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We’ve updated our picks for this holiday season.

Whether you’re keeping Thanksgiving simple or cooking an elaborate feast, you’re probably going to need a few supplies. Our team has put several hundred hours of research and testing into choosing the following picks. Some items come from longer, full guides; others come from research we did specifically for this collection. Thanksgiving can be pretty hectic, but the right gear can make it a breeze.

With its super-sharp edge, its sleek, tapered shape, and its comfortable handle, this knife will make your everyday dicing and slicing tasks smoother and quicker.

Every kitchen should have a chef’s knife—it’s the most versatile piece in any cutlery set, and it will make food prep on Thanksgiving and every other day faster and easier. The Mac MTH-80 has been the top pick in our guide to chef’s knives since 2013, a choice backed by 120 hours of research, interviews with experts and chefs, and tests that involved chopping more than 70 pounds of produce. The Mac is universally comfortable, and it has proven that it can stay sharp through regular use, even in our busy test kitchen. Other knives to consider for preparing a Thanksgiving meal: a paring knife for delicate tasks, and a serrated knife for slicing bread, root vegetables, and even meat.

This plastic board resisted warping, staining, and odors better than the other plastic boards we tested. The rubber feet keep it stationary, and the juice groove does an excellent job collecting liquids.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $28.

This beautiful, eco-conscious teak board requires more careful cleaning than a plastic board, but it felt better under a knife and was easier to maintain than the other wood boards we tested.

May be out of stock

*At the time of publishing, the price was $100.

For the mountain of prep work you’ll face on Thanksgiving, you need a good cutting board (or several). After spending more than 150 hours on research and chopping copious pounds of produce for our cutting board guide, we found that the plastic OXO Good Grips Carving & Cutting Board offers the best balance of features. It’s durable, it won’t slip around on the counter, and it’s easy to clean.

If you want a hefty wood cutting board (which looks better and is easier on your knives), we recommend the Proteak TeakHaus Rectangle Edge Grain Cutting Board with Hand Grip. It’s thick enough to stay in place and resist warping, but it isn’t so heavy that you can’t easily move it around. It can also double as a serving board for a cheese spread before dinner. For carving the Thanksgiving turkey, check out the Proteak Teakhaus 24-by-18-inch board, a larger version of our pick that has a juice groove.

The favorite among our testers, this apron is comfortable, soft (yet sturdy), gender neutral, and adjustable to fit a wide range of sizes.

A good quality, well-fitting apron will allow you to cook more comfortably and confidently, as well as to greet your guests looking pulled together. We tested 15 aprons with a crowd of Wirecutter staffers for our guide to aprons, and the Hedley & Bennett Crossback Apron was the most popular. The fabric is thick yet soft, and the pockets are generous. Best of all, the crossback straps adjust to fit a wide range of body types and won’t tug at your neck during a marathon holiday cooking session.

If you’re looking for something different, we recommend a number of other aprons in different styles, including a breathable, loose-fitting linen pinafore, a lightweight, water-resistant waxed apron, and a cute half apron that’s perfect for hosting.

With terry cloth on one side and waffle weave on the other, this dish towel combines absorbency, utility, and attractiveness.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $22.

Although most people don’t give dish towels a second thought, they rank among the most important tools in the kitchen, useful for everything from drying dishes to pulling hot dishes from the oven. Particularly when you’re preparing large holiday meals, it helps to have a good supply. After testing about 25 options for our guide to kitchen towels, we recommend Williams Sonoma’s All Purpose Pantry Towels because they’re big, thirsty, long-lasting, and reasonably priced. They also have a convenient loop for hanging and come in eight colors.

The polyester and cotton-lined Homwe oven mitt allowed us to hold a 400 °F cast-iron skillet for an average of 11 seconds. Its silicone exterior is easy to maneuver, and it’s water-resistant, too.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $14.

This pot holder has a silicone exterior that provides better heat protection than plain terry-cloth pot holders.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $11.

