Thanksgiving Is Coming — Refresh These 14 Kitchen Essentials Now

As a food site with a magazine, we start planning for Thanksgiving early. We spend the summer basting turkeys, baking pies, and scouring shelves for out-of-season canned pumpkin. But now that the leaves are turning and sweater weather is in full swing, we’re ready to bring you into our world of turkey day prep. Before the recipes, you need the right tools. If you can’t remember washing your pastry brushes or have a vague recollection of the potato masher malfunctioning, it’s time to take stock of your kitchen essentials and see which need a refresh. 

There’s no need to replace an heirloom roasting pan or gravy separator you use once a year, but smaller items you reach for throughout the year could probably use a glow-up. Your kitchen gadgets and tools should be at their best for the big day, so we’ve found great options to replace your well-worn essentials. They’re all from Amazon, and plenty are even on sale — these are our picks starting at just $2.

Kitchen Staples to Replace Before Thanksgiving on Amazon

• Alpha Grillers Digital Instant Read Meat Thermometer, $14, originally $20
• Tovolo Turkey Baster with Cleaning Brush, $11, originally $13
• OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Smooth Potato Masher, $15, originally $18
• OXO Good Grips Y-Peeler, $12, originally $14
• PriorityChef Stainless Steel Potato Ricer, $25, originally $33
• J.K. Adams Maple Wood Baking and Pastry French Rolling Pin, $24
• Pyrex Colors Tinted Sculpted Glass Mixing Bowls with Lids, $33, originally $35
• Amazon Basics Silicone Rectangular Baking Mat, 2-Pack, $17
• Longzon 4-in-1 Knife Sharpener, $13
• Geometry Microfiber Cloth Dish Towels, $14, originally $18
• OXO Good Grips Silicone Basting & Pastry Brush, $12
• Msart Natural Bristle Wooden Pastry Brush, $6
• Scotch-Brite Stainless Steel Scrubbers, 3-Pack, $2
• Pyrex 9-Inch Glass Pie Plate, $15

Alpha Grillers Digital Instant Read Meat Thermometer

An instant-read thermometer is a non-negotiable for moist turkey. This tested meat thermometer pick is our top budget-friendly option thanks to its accuracy and speed. Just a reminder: Cook your turkey until the thickest part of the thigh (avoiding the bone) registers 165°F to 175°F and wait at least 20 minutes before carving it.

Tovolo Turkey Baster with Cleaning Brush

Another way to ensure your turkey isn’t dried out? The classic baste. This works well in a deep roasting pan when you’re using the naturally occurring juices as your basting liquid. When we tested it, we loved the angled silicone tip and internal valve on this turkey baster that work together to prevent dripping. Plus, it comes apart for easy cleaning, and all its components are dishwasher-safe.

OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Smooth Potato Masher

If you aren’t afraid to roll up your sleeves and really get into it when making mashed potatoes, this potato masher is our top pick. We found it to have a comfortable grip and make quick work of other foods like root vegetables, fruit, and ground turkey. The only drawback is that it’s shorter than standard stature, which means you have to reach further into the pot to mash.

OXO Good Grips Y-Peeler

We named the OXO Y-peeler our best overall pick for vegetable peelers thanks to its ergonomic handle, precision, and efficacy. It makes quick work of Thanksgiving prep, whether you’re peeling potatoes, carrots, or apples. The blade is also removable for better cleaning and safe storage.

PriorityChef Stainless Steel Potato Ricer

If you’re looking for silky smooth mashed potatoes like the pros make, you need a ricer. It gives the fluffiest spuds with the least handling, and you don’t even have to peel your potatoes first. This heavy-duty stainless steel potato ricer has a large-capacity basket and is dishwasher-safe. Once you try it, you’ll want to make mashed potatoes all year long.

J.K. Adams Maple Wood Baking and Pastry French Rolling Pin

While frozen pie crust is totally acceptable, sometimes you want to make your own dough, and a solid rolling pin is a must-have. One of our tested favorites was this tapered, French-style pastry roller; however, note that some doughs may stick, so flouring is essential to prevent this from happening. This type of pin is a go-to for pie dough because it allows for good control.

Pyrex Colors Tinted Sculpted Glass Mixing Bowls with Lids

This set is similar to our top choice for glass mixing bowls. A few reasons we like it: the bowls nest for easy storage, the lids mean we don’t have to struggle with plastic wrap or tinfoil, and both the bowls and lids are microwave- and dishwasher-safe — all qualities we look for when we have busy prep days ahead.

Amazon Basics Silicone Rectangular Baking Mat, 2-Pack

Not only are silicone baking mats what we reach for when making cookies, they’re also immensely helpful when baking pies, roasting vegetables, and cooking other potentially messy dishes in the oven. The mats are infinitely easier to clean than sheet pans and endlessly reusable, unlike parchment paper and tinfoil, so we turn to them whenever there’s a possibility of overflow or stuck-on food — better safe than sorry!

Longzon 4-in-1 Knife Sharpener

We have this recurring nightmare where everyone is watching us carve a turkey with a dull knife. In order to avoid that fate, we recommend a solid knife sharpener. After testing several sharpeners, we were impressed by this budget pick, noting that its straightforward design makes it beginner-friendly. It has three options for regular knives, plus a slot for kitchen shears and scissors — a seldom-seen feature of manual sharpeners.

Geometry Microfiber Cloth Dish Towels

These are some of the most absorbent dish towels on the market. The geometric weave can soak up to seven times its weight in liquid and dries quickly. They also make a great host gift to keep on hand for holiday parties. 

OXO Good Grips Silicone Basting & Pastry Brush

If your recipe calls for brushing a glaze onto your turkey as it bakes, reach for a silicone brush. This one from OXO has heat-resistant bristles, a large surface area for efficient basting, and is dishwasher-safe. If your old brush is harboring unidentified residue, spring for a new one this season.

Msart Natural Bristle Wooden Pastry Brush

When glazing pies, we often reach for a natural bristle brush for increased precision. This is definitely a kitchen item you want to replace regularly, so this low-cost option made from beech wood and boar bristles is perfect.

Scotch-Brite Stainless Steel Scrubbers, 3-Pack,

A marathon day of cooking leads to a marathon night of cleaning. This old-school option is non-toxic and boasts over 1,000 five-star ratings. The scrubbers will make quick work of cast iron and other uncoated cookware, but stick to a traditional sponge for more delicate materials like glass and enamel cookware.

Pyrex 9-Inch Glass Pie Plate

An extra pie plate encourages you to bake another pie, so why not? We recommend this glass pie plate for beginners who need to monitor the doneness of their crust visually, but note that it can conduct heat unevenly. Nevertheless, it’s a durable option and our top pick for one made from glass.