Hosting your first Christmas? Here’s what you’ll need

You’re hosting your first Christmas and thinking: “I’ve got this… sort of.” It may all seem pretty straight forward at first, maybe even formulaic: turkey + gravy + stuffing = happy guests.

But then the day comes and your turkey doesn’t fit in your roasting pan and you realise you never bought a vegetable peeler.

The best way to avoid a Christmas dinner blunder? Have your kitchen stocked with all the right tools and don’t make a fuss if something doesn’t turn out perfectly.

Here’s our list of kitchen items that are ‘must-haves’ and ‘good-to-haves’ for the big feast.

Must-haves 

• Meat thermometer so your turkey, ham or other roast comes out succulent and moist

• A good (sharp) knife for precise carving
• Vegetable peelers (more than one – so you can put people to work!) 
• Cutting/carving board
• Gravy boat because gravy always tastes better (and looks classier) when it comes from a boat

• Microplane grater for zesting oranges, lemons and grating whole nutmeg
• Christmassy spices: sage, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves
• Roasting pan big enough to accommodate a turkey or other roast
• Kitchen twine for trussing your turkey
• Plenty of containers for leftovers 
• Sugar thermometer so you can make these marshmallow snowballs

• Ice bucket
• Ice for whiskey… what else?

Good-to-haves 

• Small canapé forks/spoons are best for letting everyone dig into starters
• Fat separator because it’s easier than skimming with a spoon 
• Punch bowl to get the drinks flowing!
• Turkey baster to keep the bird succulent
• Bundt pan to make this bad boy

• Baking dishes that can be brought to the table so you don’t double-dirty the dishes

Did we miss something? Let us know in the comments below.