Whether you’re serving ready-to-cook hors d’oeuvres or whipping up a full-blown holiday meal, a good set of pot holders or oven mitts will come in handy for juggling the many dishes going in and out of the oven. After testing more than 15 sets for our guide to oven mitts and pot holders, we think the Homwe Extra Long Professional Silicone Oven Mitts and the OXO Good Grips Silicone Pot Holder are the best for most cooks. Both were able to protect our hands from the scorching heat of a 400 °F cast-iron skillet for a generous 10 seconds, while still being comfortable and easy to maneuver.

With just pulse and on buttons plus a single bowl, this is one of Cuisinart’s most basic models, but it consistently chops, slices, and kneads better than any other food processor we’ve found in its price range.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $250.

A food processor is the best tool for quickly performing a variety of chopping, slicing, and shredding tasks, something you’ll be doing a lot of when prepping for Thanksgiving. We recommend the Cuisinart Custom 14-Cup Food Processor, which has been the top pick in our guide to food processors since 2013. In our tests, the Cuisinart tackled a multitude of chopping and shredding tasks exceptionally well. Its simple, pared-down design makes it easier to use and clean than models with more settings or multiple bowls, and we found it to be built more solidly than other processors in its price range.

With a grid plate and a comfortable handle, this affordable, simple tool makes quick work of punching through your mash.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $15.

This roomy, easy-to-clean potato ricer uses dual gears to compound force, so it requires considerably less brawn than other models do.

May be out of stock

*At the time of publishing, the price was $26.

Mashed potatoes are always a crowd-pleaser. To make enough to feed a crowd with minimal fuss, mess, and frustration, use the OXO Good Grips Smooth Potato Masher. We’ve mashed and smashed over 75 pounds of food while testing for our guide to mashers and ricers, and this affordable, simple tool always comes out on top. Because of its grid-shaped plate, the OXO masher breaks up potato quickly and requires little effort on the cook’s part.

If you want your mashed potatoes absolutely lump-free but still fluffy, opt for the Chef’n FreshForce Potato Ricer. It required the least amount of effort among the ricers we tested, thanks to a clever design that gives you more leverage.

This set of sturdy, accurate cups is not unique––you can find several equally good clones on Amazon––but it’s the best deal, offering seven cups instead of six.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $25.

These rectangular spoons are sturdier than most and very accurate. And even the largest spoon fits easily into narrow spice jars.

Measuring cups and measuring spoons are such essential kitchen tools that if you cook at all, chances are, you already have a set. But for big holiday meal preparations, it doesn’t hurt to have extras (and if you’re missing any cups or spoons, you should definitely get more). For consistency, most serious bakers use a kitchen scale to weigh ingredients, but American recipes still mostly rely on the dry measuring cup, so both cups and spoons are useful to have for everyday cooking. After many hours of testing, we recommend the durable Simply Gourmet Stainless Steel Measuring Cups and the Sur La Table Measuring Spoons.

These great, heavy-gauge aluminum baking sheets bake evenly and can even serve as all-purpose roasting pans.

May be out of stock

*At the time of publishing, the price was $11.

You should have at least a couple of rimmed baking sheets on hand for Thanksgiving prep. Beyond making cookies, they’re great for everything from roasting vegetables to drying out bread cubes for stuffing. In testing 15 models for our guide to the best baking sheet, we found that the heavy-gauge aluminum Nordic Ware Commercial Baker’s Half Sheet baked cookies evenly without warping at high heat, for a fraction of the price of some other sheets. Even after years of heavy use in our test kitchen, the Nordic Ware pan still performs well.

This casserole dish heats evenly and holds a lot. It’s not too fancy for everyday use, but it’s still pretty enough to bring to the holiday table.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $65.

A good baking dish is an indispensable, versatile tool that you can use for both cooking and serving a variety of dishes during the holidays. We’ve tested 15 dishes since 2014, and we recommend the Emile Henry Modern Classics Rectangular Baker because it bakes evenly and holds a generous amount of food, easily serving six to eight people Thanksgiving classics like stuffing, mashed potatoes, or green beans. It comes in several colors, and it’s pretty enough to fit in with formal table settings.

