18 Yahoo editor-approved holiday heroes to make hosting Thanksgiving easy as pie

"I am the go-to mac-and-cheese maker every Thanksgiving, and this Crock Pot is where the magic happens. The programmable timer is so much better than the old turn-the-knob models because I don't have to remind myself when to switch the heat settings as I look after other dishes, and the locking lid means I can easily take it on the road when I'm not hosting. As always, the stoneware insert is easy to clean, even when there's old, burned, leftover mac sticking to the sides at the end of the evening."

—Saundra Latham, Commerce Editor

"This smart thermometer is the only way I feel comfortable cooking meat, especially a Thanksgiving turkey! This genius gadget not only allows you to monitor the internal temperature from your phone, but it also alerts you when it's time to flip the meat, remove it from the heat, and when it's done resting. With this thermometer, I can set it and forget it, without worrying about undercooking or overcooking my turkey."

—Rebecca Carhart, Style Writer

"Despite never having hosted a full Thanskgiving meal at my home, I have been a co-host and made many dishes to bring to the meal. I always turn to Ina Garten's recipes from Make It Ahead for this occasion (and so many others). I appreciate all of her make-ahead advice as well as her recipes or Fig and Arugula Salad, Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes."

—Lisa Schweitzer, Senior Editor

"The biggest lesson I learned after I hosted my first Thanksgiving? There are SO. MANY. LEFTOVERS. After everyone finished eating, I was so stressed out trying to fit all the leftover food in whatever random plastic takeout containers I could find. Never again. Whenever I'm hosting people for dinner — especially Thanksgiving dinner — I always stock up on new food storage containers. Nothing fancy, just some reliable plastic Rubbermaids that aren't too expensive. That way, if I send guests home with them, I'm not too broken up if they "forget" to return them."

—Jeanine Edwards, Shopping Director

"A few years ago, our oven broke the week before Thanksgiving — and we were on hosting duty. When the repair person told us it was unsalvageable, I immediately ordered this mini oven and it truly saved the day. I was able to bake our sides and desserts in this thing — everything aside from the turkey! — and while it took longer than if I'd had a functional full-size oven, there was no difference in the quality of the food. Now, I keep it on my counter to toast bread and roast vegetables when I don't feel like waiting for my actual oven to preheat. Plus, I can use it to warm up food when my oven's full."

—Britt Ross, Senior Deals Writer

"We always have a big crowd for holiday meals, so we keep dinner casual and opt for a self-serve, buffet-style setup. This spoon rest and lid holder helps keep things a little less chaotic — serving spoons aren't left in a dripping puddle of goo on my counter, and it solves that awkward issue of "where do I put this heavy slow-cooker lid while I'm getting my third serving of baked apples" (don't judge). It's easy to wipe clean, but you can also toss it in the dishwasher when you're really exhausted. "

—Saundra Latham, Commerce Editor

"I'm a sucker for ceramic dinnerware, so when I saw these Our Plates dinner plates in this beautiful terracotta color, I had to get them. Aesthetics aside, these plates were a favorite at my holiday dinner table since they have a little lip that keeps any sauces or gravy from escaping. They've also got a nice weight to them and stack easily in my cupboards."

—Moriba Cummings, Commerce Writer

"These serving dishes from Le Creuset have a way of making a dinner table feel more cohesive and elevated, particularly around the holidays. I love them for stuffing, potatoes au gratin, green bean casserole — you name it. The set, which rings in on the lower end for the French brand and comes in different colored enamels, also lends itself to a great heirloom gift for someone to start or evolve their Le Creuset collection (I received mine from my mom)."

—Kristin Granero, Senior Commerce Writer

"If you've never cooked a big feast and feel a little intimidated, America's Test Kitchen sells the absolute best cookbook. The recipes are foolproof — each step is explained in detail, including the 'why,' which really helps teach you while preparing a meal. It's got several turkey recipes, delicious sides and make-ahead desserts. This is my favorite cookbook on my shelf, especially when I need to whip up dishes I've never made before."

—Kate Ellsworth, Commerce Editor

"I love hosting big parties and dinners during the holidays but am always trying to cut down on waste, which means no disposable anything. This is usually fine for plates and flatware but I find people always lose their drink glasses as the night wears on. These markers are an excellent solution: I place them by the bar and encourage guests to write whatever — it's a great way to make sure I don't run out of glasses or use plastic cups and also winds up being a cool conversation starter."

—Jennifer Romolini, Senior Beauty Editor

"Gravy is one of — if not THE — most important parts of Thanksgiving. A fat separator makes the cooking process a bit easier, ensuring your gravy has that perfect balance of fat and oil to keep it from breaking while you prepare it. This fat separator is incredibly easy to use and always helps me achieve silky (not watery) gravy."

—Kate Ellsworth, Commerce Editor

"I bought this over six years ago when I hosted my first Friendsgiving and I've used it just about every holiday season since to roast turkey breasts, pork roasts and even a whole turkey. What I love most: its truly nonstick surface, making it a breeze to clean every single time. The curved rack is just right for a bed of veggies under your protein. It makes quite the picture-perfect meal, if you ask me!"

—Moriba Cummings, Commerce Writer

"As a baker, I always reach for my instant-read thermometer to test the doneness of my cakes, and on Thanksgiving, it's what we use to ensure the turkey is thoroughly cooked. It gives you a reading in seconds, and takes the guesswork out of preparing a bird that's perfectly juicy and safe to eat!"

—Britt Ross, Senior Deals Writer

"I'm not much of a host, but I do love being hosted. I typically find turkey to be pretty bland — especially the white meat and often only have a very small portion (to be polite). At one Friendsgiving the turkey was so flavorful I went back for so many servings I fell into a tryptophan coma. The host said it was all in the brine, and shared this as his favorite."

—Janelle Randazza, Commerce Editor

"Goal one when cooking a turkey: Keep it from getting dry. You don't need to break the bank on a turkey baster, especially when you'll only use it once a year. This one is angled, helping you curve around the top of the turkey and keep the entire bird dry. It's easy to take apart and clean, which I love."

—Kate Ellsworth, Commerce Editor

"I worried so much about cooking the turkey, I didn't think much about how to carve it once it was done. This Gordon Ramsay-approved board made the whole experience a lot less messy, because once you place your cooked bird on it and start slicing, the juices all collect in a handy, removable stainless steel tray. You can toss the juices or add them to your gravy — it's easy peasy either way. Before carving, though, you can also flip the board over and use it like a standard cutting board for veggies and anything else, and push any scraps into the tray."

—Ellie Conley, Trending Writer

"There's no time for regular knives when you're carving a turkey. I've had this electric knife since college and it's never let me down. I only use it once a year (Thanksgiving), but it's such an important tool for this holiday that I'm never giving up its place in my drawer. It makes slicing turkey so much easier, especially if you don't often roast poultry."

—Kate Ellsworth, Commerce Editor

"I don't like to cook, but I'm a great guest. I often bring a store bought pie, a bottle of wine and a fun game when I'm invited to Friendsgiving. Cards Against Humanity used to be my favorite, but it's a little R-rated. Since the Thanksgivings I tend to go to are multi-generational, I've transitioned to Kids Against Maturity. It's fun and engaging and pushes the envelope JUST enough that kids feel like they're getting away with something they shouldn't. It's really a blast and it gets everyone ages 8 to grandparents hanging out and laughing together. "

—Janelle Randazza, Commerce Editor