Must-Have Tools for Serving Thanksgiving Dinner

A generously sized serving platter is essential if you're serving a big turkey. Look for an oval-shaped platter, which is more aesthetically pleasing, and one that's around 20 inches gives you plenty of room not only for the turkey, but for any garnishes or roasted vegetables that you might want to arrange around it. This 20-inch oval platter from BIA Cordon Bleu is white and has a simple shape that goes with nearly any china pattern, plus it can be used all year-round, even for less formal occasions. It's made of porcelain and is microwave- and dishwasher-safe.

A gravy boat is a must for ladling rich gravy over turkey and mashed potatoes. A gravy boat that comes with a matching stand is helpful to keep drips from getting on the tablecloth; if yours doesn't have one, just use a saucer or a salad plate. The Deni Electric Gravy Warmer has a heat-retaining stainless steel base; plug it in to heat it up, then unplug it when you bring it to the table and the gravy will stay warm in its ceramic boat through dinner. After Thanksgiving, it can be used to keep other sauces and toppings warm, from maple syrup to hollandaise to hot fudge or caramel.

Use this portable induction cooktop as an extra cooking surface while preparing dinner (and for a meal as big as big as Thanksgiving, who couldn't use an extra burner or two?), and then set it on "low" in the dining room to keep the mashed potatoes or another dish warm. Simple, sleek and compact, the Fagor induction cooktop measures 14 by 12 inches and is about 2.5 inches high. Plus, because the surface never heats up it's a safe option if kids are around.

This elegant round chafing dish is 11 inches wide and holds about 3.25 quarts of food. It's made of stainless steel with an encapsulated base. A heat-resistant glass lid makes it easy to see what's inside, and the dish itself can be used on its own.

With an 8-inch carving knife and a 7-inch fork, this carving set will help you carve your turkey elegantly and effortlessly. It comes in a walnut wood case, which makes for a nice presentation to give as a gift or simply when you open it at the table. After Thanksgiving, you can use the set to carve other large pieces of meat, such as a ham or a roast.

If you bake your pumpkin or pecan pies in a beautiful dish, it makes for a prettier presentation at the dessert table. This 8-inch Emile Henry pie dish is made of Burgundy clay, which offers good heat retention for an evenly baked pie, and it's glazed in a rich brown . The ridged rim gives your pie crust a decorative fluted edge. Use the pie pan throughout the year for fresh fruit pies or even for quiches or pot pie.

Nothing tastes better on pumpkin pie than whipped cream, but it can be such a chore to head back into the kitchen after dinner to whip up a batch of cream in your stand mixer. The iSi Cream Whipper solves this dilemma - just add a pint of whipping cream, and the whipper dispenses perfect whipped cream in a professional-looking swirl, using Nitrous Oxide Chargers (replacements sold separately). The cream will keep in the whipper in the refrigerator for up to 10 days, and you can also add flavorings or food coloring to customize your whipped cream.