If you want something smaller or easier to carry, we also recommend the HIC Porcelain Lasagna Pan. Although it holds only 3 quarts when filled to the brim (the Emile Henry holds 5 quarts), it has larger, easier-to-grab handles than the Emile Henry. The HIC also comes in a smaller, 8½-by-5½-inch size.

With big handles and a durable design, this Dutch oven aced every test, rivaling models four times the price.

A nice Dutch oven is indispensable for preparing all kinds of hearty Thanksgiving sides, and it looks nice enough to double as a serving dish. We’ve spent more than 68 hours researching and testing for our guide to Dutch ovens since 2015, and we found that the Lodge 6-Quart Enameled Dutch Oven cooked foods just as effectively as pricier models. In our tests the Lodge kept pace with French-made pots four times the price while searing, braising, steaming, and caramelizing foods. For a big gathering, we recommend the 7.5-quart size.

With its superior heat conduction, durable construction, and comfortable handle, the All-Clad 12-inch skillet is a workhorse that will last beyond a lifetime.

A 12-inch skillet is an essential kitchen tool: It’s perfect for stir-frying, pan-frying, making one-pan meals, and searing steaks and other hunks of meat. At Thanksgiving, you can use it for everything from toasting nuts to creaming spinach. After more than 70 hours of research and testing for our guide to skillets, we think the tri-ply All-Clad Stainless 12″ Covered Fry Pan is the best one for the money. It heats evenly, it won’t warp, and it’s built to last.

With its sturdy tri-ply construction, this roaster cooks more evenly than other similarly priced pans.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $150.

After roasting more than 400 pounds of turkey and chicken and 30 pounds of vegetables in 14 pans for our guide to roasting pans, we recommend the Cuisinart 16″ Roasting Pan With Rack (MCP117-16BR) for holiday birds and so much more. With sturdy, riveted handles and tri-ply construction throughout, this pan aced all of our tests. It not only roasts turkeys to golden, juicy perfection but also performs well on the stovetop, making gravy and searing chicken to golden crispness. It’s reasonably priced, and it will serve you well throughout the year for one-pan dinners, roasted vegetables, and more.

The Dot probe thermometer quickly and accurately registers temperature changes with unparalleled accuracy. It’s affordable and easy to use, with a strong magnet that keeps it securely attached to an oven door.

No other thermometer under $50 can match the ThermoPop’s combination of speed, reach, reliability, and an easy-reading display. It’s also waterproof, and it has a long probe to read into deep dishes.

A good-quality thermometer is an indispensable tool for a home cook, and it’s essential for ensuring that your turkey—or any other meat—emerges thoroughly cooked but not dried out. A probe thermometer, which stays in the turkey as it cooks, helps you keep track of how close the meat is to being done, allowing you to focus on juggling the rest of the holiday meal. In our guide to probe thermometers, we recommend the affordable ThermoWorks Dot for its impressive accuracy and ability to read temperatures quickly. Just keep in mind that different parts of the turkey cook at different rates, so start checking the temperature in several places when the bird is close to being done.

If you want something smaller and a little more versatile, consider an instant-read thermometer. Although it can’t track the temperature of your meat as it cooks, it’s faster than a probe thermometer and handier for everyday cooking when you want to quickly check the doneness of a steak or chicken thighs. Our current pick, the ThermoWorks ThermoPop, allows you to easily take the temperature of your turkey in multiple places, ensuring that both white and dark meat come out perfectly cooked. Just be sure to start checking your bird at least 30 minutes before it’s supposed to be done.

To measure the temperature of your turkey, according to the National Turkey Federation, you should insert the thermometer into the inner thigh near the breast without hitting bone (and look for it to reach 175 °F to 180 °F) or 2½ inches into the deepest portion of the turkey breast (and look for it to reach a minimum of 165 °F). If you’re cooking stuffing inside the bird, be sure to measure its temperature too (it should also reach a minimum of 165 °F).

—Lesley Stockton and Michael Sullivan

The Messermeister Avanta carving set combines good looks, a wallet-friendly price, and high performance.

