My Dad's Holiday Roasts Are Flawless — Here Are the 7 Tools He Uses to Achieve Perfection

My dad makes a holiday roast for Christmas every year. So for as long as I can remember, the protein has been the centerpiece of our festive table — making it the most important (and highly anticipated) dish every season. Without fail, my father annually pulls off one of the most stressful tasks in the kitchen: cooking a filet mignon roast perfectly. 

Making a roast can be a daunting assignment for many home cooks out there. That’s why I turned to my dad to gauge his best tips, tricks, and comprehensive list of the kitchen tools he relies on, like a Wüsthof carving knife and an affordable meat thermometer, to make the process less overwhelming. Shop these seven kitchen tools at Amazon to carve up your juiciest holiday roast yet. 

Best Dad-Approved Kitchen Tools for Roasts

• All-Clad Specialty Stainless Steel Roaster, $100
• Escali AH1 Stainless Steel Meat Thermometer, $9, originally $15
• Wüsthof Classic 2-Piece Carving Set, $220
• Schvubenr Baster with Cleaning Brush, $13
• Reynolds Wrap Aluminum Foil Pack, $23
• Lipper International Acacia Thick Carving Board, $60
• Le Creuset Stoneware Oval Serving Platter, $75

All-Clad Specialty Stainless Steel Roaster 

To start, you’ll need a stainless steel roaster. My dad recommends All-Clad’s large stainless steel model with a nonstick insert for ease of cleaning and cooking for big groups. It has a nonstick interior and a removable roasting rack, which doubles as a baking dish, so it’s extra useful. The roaster is oven-safe up to 600°F and can accommodate a bird of up to 25 pounds, so a holiday roast will hold up nicely. 

Escali AH1 Stainless Steel Meat Thermometer

Do not skip out on purchasing a meat thermometer — it’s the key to your roast’s success. My dad goes for an old-school stainless steel meat thermometer that makes it simple to read while in the oven. “I like to take my roast out at approximately 160°F after about two hours of cooking in a 350°F oven,” he told me. (We’re a family that likes it more on the well-done side). In order to determine the temperature at which your roast should be taken out, you can refer to the Food Safety Administration’s food safety guidelines. 

Looking for a high-tech wireless meat thermometer to invest in? I particularly enjoy the Meater Plus thermometer, which allows you to see exactly how your roast is cooking directly on your phone. (It also happens to be loved by a former editor’s dad.)

Wüsthof Classic 2-Piece Carving Set

My dad has been using this Wüsthof carving knife since, well, forever. While it’s most certainly a splurge purchase, this 2-piece set comes with a stainless steel 8-inch hollow edge carving knife and a 6-inch carving fork. It resists dulling so the knife doesn’t have to be sharpened often and will give you a clean cut right out of the oven nearly every time. (My dad does stress that you should let the meat rest for 15 to 20 minutes before carving.) You can also use this carving set to trim the fat pre-cooking. 

Schvubenr Baster with Cleaning Brush

The secret to the perfect roast is locking in the moisture. You can do that by basting the protein two to three times with its own juices at the bottom of the pan throughout the cooking process. If you’d like to use my dad’s method for additional flavor, add 1 cup of beef broth to the roasting pan before cooking. The natural juices from the meat will fall into the beef broth — that’s what you’ll baste the roast with. This heat-resistant turkey baster will ensure the juiciest of roasts and is dishwasher-safe. 

Reynolds Wrap Aluminum Foil Pack

After seasoning, wrap the top of the meat in aluminum foil before placing it in the oven. This will lock in the moisture and prevent the head of the roast from burning. My dad uses the classic Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil for a tight seal. To season the meat, “I put on olive oil, minced onion, fresh minced garlic, pepper, and Kosher salt,” he said. “Then, I cover it with aluminum foil.” Just be sure to take the foil off when basting and place it back on when you're finished. 

Lipper International Acacia Thick Carving Board 

A wooden cutting board with ridges is a game-changer for large cuts of meat, especially a roast. The deep well on the sides will catch excess juices when cutting to serve (preventing a mess you’ll have to clean up later on). This thick rectangular carving board will need to be hand-washed with mild soap and cool water in order to last as long as possible, which is standard for wooden cutting boards. It’s incredibly durable and withstands heavy-duty slicing, elaborate charcuterie boards, and more. 

Le Creuset Stoneware Oval Serving Platter

How could you serve a tender roast you worked on so diligently without a beautiful platter? We love Le Creuset’s stoneware dishes, like this serving platter that would make a great holiday gift. Available in five colors, the stain- and scratch-resistant piece is dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup — a feature you’ll appreciate when all those dirty plates start piling up.