Chefs Promise That These 7 Tools Will Make Your Holiday Cooking Easier — and 2 of Them Are Free

Prep like a chef.

Cooking on Thanksgiving feels a lot like working in a restaurant kitchen. There are pots and pans flying everywhere, various dishes on the stovetop that require different cooking times, and demanding guests that require far too much attention. It’s hard to prepare yourself for the true chaos that comes with a Thanksgiving meal, but those who have worked in professional kitchens know there are a few items that will make the big day a little easier.

These are the tools our Food & Wine Best New Chefs rely on during the holiday season to make prep a breeze — and which they encourage home cooks to utilize, too.

Related: The Biggest Meal of the Year Requires a Plan

Lists

“Prep lists are my key to surviving the holidays,” says 2023 F&W Best New Chef Amanda Shulman, owner of Her Place Supper Club, My Loup, and Amourette in Philadelphia. For Thanksgiving, a thorough checklist will make your life so much easier. Use it to track all of the ingredients you need to buy, as well as the many tasks you need to complete the week leading up to the big day. Nothing is more satisfying than seeing every item checked off, except for, you know, the moment you’re finally able to eat.

Matfer Bourgeat Apple Peeler/Slicer/Corer

If you’re planning on making multiple apple pies, it might be worth investing in the Matfer Apple Peeler/Slicer/Corer. “It slices, peels, and cores an apple in less than 10 seconds,” says 2021 F&W Best New Chef Thessa Diadem, pastry chef of The Georgian Hotel in Los Angeles. “It saves a lot of time when making a ton of apple pies for the holidays and it’s really fun to use.” Bonus: you can use this gadget to prep potatoes, too. 

Related: What Are the Best Apples to Use for Apple Pie?

Microplane

“I always have my trusty Microplane on hand,” says 2024 F&W Best New Chef Mary Attea of Raf’s in New York City. The long, slim grater is a favorite among professional chefs, and it’s especially helpful on food-centric holidays like Thanksgiving. “I use it to grate so many things, like garlic for recipes  — which is easier and quicker than mincing — and Parmigiano over a lemony anchovy salad. It’s also great for when you need a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg on your holiday eggnog.”

Roasting pan

2020 F&W Best New Chef Trigg Brown, owner of Win Son in Brooklyn, New York, typically uses sheet pans to roast dishes. But during the holidays, he finally gets to dust off his trusted Mauviel roasting pan. Fitted with a wire rack, a traditional roasting pan is ideal for roasting large proteins set over vegetables or potatoes that can soak up the drippings. “I use it to roast a prime rib,” says Brown. Under the rib, he cooks browned Ibérico pork cheeks with seared shallots and mushrooms and chicken jus. “They braise while getting bombed by the rib drippings.”

A sharp knife

If you’re prepping a dish at someone else’s house, 2024 F&W Best New Chef LT Smith of Chilte in Phoenix recommends bringing along your go-to multi-purpose chef’s knife. Even if there is a sharp knife available, it’ll likely be a hot commodity, he notes. “Let me tell you — dicing an onion with a butter knife is not much fun.”

Digital meat thermometer

There are tons of tricks for knowing when your turkey is fully cooked, but nothing will be as accurate as a digital thermometer. “A digital thermometer is non-negotiable,” says Raf’s pastry chef and 2024 F&W Best New Chef Camari Mick. “It’s the ultimate holiday MVP for getting the turkey just right, ensuring your pies aren’t underbaked, and even temping molten chocolate for a ganache. Precision is everything during the holidays — especially when you’re juggling so many dishes.” 2017 F&W Best New Chef Val Cantu always uses the ThermoWorks Thermapen One, an instant-read thermometer that will register a temperature in a matter of seconds. 

Related: We Tested the Best Meat Thermometers for Grilling, Smoking, and Roasting

Friends and family

With so much time spent in their restaurants, for many chefs, the holidays are one of the few opportunities to cook among loved ones. “Friends and family are a tool for critics, bickering, tears, laughter, and background chatter,” says 2020 F&W Best New Chef Donny Sirisavath. “They will make everything taste so much better.”