9 Thrifty Thanksgiving Tools, Recommended by Food & Wine Editors

Thanksgiving is arguably the most intense cooking day of the year. Menu planning, shopping lists, oven space mapping, and timing math are enough to be a full-time job. Don’t stress about added costs on top of everything else. If you’re having a more budget-conscious gathering this year, take a page from Food & Wine writers and editors and use these equipment hacks to keep costs down and avoid skimping on ingredients. 

Our favorite thrifty Thanksgiving tools are a mix of items like Debbie Meyer GreenBags, which stretch your turkey day produce a little further, and year-round multiuse tools like a Nordic Ware Half Sheet with Oven Safe Nonstick Grid that can stand in for items you might buy for just one day a year. Here are the top nine products Food & Wine writers and editors stock their kitchen with to save money on Thanksgiving. 

Best Thrifty Thanksgiving Tools:

Winco 8-Quart Stainless Steel Bowl

Senior Writer Jason Horn says this 8-quart stainless steel mixing bowl is “good for big batches of stuffing and mashed potatoes, as both a mixing and serving vessel. It can even go on the stovetop or in the oven for reheating and keeping warm.” A reusable stainless steel bowl can help reduce the cost of disposable serving vessels. 

Amazon Basics Digital Kitchen Scale

Writer Dillon Evans swears by this budget-friendly digital kitchen scale. He says, “while I love my dual-platform kitchen scale, it’s pricey and not always necessary. Sometimes, I just pull out my ole reliable, $10 Amazon Basics model. It’s easy to wipe down, requires less water and dishes than cup measurers, and fits into any drawer or cabinet space.” Weighing ingredients can also cut down on accidental waste. 

Debbie Meyer GreenBags

Horn also recommends these Debbie Meyer GreenBags “to keep produce fresh longer.” The reusable green bags absorb ethylene, a gas that some fruits and veggies emit, which speeds up ripening and can make nearby produce go bad faster. These thrifty bags buy you a few extra days and prevent food waste. 

Nordic Ware Half Sheet with Oven Safe Nonstick Grid

Those disposable aluminum trays may seem like a cheaper alternative to a fancy roasting pan, but the cost stacks up over time, and they generate a ton of waste. A vice president at Food & Wine, Taysha Murtaugh, says, “Instead of a single-use roasting pan, you can use a wire rack inside a baking sheet.” The bonus here is that you can use the sheet pan and cooling rack year-round to really get your money’s worth. 

Amazon Basics Glass Food Storage Containers with Locking Lids

Senior Editor Phoebe Sklansky is planning ahead for the leftovers. She says, “My family loves Thanksgiving leftovers (my dad dreams of the leftover Turkey sandwich all year), so I recommend glass food storage containers. A good set has several different sizes to fit heaps of mashed potatoes and bits of leftover gravy.” This Amazon Basics set fits the bill with a variety of shapes and sizes, and locking lids to prevent gravy leaks. 

Alpha Grillers Meat Thermometer

Murtaugh also recommends a solid meat thermometer “to prevent over- or undercooking food.” Nothing is worse than investing in a Thanksgiving turkey only to ruin it accidentally. This Alpha Grillers Model was our best value pick when we tested meat thermometers, and it’s even more steeply discounted right now at just $14. 

Caraway Non-Stick Ceramic Baking Sheet

Senior Editor Danielle St. Pierre also recommends a year-round multitasker. “A solid nonstick baking sheet will get tons of mileage for baking and roasting on T-Day for sure, and year-round, too. This medium-sized Caraway Nonstick Baking Sheet is my favorite.” It’s even on sale right now for under $50. 

Müeller Pro-Series 10-in-1 Vegetable Chopper

Editor Mary Claire Lagroue saves time on the big day, saying her family uses our pick for the most versatile vegetable chopper — the Müeller Pro-Series 10-in-1 Vegetable Chopper — to cut cornbread for dressing. “It saves us some prep time the morning of Thanksgiving. Of course, it comes in handy beyond Thanksgiving, so you should easily get your money’s worth, especially while it’s on sale for just $30,” says Lagroue.

Silicone Cooking Bands

Writer Greg Baker reaches for these reusable silicone bands over disposable twine for trussing a turkey. He adds that the silicone bands can be an easier (and possibly time-saving) alternative “for those who struggle with trussing a bird.” A roll of cooking twine will run you about the same price, but these bands are reusable, oven-safe up to 480°F, won’t leave little strings all over your bird, and can be used year-round for other tasks.