4 Kitchen Appliances to Make Hosting Thanksgiving Easy as Pie

If cooking for your family were a sport, the holidays would be your playoff season. Though putting together a holiday meal for your nearest and dearest is daunting, you can do it like the pros if you have the right backup. The following appliances will help you save time so you can focus on what really matters—quality time with your guests.

1. Food Processor

Slicing, chopping, grating, and kneading only add to your food prep time. This kitchen essential offers many of the same perks as an extra set of hands while taking up a lot less space.

This appliance isn’t just great for entertaining; it’s a handy kitchen helper that will streamline your cooking process all year round.

Use this master blender throughout your Thanksgiving menu. It’ll help you chop fine vegetables for dressing, knead your dough for fresh baked bread, whip up the perfect pie puree, and make some dips and sauces for awesome appetizers.

2. Stand Mixer

Baking is an involved, often time-consuming art, and stand mixers are a classic tool of the trade. Automatic mixers save your elbows from exhausting manual work. They also save time—what takes you ten minutes to hand mix takes this machine just seconds, so you can tackle meringues and mousses like a pro.

3. Wine Fridge or Chiller

Whether you’re a wine connoisseur or like your wine boxed, investing in a wine fridge or chiller may be for you. Wine, it turns out, is a sensitive creature. If you plan to keep a bottle for more than a few weeks, keep in mind that factors such as temperature, light, and humidity can affect its flavor. If you like a variety of wines or intend to age a few bottles, a wine fridge is a good investment. On the other hand, if you just pull out the wine for the occasional get-together, you should consider a chiller. Wine chillers quickly cool the wine your guests bring, so you can enjoy your beverage properly without the wait.

4. Crockpot

Now you may be thinking, “Crockpots are slow by design—how can they help me?” But they can. Crockpots are great because they’re so self-contained.

They can also help finely cook cheaper cuts of meat that turn out tough when cooked on a stovetop. Free up precious oven space and make your savory dishes, like roast beef or green beans, in a crockpot. They’ll stay warm for hours and be ready whenever you are.

This holiday season, you don’t have to go it alone. Consider investing in some backup to help with holiday prep so you can cut down kitchen time and focus on quality time.