All Of The Thanksgiving Ingredients You Should Be Buying

Before you start cooking this year, you have to make sure that you have all the Thanksgiving ingredients you need. Not having the right ingredients can make or break your dinner. Depending on what you and your family members eat, your Thanksgiving food list can vary. Take a look at some of the most common ingredients you’ll need to have a perfect Thanksgiving dinner.

1. Turkey

What’s a Thanksgiving dinner without a turkey? It’s what makes a dinner so classic, so we had to make sure it was number one on the list of Thanksgiving ingredients you should get his holiday season. Don’t waste any time buying your turkey, either. Those suckers sell out quickly, and when there are only a few left, things will get real.

2. Chicken broth

You need a good chicken broth to make dishes like soup, gravy, or sauce. Because it’s so savory, you could also eat chicken broth by itself. It’s simply one Thanksgiving ingredient that you can’t live without! It’s likely that you might already have a can or box sitting somewhere in your pantry since they can last up to two years if unopened. It still wouldn’t hurt to buy some more to have for next time.

3. All-purpose flour

If you’re going to be baking a lot of goods this Thanksgiving, you’ll want to stock up on some all-purpose flour. Although it’s mostly used for baking, you could also use it to thicken gravy or sauces. All-purpose flour is a significant Thanksgiving ingredient because you wouldn’t have any of the good stuff like rolls, cookies, cakes, or pasta at your dinner without it. As a result, quite a bit of your guests won’t be pleased!

4. Baking powder

Another essential Thanksgiving ingredient that should be on your shopping list is baking powder. If you’re doing a lot of baking this year, you’ll need it to increase the volume and lighten the texture of your pastries. The best part about having baking powder handy is that you can also use it for cleaning, which will come in handy after Thanksgiving dinner is over! Use whatever’s left of your baking powder to get your kitchen looking tidy again.

5. Baking soda

You’ll want to use baking soda in baked goods that you want to rise since it has leavening properties. Baking soda can be used in foods such as cakes, muffins, and cookies. Baking soda also has other benefits. Similarly to baking powder, you can use baking soda to clean, and you can also use it to neutralize any odors from the fridge, garbage can, cutting board, or dishrag.

6. Shortening

Another handy Thanksgiving ingredient used for baking is shortening. This works well for baked goods that you want to be crumbly and keep its shape better than stretchy dough. So, if you’re making any crumbles or crisps to serve after your Thanksgiving meal, don’t forget to purchase some shortening.

7. Black pepper

People use black pepper as a seasoning for a variety of foods, from salads and soups to meats and fish. It’s a popular seasoning because it gives your favorite dish an excellent taste. In fact, black pepper is one of the most flavorful peppers you can find. You and your guests will be satisfied with the food if you season it with this essential Thanksgiving ingredient.

8. Canned pumpkin

It’s not Thanksgiving without some pumpkin-flavored desserts and dishes. Canned pumpkin will come in handy when you want to make your signature pumpkin pie, soup, or souffle. It can also last several years as long as it hasn’t been opened. Make sure canned pumpkin is high on your Thanksgiving ingredient list this year!

9. Vegetable oil

Vegetable oil is a commonly used oil because its high smoke point makes it ideal for frying. You can use vegetable oil for cooking, adding flavor to food, and assisting with texture. You likely already have this item in your pantry, but you can never have too much of it since you can use it for so many things.

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10. Vanilla extract

Vanilla extract will give your desserts some more flavor. However, you can also use it for your grilling and barbecuing, savory sauces, and cocktails if you want to make some. Most people love vanilla, so you’ll want to have this Thanksgiving ingredient handy for all your vanilla desserts and other dishes. There’s so much you could do with it!

11. Concentrated milk

You will want to use concentrated milk in dishes that require a creamy texture with no added sweetness. It can also be substituted in equal amounts for cream or half-in-half in most recipes. Condensed and evaporated milk are both forms of concentrated milk, but each can have a completely different impact on your recipe. Condensed milk is sweetened while evaporated milk is unsweetened, so make sure you know which kind to get for your recipe!

12. Ready-made pie crust

The holiday season is already a busy time, and you’re likely already making a ton of food. Save some time in the kitchen by getting ready-made pie crust as a Thanksgiving ingredient. Yes, we know that homemade pie crust tastes terrific, but there are times when you simply can’t (or don’t feel like) investing the time to make them yourself. Ready-made pie crusts will come in handy if you make your pies in advance or if you have several of them to make.

13. Apple cider

More than likely, you have some relatives that don’t drink for their own reasons. As a result, you should have some apple cider handy so that they can toast with it. It’s also a pretty common non-alcoholic beverage served during the holidays, so you’ll be seeing a lot of it at the grocery store. You could even use apple cider for cooking since it doesn’t have any added sweetness and preservatives. It would be perfect to use for any sauces you make.

These are some of the Thanksgiving ingredients you’ll want to have in stock for an unforgettable holiday meal. Of course, there are also substitutes you can use depending on your diet. Are there any other ingredients that you would add to this list? Comment below!