A carving knife and fork set serves a practical purpose: slicing and plating a large roast (such as a Thanksgiving turkey). But it also serves a ceremonial purpose—like bringing out the good china, using an elegant carving set at the dining table signals that you’re beginning a special meal.

After testing eight sets for our guide to carving knife and fork sets, breaking down and slicing five whole turkeys, two boneless beef roasts, and a ham, we’re confident that the Messermeister 2 Piece Avanta Pakkawood Kullenschliff Carving Set is the best for most people. It offers an unbeatable combination of value, good looks, and great performance. We also tested two electric knives, and the Hamilton Beach Classic is our winner.

This 4-cup OXO fat separator’s silicone stopper does an excellent job of preventing fat from seeping into meat drippings. This model also comes with a deep strainer and a protective splash guard.

We think the affordable OXO Good Grips 4 Cup Fat Separator is the best fat separator for most people. Its generous 4-cup capacity holds plenty of drippings to make gravy for a holiday feast. The silicone stopper prevents fat from entering the spout, and the deep strainer does an excellent job of catching solids—such as carrots, onions, and herbs—from stock or drippings.

Part one of our suggested turkey-frying kit is a 30-quart aluminum stockpot that heated up quickly and stayed warm in our tests.

Part two of our kit is the four-legged Bayou patio stove, which is stable and powerful enough for you to safely fry a turkey to crisp perfection.

May be out of stock

*At the time of publishing, the price was $82.

Fried turkey tastes great, and as long as you follow safety precautions (video), it can be fun. Besides, big holiday meals are like theatrical productions, and few things are flashier than putting your mitts on and pulling a gorgeous, crispy, burnished bird from a vat of boiling oil.

Our pick for the best turkey fryer is the 30-quart Bayou Classic Aluminum Turkey Fryer Stockpot along with the Bayou Classic Single Burner Patio Stove. The affordable, quick-heating stockpot kit has everything you need to get the job done except the oil, the turkey, and a heat source. The separate stove is solidly built, powerful (enough), and designed with the four-legged stability you want when you’re handling 4 gallons of bubbling oil.

Frying turkeys is serious business, and you need more than just the turkey-frying kit before you get started. Follow the instructions from your favorite pro. We found this Serious Eats guide, this Alton Brown video, and this Sam Sifton recipe on Bon Appétit to be the most helpful.

At 2 inches deep, this dish holds more than most glass plates we tested. It’s better able to handle dramatic temperature changes such as going from freezer to oven, it bakes evenly, and it lets you easily see when the bottom of your pie is browned.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $0.

For holiday pies that are beautiful and evenly baked every time, we recommend the OXO Good Grips Glass 9″ Pie Plate. In our testing for our guide to pie plates, the OXO Good Grips produced some of the most evenly golden-brown crusts and an evenly baked filling every time. Its 2-inch deep dish makes it great for both baking pies packed with fruit, but isn’t so deep that a custard pie would look skimpy. And unlike with some other glass plates, you can transfer this one directly from freezer to oven since it’s made of borosilicate glass. Finally, its simple design won’t distract from your gorgeous pies or clash with other servingware.

This tapered pin was easier to use than handled pins in our tests. It’s good-looking, easy to clean, and sturdy enough to last a lifetime.

A wine bottle works in a pinch for the occasional baking project, but if you’re aspiring to create perfect pies or to crank out dozens of cookies, you need a good rolling pin. For our guide to rolling pins, we tested 12 carefully selected pins, and the maple Whetstone Woodenware French Rolling Pin proved to be a superior tool and a great value. It’s more agile than a handled pin, it doesn’t stick to the dough as much as cheaper models do, and it has just enough heft to do some of the work for you without smashing fragile dough. This beautiful made-in-the-USA pin costs a fraction of what other hand-turned rolling pins do, and it will last a lifetime with proper care.

This 5-quart stand mixer tackles nearly any recipe without knocking around on the counter, and it’s one of the quietest models in the KitchenAid line.

