Thanksgiving Kitchen Toolkit: Spend Just $30 and Make Grandma Proud

I’ve learned that the secret to a great meal is being well-prepared. And that doesn’t just mean groceries, but the right tools. For Thanksgiving dinner, you’ll need an especially solid cooking toolkit because you’re making multiple dishes at once — roasting turkey, throwing together casseroles, and baking pies.

I found a great selection of cooking accessories at Walmart for $29.55 (not including tax) from the store’s Mainstays line. Here’s all the essentials you’ll need for a successful Thanksgiving feast.

Extra Deep Roaster Pan

Price: $1.48

I’m not a fan of post-holiday feast cleanups, especially when it comes to large roaster pans. Disposable pans take the work out of Thanksgiving dinner cleanup. Since this one is deep, it’ll ensure your turkey bakes evenly, and you can also use it to roast ham or big-batch side dishes.

Stainless Steel Dial Meat Thermometer

Price: $7.86

A meat thermometer is essential for cooking perfectly juicy turkey, and Mainstays’ easy-to-read analog display takes the guesswork out. It also has a stainless steel probe that gives you an instant read, so your pièce de résistance comes out tender and fully cooked.

Don’t skip this purchase — it’s easy to mess turkey up if you don’t know the internal temperature. Trust me, I’ve overcooked many large, expensive portions (and cried over them).

Meat Baster with Cleaning Brush

Price: $2.97

Since you’ll be cooking your bird for a few hours, you’ll need to keep basting it. With this inexpensive meat baster, you can distribute pan juices or broth without dripping. It’s a must for locking in flavor and keeping the meat tender.

Oven Mitts

Price: $6.24

Whether you’re rotating pies or lifting a roasting pan full of turkey, oven mitts ensure that your hands stay cool. This set of cotton-shell gloves is heat-resistant and lined with a soft quilting.

3-Piece Kitchen Utensil Set

Price: $1.77

Dish out sides and serve guests with this inexpensive utensil set: spatula, slotted spoon, and solid spoon. You can flip, scoop, and strain everything from mashed potatoes to cookies. Plus, they’re made of plastic that can withstand heat up to 450 degrees, so you can dole out that piping hot casserole right away.

Stainless Steel Locking Cooking Tongs

Price: $2.36

Tongs are a multi-purpose accessory for flipping roasted veggies, serving dinner rolls, or plating turkey slices. Keep at least two pairs on hand before the Thanksgiving cooking blitz.

Stainless Steel Potato Masher

Price: $1.78

Press those pounds of potatoes into creamy goodness. I’d recommend a flat-ended masher like this one over wire-ended mashers, since it cuts your total cook time on spuds.

Stainless Steel Whisk

Price: $1.37

Whip together pie filling and mix your gravy to perfection. The stainless steel construction is sturdy, which you’ll appreciate as you get increasingly frantic with each passing hour before dinner.

4-Count Aluminum Cake Pans

Price: $3.72

While they’re labeled as cake pans, reviewers say they’re also great for pies. If you have a large crowd, go for a full fall dessert spread: pumpkin, pecan, and apple. Pop the lids on top and send guests home with all the calories you would otherwise be eating for days.