How Sous-Vide Immersion Circulators Can Keep You Sane This Thanksgiving

Sous vide is a waterbath cooking method that sounds fancier than it is.

It’s a stress-free way to cook some of your Thanksgiving dishes in a big, water-filled container set on the counter or somewhere out of the way while you focus on the rest of your meal’s components in the oven and on the stovetop. It frees up more room in your traditional cooking appliances. And your timing doesn’t have to be exact. But the even cooking is.

By sealing your food — especially meat, poultry, and seafood — in a plastic bag and submerging it in swirling water that’s kept to a precise temperature with a special device you clip onto the container, you don’t have to worry about over-cooking, under-cooking, or unevenly cooking your food because of fluctuating temperatures and time frames. The device’s pump system circulates water without relying on convection currents, creating a uniformly heated water bath, free of hot or cool spots. So once you program those controls, the device will circulate the water and hold it to within 0.1 degree of your desired temperature.

The result is steak (or any food) that’s evenly cooked from edge to edge, to the exact doneness you want. There’s no gray ring and pinkish-red middle. No dry chicken breast. Perfectly blanched asparagus. And no grilling/braising/frying/roasting skill necessary.

The sous vide cooking method yields repeatable results that are almost impossible to achieve by more traditional methods. And because foods won’t overcook while they hang out in the water bath, dinner is ready when you are.

Literally translated from French, “under vacuum,” sous vide isn’t defined by the vacuum sealing of the food before it’s put in water. You can put your food into a zip-top freezer bag if you want. The critical component  is the computer-controlled heater that warms a water bath to any low temperature you set, and it can keep it there for hours — or even days, if needed, says Modernist Cuisine.

When you pull the meat out of the bag, it’s juicy and pink throughout, with no dry edges. You’ll want to give it a simple sear afterward to get that traditional flavor on the outside, if needed. You won’t have to worry about dried-out turkey, tough brisket or lamb, or overcooked prime rib. Your proteins will turn out perfectly juicy, even if your guests arrive late or the football game goes into overtime.

Compare some of the major sous-vide cookers on the market today.

1. Sansaire Sous-Vide Immersion Circulator: Clip this to the side of any pot, set the temperature with the intuitive controls, see it on the LED screen and let the circulator do the work. Buy it here.

Sansaire

2. Anova Culinary Bluetooth Precision Cooker: One of the highest-rated, most popular brands. Control the cooking remotely with an app on your phone. Buy it here.

Anova

3. Sous Vide Supreme Water Oven: A high-end, self-contained cooker; no pot needed. Buy it here.

Sous Vide

4. Gourmia Digital Sous Vide Pod Immersion Circulator Precision Cooker: A low-cost, compact, clip-on version. Buy it here.

Gourmia

5. Hamilton Beach Professional Sous Vide & Slow Cooker: It’s a 6-quart, two-in-one device, at an affordable price. Buy it here.

Hamilton Beach

Try some of these Thanksgiving dishes using sous vide:

1. Sous Vide Turkey Breast

Peaches Please

Although you don’t have to brine your turkey to get it juicy with this kind of cooking, some orange juice, stock, and spices don’t hurt the flavor, that’s for sure. Get the recipe.

2. Sous Vide Brussels Sprouts

Best Sous Vide Recipes

Here’s a basic sprouts and butter recipe, but you can throw in some bacon, nuts, or cranberries if you want. Best to start with the basics sometimes. Get the recipe.

3. One-Hour Sous Vide Carrot and Sweet Potato Mash

Sous Vide Life

This two-in-one side dish is dead simple, Thanksgiving-perfect, and healthy too. Get the recipe.

4. Sous Vide Grand Marnier Cranberry Sauce

Anova

The orange-flavored cognac liqueur complements the tart, ruby-red fruit. Get the recipe.

5. Sous Vide Garlic & Herb Mashed Potatoes

Everyday Good Thinking

Save stovetop space and make your creamy, comfort food sous vide. Get the recipe.

Related video: What is Sous Vide?

— Head Photo: Sansaire.

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15 Best Apps for Hosting Friendsgiving

1. Venmo

Quickly and easily send and receive money directly from your bank account so nobody’s left shelling out big bucks for a family-style meal. If you don’t trust yourself to get back to your laptop, instantly send money from your phone and include some of those cute Thanksgiving emojis too.

2.Uber Eats

By far the best app for simplifying a big Friendsgiving if you don’t want to cook. You can even track your delivery in real-time as its on its way to your apartment.