A good stand mixer will make your baking (and cooking) life a lot easier. In our guide to stand mixers, we recommend the KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer, which has been our top pick since 2013. Not only did it cream butter and sugar for cookies more effectively than nearly every other model we tried, but it also effortlessly kneaded whole-wheat bread dough without straining or walking around on the countertop (a common issue with other mixers). It’s a classic appliance that’s still the absolute best for its performance, versatility, and price.

Expect great-tasting coffee from a machine that’s easy to use and clean. It brews a 1-liter pot in under seven minutes.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $210.

After dinner, it’s nice to let your guests linger over a slice of pie and a cup of good, hot coffee. To make a large, delicious pot with minimal effort, we recommend the OXO Brew 9 Cup Coffee Maker for most people. After testing over a dozen models for our guide to drip coffee makers, we think the OXO offers the best combination of great flavor and convenience, plus a programmable start time and a well-insulated carafe. On a budget? Check out our cheap coffee maker guide.

Featuring a classic design, this 51-ounce coffee carafe helped beverages stay piping hot (over 200 °F) for longer than two hours in our tests.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $50.

A coffee carafe keeps coffee hot while freeing up space to brew a second pot in your machine, which is handy if you’re hosting a lot of people or want to serve decaf. The 51-ounce Thermos Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Carafe is our top choice for a solid carafe that will keep coffee hot for hours. In our tests, it kept beverages piping hot (over 200 °F) for longer than two hours, and it poured steadily without dripping.

Made from porcelain, these chip-resistant, microwave-safe, and dishwasher-safe plates are suitable for everyday use yet elegant enough for formal dinner parties.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $0.

If you’re having a lot of people over for Thanksgiving, you’ll likely need extra plates—unless you registered for china for your wedding or inherited a set from your grandparents. After a dozen hours of testing and research, we recommend the Pottery Barn Caterer’s Dinner Plate Set as an affordable backup to have on hand for large gatherings. These dinner plates are available as a set of 12 in stores and online, or as a set of four (catalog only). They have a bright, white hue, and after we scratched their surface with a fork and knife 50 times, they remained free of scuffs. They’re also microwave safe and dishwasher safe, and suitable for both everyday use and formal dinner parties. They come in a reusable cardboard box with dividers for each plate, which we found to be particularly handy for easy storage.

The only drawback is some faint pitting on the surface of the glaze. But we detected these minor imperfections on the plates only when we examined them closely under the light, not when we were seated in front of them at a table.

This inexpensive porcelain collection is still suitable for entertaining.

If you need more than just extra plates, we also recommend Crate and Barrel Aspen Dinnerware as an elegant budget option in our guide to dinnerware. Although we found some minor imperfections, the overall quality of this set far exceeds its low price, and we like its clean lines and simple design. The Aspen collection sold completely open stock, so you can pick up specific pieces as singles or in sets of eight, whether you’re in need of mugs, teacups with saucers, or soup or cereal bowls.

This inexpensive tulip-shaped glass is versatile enough to showcase both red and white wines well. It’s durable, yet it’s still thin and elegant enough for dinner parties.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $35.

We recommend the durable Libbey Signature Kentfield Estate All-Purpose Wine Glass for hosting parties or having a few extra glasses on hand for holiday dinners. This inexpensive, tulip-shaped glass was a favorite among wine experts in a blind taste test for our guide to wine glasses. It showcases the aromas of both red and white wines well, and its design is nicely balanced with a thin lip that doesn’t distract from the overall drinking experience. It’s also dishwasher safe, and affordable enough that you won’t be heartbroken if one breaks.

This timeless bistro-style glass is durable, lightweight, and dishwasher safe.

Rather than resorting to plastic cups for a large crowd, it’s nice to invest in an inexpensive set of drinking glasses. After 60 hours of research plus years of long-term testing, we recommend the Bormioli Rocco Rock Bar as our favorite drinking glass. These durable tempered-glass tumblers remained intact even after we dropped them several times onto both hardwood and marble floors. They also look nice and stack well, so they’re easy to store once your dinner is over. And we like that they come in multiple sizes, from shot glasses to 22 ounces, as well as a variety of colors, including ice, peach, and mint.

