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Thanksgiving is a great holiday to spend with families and friends, but if you’re hosting the festivities this year, things can get a little hectic. Between trying to set the perfect table, cook a meal that everyone will love and entertain your guests, the day will fly by in no time. Thankfully, there are a number of useful gadgets you can use on Thanksgiving this year to make your party planning a little easier.
To relax a little more on the holiday and spend quality time with your loved ones, you can always rely on your favorite devices. This article from renters.apartments.com lists a few great tips and tricks to get you through the holiday without losing your mind. Keep reading to learn more.
1. Timer. Do you own a smartphone? It probably has a timer on it. Charge that sucker overnight because it’s going to get a workout on Turkey day. Set your alarm early—turkeys take a long time to bake (how long? See aforementioned Grandma), and then use the timer to actually time the things your recipes tell you to. This is Thanksgiving, people. It’s no time to start winging it.
2. Oven mitts. This is the one I usually remember I should have purchased when the oven door is open and I need to pull something out before it catches fire. Get two of them and keep them in a drawer next to the oven.
3. Two knives. You really should have more than two knives, but at minimum you’ll need a carving knife and a paring knife. Anything you can’t do with one, you can manage with the other. Just don’t let any chef-types see you dice vegetables with a paring knife. It gives them chest pains.
4. Roasting pan with handles. This may have to be a new purchase if you don’t have one already, but it’s a key part of baking the turkey. Invest in a good one that can be used on the stovetop as well so you can make the gravy right in the pan. *Handles are important. That bird weighs a lot and it’s much easier to manipulate if you’ve got a good grip.
5. Meat thermometer*. Gravy is your friend if you’re a chronic over-cooker, but why not prevent yourself from drying out the bird altogether with a meat thermometer? Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh (be careful not to hit the bone) and remove it when the temperature reaches 165 Fahrenheit. *Some turkeys have a thermometer already sunk into the bird. Just keep an eye on it and when it pops up, it’s done.
6. Cookie sheet with rimmed sides. You’ll use this for everything from baking cookies to roasting vegetables to baking spiced nuts for an appetizer. Get one with rimmed sides—it really cuts back on the mess.
7. Big serving spoons. You’re going to have a lot of drippy, creamy side dishes, not to mention gravy. These things don’t lend themselves to being served with forks or grapefruit spoons. Three is good—four is better.
8. Casserole dish. This should be sturdy, possibly inherited from your mother and oven- and microwave-safe. It should also have a lid. Any other features are just gravy.
9. Measuring cups. If you don’t already own a set of these, you should be seriously questioning your ability to prepare an entire Thanksgiving meal. They make some that flatten for easy storage, which are great for the tiny drawers in most rental kitchens.
10. Tin foil. If push came to shove, you could theoretically make your entire Thanksgiving meal in tin foil alone. It wouldn’t go great, but you could swing it. At the very least you’ll want foil to cover warm side dishes while the bird finishes up. It will also come in handy for sending guests home with leftovers. If you’re feeling ambitious, wrap up the food and then use some extra foil to fold the packet into the shape of a turkey like some kind of swanky restaurant. Now you look like a pro.
Hosting Thanksgiving in your apartment is a big undertaking, but it’s easier and more fun when you ask your guests to pitch in and help out. Ask attendees to BYO bottle and side dish (and maybe even an extra kitchen chair) and you’ll have a terrific meal with plenty of reason to celebrate.
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