3. MultiTimer

If you’re the kind of person who says you’re going to just use the clock on the oven to guide you as you cook the turkey, the cranberry sauce, and the pumpkin pie, you know something is going to go awry. Use this app instead which essentially gives you a visual countdown for multiple tasks and makes the plate spinning that is cooking a Thanksgiving meal much easier.

4 Pack Digital Kitchen Timer - $14.99

Because you can never have too many

Click to Buy ›

4. MealBoard

You can import recipes from a website, or add your own. This app also lets you create a shopping list based on the meal that you’re creating so it’s perfect for outsourcing items to friends and family.

5. Splitwise

This is a fantastic app for figuring out how to share bills between friends when a number of people have made a contribution to the meal and it’s easy to make sure that everyone gets paid back. It’s also useful for post-Thanksgiving if you’re trying to share household expenses with a roommate or partner.

6. Find My Friends

When your best friend says she’s on her way and will be there in fifteen minutes, this app is great for finding out if she’s actually just still sitting in her apartment in her pajamas and hasn’t even started getting ready yet. Find My Friends also lets you receive an alert based on location, so you can choose to get a notification when your pal gets off the subway and is almost to your apartment—time to pop the bubbly and start the party.

7. Heads Up!

Ellen DeGeneres’s much loved trivia game is a great activity for a group. Categories from animals to celebrities are available so that everyone will be able to chime in and it’s easy to play in teams as well.

8. Spotify

Friendsgiving isn’t complete without the right playlist. Ask friends to contribute songs to a shared playlist and then you can relive the evening after the fun is over by listening to the custom soundtrack that you’ve created together.

9. TouchNote

Turn your Friendsgiving photos into thank you cards with personalized messages that you can quickly print and mail out before holiday mania starts.

10. Houseparty

Some friends might live too far away to join. If so, use this app to start a group video chat—it lets you talk with up to eight people at the same time.

11. NFL

Ideal if you’re trying to watch the game but also are being asked to help with dinner in the kitchen.

12. Simple Habit

This meditation app is great if you need to just take a five minute break from meal prep. Listen to a short guided meditation that will leave you feeling rejuvenated and far less anxious about serving so many people.

13. Pinterest

There’s no better app for finding any entertaining inspiration—use Pinterest for creative ideas for serving food, cool crafts to make ahead of the event, and to marvel at the endless number of tablescapes that can be created using seasonal gourds.

14. How to Cook Everything

New York Times bestselling author and columnist Mark Bittman’s app has over 2000 recipes and lots of how-to illustrations that take the fear out of trying something new in the kitchen.

15. Couch to 5K

After you’ve spent the day hanging out on the couch and enjoying all those carbs, get motivated with the Couch to 5K official training app. You can be ready for a 3.1 mile race in nine weeks.  Plus, it only takes 30 minutes three times a week, so there’s no excuse not to give it a try.

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How to Throw an International Friendsgiving

Thanksgiving is all about spending time with loved ones and eating—lots and lots of eating—but you can probably only stomach so much traditional holiday fare. If you’re hosting Friendsgiving this year, a pre- or post-Thanksgiving meal with your social circle, consider switching things up by throwing an international-themed celebration. We asked top chefs to tell us how to take classic Thanksgiving ingredients or dishes and encase them in global flavors that you definitely won’t see on your official Thanksgiving table.

Turkey Two Ways

Even an international Friendsgiving needs a succulent roast turkey as the centerpiece, but there’s no rule that says that’s the only way you can eat the bird. “Asian-Americans tend to look forward to leftover turkey congee, a rice porridge, more than the turkey itself” says Danielle Chang, cookbook author and LUCKYRICE founder. A turkey carcass is traditionally used to infuse the rice and water mixture with a hearty dose of flavor, so if served as a pre-meal appetizer, pick up a separate small turkey to create this dish. Top it with chopped scallions, shaved fresh ginger, a swirl of soy sauce, and a squirt of sriracha if you like some heat.

Mediterranean Sides

Chowhound

Pomegranates are a staple of Mediterranean cuisine, and the tiny juice arils add the perfect pop of sweetness and tartness to any savory dish. “POM POMs stuffed squash are delicious and perfect for veggie lovers. They add an elegant touch to any dish,” says Tara Bench, food and entertaining expert and POM Wonderful culinary expert. Stuff the squash with a mixture of roasted veggies, quinoa, and pomegranates for an easy side, or roast off some halved brussels sprouts with olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, black pepper, and a pinch of sea salt, then toss in a handful of POM POMs right before serving.

