting pan, which includes a removable rack, is just the thing. Thanks to a combination of stainless steel and an aluminum core, this rack is extra sturdy, for even the largest of turkeys. And with a nonstick coating on top, clean up has never been easier. You can even pop it in the dishwasher!

2. Digital Radio Roast Thermometer

Whenever people ask me what my kitchen essentials are, I start off with a meat thermometer. It’s truly the number one tool to relieve anxiety in the kitchen. Even as a professional cook, I love the ease and assurance a meat thermometer offers. When it comes to Thanksgiving, it’s a must to ensure a perfectly cooked turkey.

3. Epicurean Matte Black Chef Series Cutting Board

When it comes to holiday prep, it’s time to bring out the big guns. In this case, a cutting board that’s large enough to carve a turkey on. The built-in groove collects any rogue juices, and the nonporous material makes this board easy to clean.

4. Finish Ultimate Detergent Tabs

My favorite Thanksgiving essential might come as a surprise, but if you’ve ever been stuck washing dishes for hours after the big meal, you’ll thank me. If you’re on cleaning duty, you need to stock Finish Ultimate. This detergent tackles burnt-on stains, even when you skip the rinse—which means you’ll get a sparkly, clean kitchen in no time.

5. Schmidt Brothers Carbon 6 Carving Set

Every family has a designated turkey carver—it’s a badge of honor to take on this daunting task. To quell any pre-Thanksgiving anxiety, invest in a proper carving set, like this one from Schmidt Brothers. Made with ultra-hard, high-carbon stainless steel, this sleek set stays sharp for longer, giving the carving expert control over the bird.

6. Microplane Zester & Spice Grater

I’m a firm believer that no kitchen should be without a Microplane. While I use this tool almost daily, it really does its heavy lifting during the holidays. From zesting citrus to grating garlic or nutmeg, a Microplane is a truly versatile tool that’ll make all your prep work fly by.

7. Chef’n Potato Ricer

Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to the texture of their mashed potatoes, but if you’re in camp creamy, a potato ricer is an absolute must. All you need to do is boil your potato of choice (although you can’t go wrong with Yukon Gold) and add them to the ricer. Squeeze the handle and you’ll have perfectly smooth spuds ready to absorb all that butter and cream.

8. Mepal Microwavable Nested Storage Bowls

Part of the joy of Thanksgiving is the leftovers, but at the end of the day, there’s always the crunch-time decision of how to store them. These nested storage bowls have a size for every type of leftover, from turkey to cranberry sauce. They also happen to be microwave-, dishwasher-, and freezer-safe.

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What are your essential Thanksgiving tools? Share in the comments!

Our friends at Finish are experts in kitchen clean up, as the #1 recommended detergent in America by dishwasher brands*. Their new Finish Ultimate detergent is engineered to tackle burnt-on stains in the toughest conditions—like hard water and old dishwashers—even when you skip the rinse. So you can enjoy your holiday meal, and leave the dishes to Finish.

*Recommended by more dishwasher brands in the U.S. based on co-marketing agreements.