Hosting
Kitchen essentials for hosting a holiday dinner
A holiday dinner for a crowd depends on a few tools: a sturdy roasting pan, an instant-read thermometer, proper oven mitts, a masher or ricer, a fat separator and a slow cooker for sides. Buy what you will use; borrow the rest.
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Hosting a holiday dinner is mostly a logistics problem: several dishes need to be ready at once, and your oven, counter and fridge are all full. The tools that matter are the ones that save time, protect your hands and tell you what is really happening in the oven.
Start with the thermometer and the oven mitts. They are used for every dish and make the biggest difference to safety.
How to choose
- Measure the temperature. An instant-read thermometer for the bird and an oven thermometer for the oven fix most dinner disasters.
- Protect your hands. Silicone mitts handle a heavy roasting pan better than thin fabric.
- Make the sides easier. A ricer or masher and a slow cooker free the stove and oven.
- Prepare for gravy. A fat separator saves a lot of fuss.
Our Thanksgiving gear: buy, borrow or skip lists what to buy and what to borrow.
Tools that help
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Cuisinart Chef's Classic roasting pan with rackOur pick
A sturdy roasting pan with a rack lifts the bird above the juices so the skin browns evenly.
- Look for:
- Stainless handles that are easy to grip with oven mitts and a rack that fits.
- Best for:
- Anyone roasting a turkey, a ham or a large roast.
- Skip:
- a flimsy disposable pan under a big bird.
-
ThermoPro TempSwift instant-read thermometer
An instant-read thermometer is the one tool that tells you when meat is safely done.
- Look for:
- A fast read and a probe long enough for a thick cut.
- Best for:
- Every cook who roasts meat.
-
KitchenAid ribbed silicone oven mitt 2-pack
Silicone mitts handle hot pans and are easy to wash.
-
Pyrex Deep 9x13 glass baking dish with lid
A deep casserole dish with a lid bakes, travels and stores the leftovers.
- Best for:
- Casserole bakers and potluck guests.
-
OXO Good Grips stainless steel potato masher
A masher makes rustic mash quickly.
-
Joseph Joseph Helix potato ricer and masher
A ricer makes smooth mash without lumps.
- Best for:
- Cooks who like smooth potatoes.
-
OXO Good Grips 2-cup fat separator
A fat separator makes gravy better by pouring the juices from underneath.
- Best for:
- Gravy makers.
-
OLESBUR turkey baster
A baster lifts the pan juices to moisten the bird.
- Look for:
- A tube that fits the pan and is easy to clean.
- Best for:
- Anyone roasting a bird.
-
Hamilton Beach 6-quart slow cooker
A second cooker keeps the mashed potatoes or the dip warm while the oven is busy.
- Look for:
- A lid that seals and a warm setting.
- Best for:
- Hosts with a crowded oven.
-
Extra large bamboo cutting board with over-the-sink design
A large board gives you room to carve and prep and fits over the sink.
- Look for:
- Non-slip feet and a juice groove.
- Best for:
- Hosts with small counters.
-
Stainless steel oven thermometer
Ovens run hot or cold; a thermometer tells the truth.
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Digital kitchen timers, 2-pack
A second timer keeps track of the sides.
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Zulay stainless steel soup ladle, 12 inch
A good ladle serves gravy and soup with less mess.
- Best for:
- Anyone serving soup.
-
Cooling racks for baking, 2-pack
A cooling rack lets air flow under cookies and pies.
-
Utopia Kitchen bib aprons, 2-pack
Aprons protect clothes and make the cook feel in charge.
What to skip
- Single-use gadgets. A turkey lifter is rarely worth owning.
- Cheap foil pans under a heavy bird. They bend and spill.
- A second slow cooker if you can plan the menu around one.
- Matching sets when you only need one of each.
For serving and the table, see serving pieces for holiday dinner and holiday table setting supplies. For the cook on your list, read gifts for cooks.
Questions people ask
What tools do I need to host Christmas dinner?
A roasting pan, an instant-read thermometer, oven mitts, a masher or ricer, a fat separator and a slow cooker cover most menus. Borrow the rest.
Do I need an oven thermometer?
Yes if your oven runs hot or cold. A cheap oven thermometer tells you the true temperature, so cooking times match the recipe.
How do I free up the oven on the day?
Use a slow cooker for sides, make dishes ahead that reheat well and plan which dishes go in and out of the oven. Our timeline guides show the order.