Globalize Your Gravy

One of the easiest ways to impart international flavor is to add it to your gravy. “Add ground spices to the roux for your turkey gravy,” says Molly Siegler, associate coordinator of culinary development for Whole Foods Market. “Try Aji Amarillo for a Peruvian influence or a pinch of allspice as a nod to Jamaica.”

Peacock Gravy Boat - $38.50

Go global with this gravy boat homemade in Poland.

See it

Brine Your Turkey

Chowhound

Bathing your turkey in a brine pre-oven not only increases your chances of producing a perfectly moist bird, it’s also an opportunity to sneak in surprising flavors. “Make a brine with cinnamon and star anise, which brings some Vietnamese qualities. Or, add general Asian flavors like ginger, onion, and garlic,” says Pat Sheerin, executive chef of Ace Hotel Chicago.

Or, make a boozy brine. “For as long as I can remember, my mother has been brining her turkey in a simple Kosher salt and water mixture that has a few cups of tequila added,” says Glenda Galvan-Garcia, executive chef of Granville in California.

Focus on Your Stuffing

Another easy dish to internationalize—stuffing. If you’re serving an Asian-scented turkey, serve a veggie or Chinese sausage fried rice instead of traditional stuffing. For a Latin turkey, it’s all about the corn. “Corn is a staple of Mexican cuisine, so a chorizo cornbread stuffing is the perfect way to bring Mexican flavors to the table,” says Galvin-Garcia. “Besides the sausage and cornbread, try adding ingredients like poblano chile peppers or potatoes to the dish.”

Turn Your Sides into Tapas

If Thanksgiving tapas aren’t a thing, we just created it. Turn traditional Thanksgiving sides into international appetizers or small plates that everyone can share. Get creative: Try green bean casserole samosas, turkey and stuffing pan fried dumplings with cranberry dipping sauce, or roasted veggie or butternut squash quesadillas.

Try Your Hand at Pierogies

Chowhound

These pillowy doughy pockets of Central and Eastern European origin—often filled with a mixture of potatoes or potatoes and cheese—were made for Thanksgiving. “Try shredded turkey and potatoes in one, or stuffing and chopped green beans,” says Siegler. “You can make sweet varieties, too. Cranberry sauce and toasted pecans would be tasty, or mashed sweet potatoes with a dab of marshmallow fluff.”

Revamp Your Cranberry Sauce

Say goodbye to jiggly canned cranberry. Introduce the flavors of India by making a cranberry chutney flecked with mustard seeds, suggests Siegler. Or, make your own cranberry relish and fold in POM POMs for a bursting surprise in every bite.

Swap Out Your Turkey

If you’re feeling brave, consider ditching the Thanksgiving mascot for a less traditional protein. “Why spoil your appetite for turkey? Try a delicious roasted chicken or skirt steak with Chimichurri sauce,” says Olivia Mesquita, culinary expert for Wonderful Pistachios. “Not only are they delicious alternatives, but they also don’t take the whole day to prepare like a big turkey does.”

Related Video: How to Make a Thanksgiving Hand Pie

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9 Pot Pie Recipes to Add to Your Repertoire

Pot pie is one of the ultimate comfort foods and is surprisingly easy to make. You can assemble it ahead of time for a dinner party and it’s the perfect dish to feed a crowd—you can use anything from a pie plate to a 9-by-13-inch pan or an even larger casserole dish. Pot pies freeze and reheat well, and you can adapt the recipe to whatever you have in the pantry without a problem. Check out these nine recipes for pot pie and be sure to try one out this holiday season.
Header image of Chicken and Mushroom Pot Pies from Chowhound

1. Pizza Pot Pies

Pizza and pot pie? It’s not only possible, it’s completely fantastic. Shredded mozzarella, Italian sausage, and biscuit dough make these mini pizza parties a great choice for entertaining with little prep. They look as good as they taste and the pepperoni and oregano topping is an authentic touch.
Photo and recipe from Thrillist

6 Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven - $59.90

Try making pot pie in Dutch oven.

