I Always Host Friendsgiving—These 9 Products Come In Handy Year After Year

Each November, before I drag my suitcase out of the basement to head home for Thanksgiving, I pull my roasting pan and decanter out of kitchen storage to host my own fall dinner party. And while I love spending the day roasting, stirring, and kneading away, all the prep and cleanup left me feeling overwhelmed during one too many Friendsgivings. 

Hosting larger groups is no easy feat, which is why, over the years, I’ve invested in clever tools, appliances, and cookware pieces that make the task less daunting. And right now, they’re all on sale. From a teeny chopper to prep garlic in a flash, to a digital meat thermometer that tells you when it’s turkey time, these are my must-have holiday hosting tools, and best of all, prices start at just $15.

The 9 Best Holiday Hosting Products 

• KitchenAid Ribbed Soft Silicone Oven Mitts, Set of 2, $15 (originally $35)
• 7 Code Large Dish Drying Rack, $27 (originally $40)
• Vondior Gravy Separator, $23 (originally $33)
• Light & Pro Flax Linen Napkins, $25 (originally $30)
• All-Clad Specialty Stainless Steel Roaster, $100 (originally $200) 
• Nordic Ware Baking Sheets, Set of 3, $32 (originally $52)
• Godinger Wine Decanter, $27 (originally $35)
• Xomoo Silicone Freezer Tray With Lid-Soup, $23 (originally $27)
• OXO Good Grips Instant Read Thermometer, $16 (originally $23)

KitchenAid Ribbed Soft Silicone Oven Mitts, Set of 2

There are two kinds of home cooks — those who can wrangle a hot dish out of the oven with one hand using a folded dish towel, and those who manage to burn their arms and handle even when taking the greatest care. If you fall into the latter category, as I admittedly do, it’s time to invest in heat-proof oven mitts. This set from KitchenAid is made from durable, slip-resistant silicone and can withstand temperatures up to 500°F — perfect for clumsy cooks like me. I love that it comes in a range of colors (22, to be exact). If you’re in need of a new set of oven mitts, these are currently on sale for just $15.

7 Code Large Dish Drying Rack

Inviting a large group of people to dinner is all fun and games until the last guest departs and you’re left with a sink full of dishes. Seasonal recipes like casseroles, pies, and poultry often require larger cookware and serving pieces that are delicate or too large to fit in the dishwasher, which means cleanup can take hours. If you want to skip the extra step of hand drying, you’ll need a quality dish rack. I own a small dish rack, but I love that this one has ample space to fit all these large pieces — plus a dinner party’s worth of dinnerware. I’m grabbing one now while it’s 33% off.

Vondior Gravy Separator

I don’t typically endorse single-use kitchen items, so I never thought I’d buy a gravy separator. But after years of hosting, I know this for certain: Gravy is literally the secret sauce to making every Thanksgiving food taste delicious. So, now that this fat separator is on sale for 30% off, I’m finally taking the leap to make sure this year’s gravy is the best yet. I’m also planning to use it for separating egg yolks, making broth, and more — a testament to its surprising versatility.

Light & Pro Flax Linen Napkins

I’ve never been a fan of paper napkins, but after spending hours cooking and decorating, setting the table with paper towels just feels wrong. Last year, I decided to buy a beautiful set of washable dinner napkins, and they added an instant elegance to the table. Plus, since you can use them year after year, they cut down on waste and expenses. Now that my favorite linen set is 17% off at Amazon, I’m buying a couple more to give as stocking stuffers.

All-Clad Specialty Stainless Steel Roaster

If there’s one time of year when a roasting pan comes in handy, it’s now. Temperatures have dropped, and cozy cooking projects like turkey, lamb, and even caramelized butternut squash are made easy with this large pan that’s great for big groups. Catching juices and drippings without mess, this stainless steel model from All-Clad cooks evenly with great nonstick abilities. It’s 50% off right now, so if you've been waiting to add a roaster to your cookware collection, there’s never been a better time.

Nordic Ware Baking Sheets, Set of 3

Baking sheets are one of the most versatile items in the kitchen. For Christmas cookies, roasted vegetables, and everything in between, I use my set from Nordic Ware almost daily during the holiday season. I love that it comes with three different sizes — 12-by-9, 15-by-11, and 17-by-12 — to accommodate meals of all sizes. They’re light, extremely easy to clean, and right now, they’re 38% off at Amazon. 

Godinger Wine Decanter

Thanksgiving dinners — especially Friendsgivings — are all about the wine. While decanting may seem fancy and unnecessary, aerating the big reds we typically associate with decadent meals can take a bottle from good to great, and it’s as easy as straining a bottle into a different container. While this can technically be done in any large vessel, like a clean vase or pitcher, a gorgeous decanter like this one from Godinger looks so elegant on the holiday table. Made with lead-free crystal, this piece features a spout for easy pouring and an ergonomic opening that lets just the right amount of air in.

Xomoo Silicone Freezer Tray With Lid-Soup

Warming, comforting, and incredibly crowd-pleasing, autumn favorites like chili, butternut squash soup, and ramen are heroes of the holiday season. But unlike potatoes and stuffing, soups are difficult to store, and leftovers often end up down the drain. That’s why I can’t stop talking about these freezer-friendly trays. Each mold can hold an entire serving of soup, stews, or other liquid (or super saucy) leftovers and features a tightly-fitting lid that allows for mess-free storage.

OXO Good Grips Instant Read Thermometer

I’ve found that it’s nearly impossible to cook a Thanksgiving turkey to perfection without a quality meat thermometer. This one from OXO reads temperatures quickly and accurately, with large, easy-to-read numbers that take the guesswork out of cooking everything from lamb to poached eggs to homemade challah. With a sale price of only $16 at Amazon, this is a worthy pre-holiday buy that I’ve ended up using all year-round.