These inexpensive yet attractive utensils are excellent to have on hand for the holidays or other times when your guest list swells.

Most people probably don’t want to run out and buy a special set of flatware just for the holidays. But if you’re hosting a large Thanksgiving gathering and you’re short on forks, the Gourmet Settings Windermere Flatware Collection set is a sturdy, attractive, and super-affordable alternative to plastic disposables. While a full 45-piece set will cost you around $100, these utensils are also sold in a 20-piece set for less than half of that price or open stock for just a couple dollars each. If you’re shopping for a nicer set, consult our guide to the best flatware.

Chefs everywhere love the brushed stainless-steel Gray Kunz spoon for its comfortable handle and its big bowl for saucing plates. It can double nicely for both cooking and serving.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $22.

It won't be the most polished serving spoon you've ever used, but JB Prince’s Gray Kunz Sauce Spoon is a multi-tasking dream. This spoon is an essential tool for chefs and line cooks in fine-dining kitchens all over the world, whether for saucing, plating, cooking, or tasting. Developed by Chef Gray Kunz during his time leading the kitchen at Lespinasse in New York City, this spoon was standard issue for every cook at that restaurant. Its brushed finish and ergonomic handle make it comfortable and attractive.

Crate and Barrel’s Caesna tongs work well for serving both casual and dressed-up dinners.

When it comes to serving sliced meat or vegetables like asparagus or green beans, we think serving tongs are best. The Crate and Barrel Caesna Mirror Serving Tongs balance style and practicality. Versatile, easy to grip, and made of high-polish stainless steel, these tongs work well for serving both casual and dressed-up dinners.

If looks aren’t your main concern but function is, we like Winco’s 7-inch set of tongs, which is simply the best option for a true multipurpose tool that you can use year-round for kitchen tasks and casual entertaining. Winco makes tongs in different lengths, but we found that the 7-inch size works best for serving without being too big and bulky.

These soft and absorbent dinner napkins are finished with deep hems and clean stitching.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $0.

This well-made tablecloth is available in eight sizes and features a tight weave that gives it a structured drape.

If you’re looking to set a more formal table, or if you’re interested in using something more sustainable than paper napkins, you’re going to need table linens. We’ve tested 22 sets for our guide to the best napkins and tablecloths, and we think the Williams Sonoma Hotel Dinner Napkins and Hotel Tablecloth are the best-quality table linens you can get for the price. Made from 100 percent cotton, the napkins are soft and absorbent, and the thick tablecloth looks smooth and elegant. The dinner napkins are available in sets of six or 12, and in red and three neutral colors. The tablecloth comes in eight sizes, and most of those are available in the same three neutral colors as the napkins.

This table is easier to set up and take down than any other we tried, and it’s less wobbly. Its foldable design makes it more compact to store than one-piece tabletops.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $118.

A folding table is an excellent option if you occasionally need a table—say, for unexpected guests on Thanksgiving—but don’t have the space or desire to set up one permanently. After testing nine folding tables, we think the Office Star 6′ Resin Center Fold Multipurpose Table is the best choice. It’s sturdy and easy to use, and it can seat six people comfortably.

This unique folding chair molds to the sitter’s shape and can purportedly hold more than 1,000 pounds. We sat comfortably in one for hours.

One of the worst problems to have at a dinner party is insufficient seating for your guests. That’s where folding chairs come in handy. In our guide to folding chairs, we recommend the MityLite FlexLite Folding Chair (available in a set of four), a durable, ventilated seat made of steel and flexible polypropylene that molds to the sitter’s shape and can purportedly hold more than 1,000 pounds. It’s an inch and a half wider than your standard folding chair, slim enough when folded for you to stuff it into a closet, and comfortable enough that your seated guests won’t feel like second-class party attendees.

If you’re hosting a really big function, renting (rather than buying) 50 or so chairs may make more sense. Check your local listings for party-furniture rental companies, which offer a variety of chairs for as little as $1 to $2 per chair, though frequently with a minimum charge alongside delivery and pickup fees.

We have 42 picks made by housewares company OXO across more than 30 of our guides. Read on to learn more.

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