See it

2. Chicken Pot Pie

Creamed chicken makes a luscious base for this flaky, delicate, veggie-filled treat, which includes peas, celery, fresh herbs, and coarsely chopped potato chunks for added texture. Make a double batch of the filling and keep it in the freezer for a last-minute dinner solution.
Photo and recipe from Chowhound

3. Chicken Pot Pie Bites

These miniature pot pies are made by using a cookie cutter to create little pastry shells that are the perfect-size containers for flavorful fillings—you can use rotisserie chicken if you’re pressed for time. Make the pastry shells in advance, and you’ve got an impressive appetizer to wow your guests with.
Photo and recipe from Chowhound

4. Turkey Pot Pie

Chicken is no longer the only game in town when it comes to pot pie. If you haven’t gotten your fill of turkey after Thanksgiving, try this recipe for creamed turkey that melts in your mouth under a golden pastry dough topping. We recommend using pearl onions, but if you can’t find them you can also chop up a regular yellow onion and use that instead.
Photo and recipe from Chowhound

5. Fish Pie

Mashed Yukon Gold potatoes make a simultaneously fluffy and crunchy topping for this shepherd’s-pie-style take on the UK’s popular pub fare. A few minutes under the broiler after baking and you can really crisp up the potato layer. Minced chives add freshness to white fish fillets; you can substitute canned as you see fit and add additional herbs for color.
Photo and recipe from Chowhound.

6. Chicken and Mushroom Pot Pies

Poached chicken and cremini mushrooms are a tasty combination, especially when mingled inside a flaky pastry crust. You can substitute just about any kind of mushroom in this recipe, but whichever kind you choose, be sure to chop them on the smaller side so you can maximize the mushroom flavor in each bite.
Photo and recipe from Chowhound

7. Vegetable Pot Pies

Chowhound’s vegetable pot pies can be adapted seasonally—this wintry version has parsnips, sweet potatoes, onions, carrots, and fresh sage. You can use puff pastry from the freezer or make a savory pie crust yourself; whatever combination of vegetables and herbs you decide on will surely be delicious.
Photo and recipe from Chowhound.

8. Phyllo Pot Pie

The classic pot pie takes a low-calorie turn with a few sheets of phyllo dough instead of the traditional pastry topping. Extra-crunchy and arguably just as tasty as the original, this phyllo pot pie can easily be made as a vegetarian option (think spanakopita for inspiration) and it keeps well in the freezer.
Photo and recipe from Jolly Mom

9. Beef Short Rib and Ale Pie

This is the quintessential British pub order and it will be hard to believe you’re still in your own home after you taste how rich and authentic this beef-and-beer combo is. Choose a brown ale, such as Samuel Smith’s Nut Brown Ale, which will meld nicely with the boneless beef short ribs, or try a lager for a slightly different taste.
Photo and recipe from Chowhound.

Related Video: How to Make Chicken Chili Pot Pie

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15 Best Wines to Serve at Your Thanksgiving Table This Year

Honey Chipotle Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Spice up your holiday table with these Honey Chipotle Brussels Sprouts. They're roasted in the oven, then tossed with honey-chipotle sauce in the last few minutes of cooking for a spicy spin on a classic.

Continue reading "Honey Chipotle Roasted Brussels Sprouts" »

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Roasted Sweet Potato Soup

EASY roasted sweet potato soup! With shallots, cumin, thyme, and stock. Swirl in a little sour cream or yogurt and serve with some crusty bread. It's a light meal on its own, or serve it alongside roast chicken or a hearty salad!

Continue reading "Roasted Sweet Potato Soup" »

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Fun Friendsgiving Games, Icebreakers, and Group Activities

One of the best things about hosting Friendsgiving is that it can be whatever you want it to be—but it should definitely be fun. Ideally, the convivial atmosphere will develop naturally, but there are plenty of things you can do to help it along, besides just breaking out Cards Against Humanity again (not that there’s anything wrong with that!). Try these fun Friendsgiving games, icebreakers, and activities to get your party started, and keep it going as long as you like.

These are all just as fun to do with well-known, long-time friends as they are with newcomers, and great for bringing both besties and strangers closer together. Naturally, you can turn almost anything into a drinking game too if you’re so inclined (and unafraid to court disaster), but the goal is to make your gathering memorable in a good way, so use your best judgment and know your crowd.

Put Out Puzzles

Although they may seem terribly old-fashioned to some, jigsaw puzzles are a nice, low-key communal activity, and for those of us a little on the shy side, can be a good way to ease into the action. Bonus points if they’re on-theme (like this majestic turkey trio puzzle), but make sure you have a spare surface big enough to hold whatever size puzzle you select.

