6 Products Not to Buy for Holiday Cooking, According to Chefs

Between high-heat roasting, big-batch prep, and endless leftovers, the kitchen can quickly become chaotic during the holidays. With so much going on, it’s essential that your cookware and kitchen tools can keep up. To help you cook smarter (and stress less) throughout the festivities, we asked professional chefs which kitchen products to skip and what to buy instead. 

Read on to learn which six items to skip this holiday season, and the alternatives food experts suggest replacing them with. From OXO, Rubbermaid, Lodge, and Le Creuset, these are the chef-approved picks that’ll carry you through Thanksgiving dinner and the Christmas feast.

Don’t Buy: Plastic Utensils

Buy Instead: Wooden or Silicone Utensils

OXO Good Grips 3-Piece Silicone Spatula Set

“During the holidays, pots and pans are constantly moving between stovetop and oven, and high heat can easily melt or warp plastic utensils. I always reach for sturdy wooden spoons or heat-safe silicone ones. They won’t scratch your pans, and they hold up beautifully through long cooking sessions.” — Adam Gallagher, recipe creator and co-founder, Inspired Taste

Don’t Buy: Single-Use Food Storage Containers

Buy Instead: Reusable Glass Containers

Skroam Glass Meal Prep Containers, 10-Pack

“The holidays mean leftovers, and a jumble of mismatched lids and containers only adds chaos. Stackable glass containers keep food fresh longer, and since they go straight from fridge to oven, they’re perfect for reheating sides the next day.” — Adam Gallagher

Don’t Buy: Cheap Sheet Pans

Buy Instead: Heavy-Duty Baking Sheets

Made In Aluminum Sheet Pan

“Thin, low-quality sheet pans warp under high oven heat and cause uneven cooking, which is a disaster during the holidays. Go for a heavy-duty sheet pan like this one from Made In. They hold heat beautifully, brown evenly, and will last you a lifetime. It is one of those simple upgrades that instantly improves everything from roasted vegetables to cookies.” — David “Chef Fig” Figueroa, president, CCO, and co-founder, Melinda’s Foods 

Don’t Buy: Air Fryer

Buy Instead: Dutch Oven

Lodge 6-Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven

“The air fryer is a space-hogging, unitask gimmick during the holidays. As a chef, my call is to embrace the foundational Dutch oven! An O.G. that moves effortlessly from stovetop searing — building the deep, beautiful fond that gives your braises their flavor — to the slow, even heat of the oven for fork-tender results. It’s the ultimate workhorse for large-batch holiday meals, freeing up your precious counter space and elevating your cooking with a richness that an air fryer simply cannot touch.” — Leah Di Bernardo, chef, founder, and owner, E.A.T. Marketplace

Don’t Buy: Plastic Mixing Bowls

Buy Instead: Stainless Steel or Glass Mixing Bowls

Cuisinart Mixing Bowl Set with Lids

“Plastic bowls absorb odors, stain from spices, and bend when whisking something warm. Stainless steel and glass mixing bowls stay cool, clean easily, and look nicer when transitioning from prep to serving. This set is a personal favorite because it comes with lids, which is handy when doing advance prep during the busy holiday season.” — Sandra Maestas, founder, Cookin’ Kiddos

Don’t: Stuff the Bird

Buy Instead: Store-Bought Stuffing

Pepperidge Farm Herb Seasoned Cubed Stuffing

“I never stuff the bird. There are too many complications with the internal temperature not getting hot enough, and your turkey goes dry. This might sound like blasphemy, but I love store-bought stuffing. I make it per the instructions, but add tons of herbs, extra veggies like leeks, celeriac, shallots, and butter to make it super luxurious. I also like to bake them in muffin tins so everyone can have that really crispy crust-to-filling ratio. Pepperidge Farms is tried and true year after year and has become a staple in our house.” — Kim Floresca, vice president, culinary, Goop Kitchen