10 Things You Need To Cook A Better Thanksgiving

Please don’t try to make this glorious feast with a dull knife and shitty nonstick pans.

1. LARGE ROASTING PAN. Must be larger than your turkey, with high sides.

Source: jualbonekalucu.com

Ideally with a V-shaped rack in it.

Source: blog.metrokitchen.com

This works too, but you probably want to stack one inside another for ensurance.

They can be a little flimsy for heavy birds.

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You’ll use it for this.

Get the recipe at Bon Appétit.

Source: bonappetit.com

2. INSTANT-READ THERMOMETER

You’ll use it to do this.

Do not slice into your turkey to see if it’s done. And really there’s no reason that in 2012 you should be using the “juices run clear” test. Buy a thermometer. When it’s time to get a read on your turkey, stick the thermometer down into the thigh where it attached to the drumstick. Don’t let it touch the bone. When the temperature reaches 165°F, pull the turkey out, tent it with foil, and let it sit for 30 minutes before carving.

How to make sure your thermometer is properly “calibrated”: Fill a glas half with ice and half with water. Insert the thermometer and ensure that it reads 32°F. If it doesn’t, leave the stem in the ice-water bath, then, using a small wrench, loosen the nut behind the dial and rotate the dial face until the need points at 32°F. Then retighten the nut.

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3. RIMMED BAKING SHEETS

You’re looking for something that’s about 21x15x1-inch, or a couple that are 18x13x1-inch.

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You will use it for this.

Get the recipe.

and this.

Get the recipe at Serious Eats.

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4. PEELER

You will use it for this.

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and to make this.

Get the recipe from Spoon Fork Bacon.

5. A SHARP CHEF’S KNIFE AND CUTTING BOARDS

The knife doesn’t have to be fancy. It doesn’t have to be expensive. (Here’s the best one you can get for $20.) It just has to be SHARP as the dickens. As for cutting boards, ideally you’ll have a couple of plastic ones since you’re doing so much cooking and working with raw poultry. But wooden ones are wonderful too. The most important thing is to clean your cutting board in between every task.

You’ll use it to do this:

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Source: s3-ec.buzzfed.com

And this.

6. MIXING BOWLS.

Light stainless-steel bowls are better because they are easier to clean and grab off of a shelf than glass ones.

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You will use them for stuff like this.

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7. TWO OR THREE LARGE (AROUND 5-QT) HEAVY SAUCE POTS WITH LIDS

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You will use it for this.

Get step-by-step instructions for how to make gravy at Bon Appétit.

And maybe this.

Get step-by-step directions for making turkey stock at Bon Appétit.

and this.

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8. A SMALLER (AROUND 3-QT) SAUCEPAN

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You’ll use it for this.

Get the recipe from The Kitchn

9. 13x9x2-INCH CASSEROLE DISH

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You’ll use it for this.

Get the recipe from The Meaning of Pie

Source: themeaningofpie.com

And this.

Get the recipe from Brown Eyed Baker

10. 9-INCH PIE DISH

For this.

Get the recipe at Bon Appétit.

Source: bonappetit.com