Try Trivia Games

Make it holiday-themed and award prizes (and possibly penalties) for right and wrong answers. If you’re coming up short on Thanksgiving-related questions or just don’t want to curate a list of your own, try this book. Or cue flashbacks of a different sort: break out 90s Trivial Pursuit and see who wins the fight to use the latte and Kurt Cobain game pieces before the real contest even begins. (But if trivia makes you sweat even worse than ingesting five pounds of turkey and mashed potatoes, pick from the full stable of other old standbys, from Scattergories and charades/celebrities to Pictionary and Taboo, even Thanksgiving themed Mad Libs.)

90s Trivial Pursuit ($40)

For those of us of a certain age.

See It

Make DIY Spinner Conversation Starters

In case conversations threaten to run dry (or fail to start in the first place), keep this DIY spinner game handy. You can come up with your own prompts if you prefer, and even make several different wheels so the fun doesn’t fizzle out too soon.

The Dating Divas

Another option is to conceal conversation-starters and fun questions on the backside of these metallic leaves that can be scattered among your other decor elements.

Homemade by Carmona

Play the “I’m Thankful For…” Guessing Game

This is way less awkward than having to take turns saying what you’re grateful for around the table, especially since you aren’t put on the spot. Set a big bowl, hat, or other container in an obvious area by the front door or in the main gathering space, along with strips of paper and pens, and ask everyone to write down what they’re thankful for—answers can be as heartfelt or as humorous as they want. Remind them a few times throughout the party, in case anyone’s still struggling to think of something, and when everyone’s contributed, pull out the proclamations and read them aloud so everyone can guess who gave thanks for what.

Call Friendsgiving Bingo

Print out these Thanksgiving bingo cards, or use them as inspiration for making your own versions, and provide everyone with a pen or stickers so they can check off milestones in a race to declare bingo!—and be sure to have a prize ready for the winner, of course.

Almost Makes Perfect

Provide a Photo Booth

Designate a photo area—even just a corner of your room if you’re short on space. If the backdrop’s wanting, tack up a sheet and some string lights, maybe some colorful leaves (real or faux), and place some props nearby. These can be virtually any pieces from past Halloween costumes, but try to work in at least a few holiday-specific items, like a turkey headband, inflatable turkey leg, or Pilgrim hat (but please skip the feather headdress, because that’s just asking to get called out). You can also buy a pack of ready-made paper props to hold up.

Amazon

But if you’ve got a group of “Friends” fans, it might be totally worth it to drop some dough on a raw turkey mask and giant novelty sunglasses for the ultimate photo op. (Little red fez optional, but highly recommended.)

Raw Turkey Mask ($40)

Cheaper and more hygienic than using the real thing.

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Novelty Sunglasses ($4)

Complete the look.

See It

Pummel a Pumpkin Pinata

If the thought of people taking swings at things with bats or sticks in your space doesn’t scare you, you can buy a turkey pinata, or make an equally seasonally-appropriate pumpkin pinata. Either way, fill it with whatever treats you like (from candy to mini liquor bottles if your crowd is a bunch of boozehounds), and let people have at it. It’s fun, tangibly rewarding, and a great way to work out any holiday aggression.

Jessica Begum/ehow

Exercise Your Creativity

Pass out these intricate turkey print-outs plus colored pencils and fine-tip markers for everyone to personalize their masterpiece. If you’re into the idea on a larger scale, you can even use a color-in tablecloth, or a sheet of plain butcher or craft paper for people to doodle on as they like (which will coordinate a little better with whatever tablescape ideas you’ve got going on); if you’re also into souvenirs, it makes a nice reminder of your get-together too.

Red Ted Art

Queue Up Classics on Netflix

From “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” to “Home for the Holidays”—not to mention old Thanksgiving episodes of “Friends” and “The Office”—there are lots of great holiday movies and shows you can stream, whether just in the background or as an integral activity pre- or post-feast.

Set Up Lawn Games

If you have outdoor space, and if the weather cooperates, set up giant Jenga, a mini-golf putting station with a cornucopia as the hole-in-one, butternut squash bowling, and that perennial favorite, cornhole—maybe played with actual ears of bicolor corn for the occasion (or mini pumpkins, which might be easier to toss through the target).

Martha Stewart

If you’re stuck indoors and have the room (and don’t have downstairs neighbors who will hate you for it), you can try some of these inside too—but if that’s not feasible, clearly, you’ll still have plenty to do!

Related Video: Get Sauced with These Thanksgiving Cocktails

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