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If there was ever a year we'd go the extra mile to ensure a stress-free Thanksgiving feast, 2020 would be it.
Related: 7 Must-Try Thanksgiving Recipes from Celebrity Chefs
With early Black Friday sales rolling around, there’s never been a better time to replace any wobbly peelers, crooked pans, or sub-par mashers and invest in smart stress-busting kitchen gadgets and tools that will make the holiday cooking process faster, easier, and better.
Related: The Ultimate Foodie Gift Guide
Whether you’re in charge of drinks (there’s a smoking cloche for that), looking to elevate your signature sides of veggies with perfectly-uniform slices (don’t sleep on this Precision Cutting Board, in that case), or you’re hosting a socially-distant outdoor Thanksgiving celebration and are whipping out the outdoor rotisserie grill for the turkey this year (meaning there’ll be more room in the oven too), these smart Thanksgiving gadgets are meant to reduce unnecessary time in the kitchen while also making you wish you bought them sooner.
Related: How to Get a Thanksgiving Party—From Turkey to Tablescape—Delivered to Your Door
The Gourmet's Smoking Cloche
Bring on the smoked Bloody Marys, smoked goudas, or even a smoked mac and cheese with this nifty smoking kit for the creative Thanksgiving cook this year. The cloche is really quite easy to use and definitely packs a smokey punch when used to infuse cocktails and food with a savory, smoky flavor. You can experiment with flavors by trying different types of wood, dried herbs, and spices.
To buy: $200, Uncommongoods.com
Everdure by Heston Blumenthal HUB II 54-Inch Charcoal Grill
When it comes to gastronomic tools, you know you're in exquisite hands when the gadget comes from London chef Heston Blumenthal. Take your Thanksgiving meats to another level this year using chef Blumenthal's versatile charcoal grill which comes kitted out with a robust rotisserie that holds up to 85-pounds.
To buy: $2,499, Amazon.com
Cuisinart Electric Carving Knife Set And Fork
Cuisinart's electric knife is a best seller for good reason. Use this popular electric knife option to effortlessly slice through crusty sourdough bread or a crispy roasted turkey, brisket, or roasted chicken on the Thanksgiving table this year. This particular model (the CEK-41) also comes with a woodblock tray to store all parts neatly and safely together and a compact bamboo cutting board.
To buy: $50 (Originally $90), Surlatable.com
Related: 5 Things You're Doing Wrong With Your Sourdough Starter
Automatic Pan Stirrer with Timer
If you're the type of multi-tasking Thanksgiving chef who has several dishes cooking on the stove at once, this automatic pan stirrer might just be your saving grace for those recipes that call for continuous stirring. Just hit the button on top to set the timer and it's off. This magical tool could be especially useful for busy parents.
To buy: $25, Uncommongoods.com
Epicurean Food52 x Epicurean Precision Cutting Board
Presentation can play a big part in Turkey Day dinner and this serving board has everything you need to create perfectly-uniform, aesthetically-pleasing dishes. Whether it's cubed, matchstick-ed, half-circled veggies, or a perfectly round pie-dough for dessert. What's more, it also features a conversion chart that'll answer all your measuring questions.
To buy: $65, Food52.com
Instant Pot Duo Nova Pressure Cooker
Meet your new pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, saute pan, food warmer, and yogurt maker all-in-one. The Instant Pot can revolutionize dinner with the push of a button. If you’ve got a family to feed or just don’t have the energy to cook an elaborate meal, the Instant Pot is your saving grace. This 6-quart model is the most popular size and can cook for up to six people.
To buy: $100, Amazon.com
OXO Good Grips Cookie Press
Are buttery and sweet spritz cookies part of your festive tradition? Using a cookie press can get you fancy-looking results with very little effort and this one from OXO is the easiest to use. Plus, it comes with 12 different shapes you can swap out, from snowflakes to wreaths. Just add sprinkles.
To buy: $32, Amazon.com
Ninja Foodi Smart XL 6-in-1 Indoor Grill with 4-Qt. Air Fryer Reg.
No outdoor grilling space? No problem. Ninja’s 5-in-1 Indoor Grill brings outdoor grilling flavors indoors, without any of the smoke. The Foodie grill more than earns its counter space, in addition to grilling, it can also air fry, bake, roast, and dehydrate.
To buy: $280 (Originally $349), Macys.com
Heat Conducting Scoop
Never wait for your ice cream to soften enough for scooping again. If your Thanksgiving brood likes to pair their pies with ice cream, then this perfectly rounded heat-conducting scoop is just the ticket.
To buy: $20, Uncommongoods.com
Philips Viva Soup Maker
Warming, hearty soups and stews don’t need to take longer than 18 minutes to make. Yes, you read that correctly. Philips Soup Maker is a speedy soup cooker that comes with six preset programs. Effortlessly make pureed soup, chunky soup, cold soup, and milk-based soup, as well as compotes and smoothies in a pinch.
To buy: $99 (Originally $130) Surlatable.com
Kitchen Utensil and Tablet Holder
We’re all about multitasking tools. And if your cookbook of choice comes downloaded on a tablet, Heather and Myles Geyman’s modern cookbook stand could be the choice for you. It puts tablets out of food’s way while keeping your low-fi kitchen tools at arm's reach.
To buy: $60, Uncommongoods.com