Storing Your Thanksgiving Dishes This Way Is a Big Mistake—Here's How to Keep Food Fresh for Longer

Thanksgiving is about many things, but one of the most undoubtedly exciting parts is the food spread we look forward to eating. Every family does it a little differently, but classic dishes are often apparent, such as cornbread dressing, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, other sides, pies, and, of course, the Thanksgiving turkey. It’s an overwhelming amount of work for one family or person to do in a day, which makes prep work so essential. 

There are a lot of things you can do in advance, but the question is: How do you even store everything? We gathered some of the best kitchen storage container options for all of your prep; that way, you can sleep a little bit easier this Thanksgiving. 

The Turkey

Tramontina 16-Quart Stainless Steel Stockpot 

The turkey requires some serious consideration, even if you’re only defrosting it. Not only does it take up a lot of space in the refrigerator, but it can also emit a lot of moisture, proving to be a bit of a hazard next to other ingredients or dishes. It goes without saying that all raw meat should be stored at the bottom of your refrigerator, but one tip we recommend is to use a big stockpot. This option from Tramontina is one of our favorite stainless steel cookware picks on the market and will prove to be useful even after Thanksgiving. You can use it to make a homemade stock with the turkey bones. Pop your turkey inside the stockpot to defrost it, or pop the turkey inside to brine it. It keeps the turkey and its juices contained, has a convenient lid, and takes advantage of some vertical space. This 16-quart option should do the trick for small- to mid-sized birds, though you’ll likely need a 20-quart or higher option for larger turkeys. 

Pro Tip: If you’re dry-brining your turkey, we recommend a Nordic Ware rimmed baking sheet (my favorite one) to ensure all inevitable moisture is contained. 

Cranberry Sauce 

OXO 12-Piece Smart Seal Glass Container Set

When it comes to cranberry sauce, you can leave the can as is and crack it open the day of if that’s what you’re serving. However, any opened cans or batches of homemade sauce will do best in an airtight glass container. This is especially true for from-scratch cranberry sauce because it can stain your plastic containers. We love these OXO Smart Seal containers because they’re durable (after a year of testing, they still look as good as new), are versatile in size, have strong locking tabs, and can go into the dishwasher, microwave, oven, and freezer. They’re perfectly airtight to keep your precious sauce fresher for longer, which is crucial depending on how far in advance you want to prep it. You don’t need six containers for the sauce, but they’ll also come in handy for so many other things, from storing pre-chopped vegetables to packing and storing leftovers.  

Dressing 

Pyrex Deep 9 by 13-Inch Glass Baking Dish with Lid

I find that make-ahead stuffing is my favorite way to whip up this coveted side. The flavors marry overnight, and finishing the baking process just before eating ensures a crisp, golden-brown top without taking up heaps of time or oven space. This deep Pyrex dish is a great way to prepare and store it. The extra space allows you ample room for piling in the stuffing mixture. I prefer a deeper dish because I can achieve a few different textures, from a soft interior to a crisp top. This comes with a nifty lid to ensure your stuffing stays covered and protected in the refrigerator. Just be sure to bring it to room temperature before putting it in the oven. Another perk? The lid is also easy to transport to a friend or family member’s house. 

Green Bean Casserole and Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes 

Pyrex Basics 3-Pack Glass Baking Dish Set

You could also use the above deep dish for these sides, though I love the practicality of this three-piece set. It comes with a 2-quart dish, which is perfect for vegetable sides or smaller dishes like appetizers. The 3- and 4-quart dishes are more standard-sized large containers and are great for those popular additions like green bean casserole, make-ahead mashed potatoes, and mac and cheese. Many of these can be made and stored in these containers thanks to their nifty lids, which keep them fresh in your refrigerator. Again, since they’re glass, you just want to ensure they’re at room temperature before baking. 

Uncooked Sweet Potatoes, Yukon Gold Potatoes, or Russet Potatoes 

Aozita 2-Piece Stackable Wire Basket Set with Bamboo Tops

If you’re like me and like to buy potatoes in bulk, you probably have a few bags on hand for mashed potatoes, candied sweet potatoes, and other side dishes. The best way to store these is in a dedicated basket, as it provides the airflow potatoes need to prevent them from spoiling. You’ll also want to store potatoes alone since other produce can emit gasses that encourage spoilage. These baskets are great—you can just pop them in your pantry (spuds also like a cool, dry, dark place), and the potatoes are easy to grab. Use one for sweet potatoes, Yukon potatoes, russet potatoes, and more, then use the other for separate produce. It comes with a set of two, so you can stack them for streamlined storage. There’s also an option to just buy one basket if that’s all you need. 

Vegetables and Other Sides  

Belwares Mixing Bowl with Airtight Lids and Graters Set

I love to get a head start on prep, so if there are ingredients I can chop, salads I can prep, dips I can mix, cheese I can shred, nuts I can toast, baking recipes I can pre-measure (you get the idea), I will. Having a set of bowls is so helpful, and this set is popular for a reason. It comes with five nesting bowls of all different sizes, ranging from 1.5 to 5 quarts. The stainless steel bowls each come with helpful lids, which are great for prepping items and storing them in the fridge or on your counter. The largest bowl’s lid has a removable center where you can insert any of the three included accessories: a slicing blade, a shredding blade, and a grating blade. So there’s no need to search far and wide for a container while you’re busy—just use one of these bowls to prep and store all those vegetables and sides. 

Room Temperature-Safe Pies 

Libbey Selene Glass Cake Stand with Dome Lid

Thanksgiving pies are a way of life for many folks. But not all pies are made equal. Some pies are safe to store at room temperature so that they’re at their best for your holiday spread. This only applies to homemade fruit pies that do not contain eggs or dairy or if you buy a pie, and the recommended storage is to store them at room temperature. While you could wrap your homemade pie in plastic wrap, a cake stand like this makes it display-worthy the entire time it’s out thanks to its domed-glass design. It reminds me of a classic diner, where everything is displayed on the counter. We also found this compact stand with a similar style or this classic aluminum pan with a domed lid. 

Refrigerated Pies 

Zilpoo 2-Piece Plastic Round Food Storage Container Set with Lids

Any pie containing eggs or dairy will need to be refrigerated. That means your pumpkin pies, pecan pies, sweet potato pies, and cream pies all need to be chilled. I always keep it airtight; that way no lingering smells from my refrigerator find their way into the dessert, especially if whipped cream is involved. This BPA-free plastic container set is a great option for storage because it is designed like a container with a very compact profile. It’s 10.5 inches wide and 3 inches tall, and the lid fits flush. They’re safe for the freezer, the microwave, and the dishwasher. With two on hand, you can use them for multiple pies, other desserts, and more.