Christmas dinner checklist: Everything you need for Christmas lunch

If you want your turkey to be extra juicy, a turkey baster will stop your bird from drying out. It takes a little extra work but it'll be worth it when the compliments come rolling in. This OXO baster is angled to pick up those hard-to-reach basting juices with easy-to-read measurements too.

One reviewer said: “As described, it comes with a long thin brush which helps when cleaning. The baster also has a little bridge halfway down which means you can prop it up from the kitchen surface when in use, great little feature.”

Everyone likes their potatoes done differently for Christmas lunch, so we're sure there'll be someone who wants theirs mashed. If not, a potato masher will come in really handy for mashing swede, sweet potato, or stuffing.

A reviewer said: “A good looking potato masher that has proved its worth when used for the first time. It fits very well in the hand and it has an eyelet for hanging. I think the side perforated plate holders would have been better deburred and the whole part could have been a bit heavier in terms of weight, but it's completely okay for the price!"

We'd definitely recommend a mixer for preparing your Christmas desserts and sweet treats. This non-stick Kenwood kMix stand mixer is reliable and easy to clean, and we love the retro design. Available in a wide range of colours, it makes a wonderful present for someone too.

A reviewer put: “I love my new K-mix and wanted one for a while; it was a gift for my 60th birthday. The only thing I find difficult is the release lever at the back is a bit stiff and difficult to use, but that could be my hands as I have arthritis. I would highly recommend.”

What's Christmas without mince pies? You can use a cupcake tin to make the goods, and use it to form your homemade Yorkshire puddings too - another must-have for the Christmas plate. It has 12 slots to hold whatever delicious goods you're making.

Pros: Reasonable price and good quality
Cons: None

Review: “I love this tray, I bake cupcakes and jam tarts in this. Definitely, a handy item to have in your cupboard around Christmas time too, once or twice I've used these to make stuffing balls and Yorkshire puddings.”

Make sure you have a corkscrew to hand to open the wine, and with an integrated bottle opener, you can use the John Lewis & Partners Winged Corkscrew Deluxe to open the Christmas beers too. Don't forget one for Santa!

One happy reviewer wrote: “I'm delighted with this corkscrew. Strong, solid and easy to use. Having tried others which were flimsy and not fit for purpose, I can always count on the best from John Lewis.”

This rolling pin has a 25cm rolling surface and is made from silicone and wood. It has a super comfortable grip, making it a great buy for any baking enthusiast. However, it’s not suitable for the dishwasher. Wash by hand and you will have this rolling pin rolling perfect pastry for a long time.

A reviewer put: “Easy to use, easy to clean. What more could one ask for? Perfect.”

This multi-tasking hand blender will help make meal prep a whizz. Sauces, meringues, homemade ice cream, stuffing, nuts, and onions, can be chopped, whisked, and pureed with just the press of a button.

Review: “The hand blender is especially useful for soups - no more messy transfers from the saucepan to the food processor! The other attachments are a bonus too.”

Those veggies won't roast themselves. You'll need a trusty oven tray like this Prestige Inspire Baking Tray that's non-stick, easy-cleaning, and a good size. Plus, this tray comes with a CushionSmart interior to enable air to flow around your food for better browning. Yes, please!

One review said: “Lovely and very easy to use and clean tray. Pleased with it.”

Check the temperature of your Christmas centrepiece (and sauces) with a digital thermometer to help you ensure you cook your food with precision. With quick and easy readings, you'll be able to perfectly cook your meat.

Review: “Does exactly what it should. Reads quickly and accurately. Simple to clean. Perfect for BBQs but also good for checking the core temperature of large oven-cooked joints.”

Ideal for roasting meat and potatoes, you should have a roasting tin to hand to cook that turkey, lamb, or beef for the whole family. This non-stick roasting tin from Lakeland has a contoured base for even cooking and we love the pouring lip so you can reuse the juices in sauces or pour away excess fat.

Review: “This tin is big enough for the joint when all the family visit and the pouring lip is a great idea, helping with cleaning. Dishwasher-friendly too, and the quality you'd expect from Lakeland.”

Get the most out of your roast with a carving knife and fork which will help you slice through your meat with ease to share around the Christmas table. This set comes with a 10-year guarantee and has plenty of glowing reviews.

A reviewer said: “This makes an excellent carving knife and handles well. Easy to use, it’s nice and comfortable.”

We always wear our best for Christmas Day, so the last thing you need is to be splashing sauce or getting flour on your finest clothes. This beautiful Lakeland apron decorated with Christmas trees will have you looking like the hostess with the most-est.

Pros: Adjustable neck straps and waist ties
Cons: None

Guaranteed you already have the pots and pans you need to boil vegetables and make your gravy and bread sauce. But, if you're in need of a new set then this 5-piece from Tower is complete with saucepans with lids and frying pans, and all come made with a quality non-stick Cerastone coating.

Review: “They're smart looking and great to use. They are easy to clean but have found that over time stuff is starting to get more difficult to clean off. I still use them daily though and I'm happy enough with them.”

Christmas lunch is not the time for guesswork when eager mouths are waiting. A measuring jug like this classic Pyrex jug is ideal for measuring stuffing, sauces, gravy, batter and pastry mixes, and more.

Review: “Easy to read scale. Goes through the dishwasher ok. Sturdy like thing, despite arriving rattling around in a cardboard box without so much as a piece of bubble wrap, it arrived intact. The only issue, as others have said, is the product sticker is resolutely stuck fast, despite soaking in hot soapy water.”

You can't start your Christmas lunch until a cracker is pulled. And no matter how cringe the jokes are, we can't deny they always give us a little laugh. These 100 per cent plastic-free crackers are full of festive decadence, each with a gold fabric ribbon tie, a gift, a hat, a joke, and a game task to complete.

Pros: Good size pack, FSC certified
Cons: None

Review: “Look beautiful and elegant really worth the money and I’m so glad they came in packs of eight. Great price, too.”

If you want to add some pizzazz to your Christmas table, add Christmas decorations or a centrepiece. This gorgeous centrepiece has a collection of tea light holders nested among bushels of foraged pinecones and is perfect for a 'Winter Wonderland' themed showstopper.

Review: “Loved it. Looked exactly like the picture.”

Make every guest feel welcome this Christmas with their own Personalised Christmas Tree Place Setting. These cute little place settings will add some festive cheer, adorned with a pine tree and fake snow.

Review: “Really sweet, excellent quality item. Beautifully finished, speedy delivery and well packaged. Need to use a sticky pad to assemble them, which is a great idea as they do not then get damaged in transit. Thank you.”

A tablecloth is an easy way to add some festive spirit to your table and protect it from stains and spills. We love this Nordic Star Christmas printed tablecloth which is festive, celebratory, and available in red and gold, white and gold, and eucalyptus and pink gold.

Review: “This is the second of these tablecloths that I’ve bought. Simple design, beautiful depth of colour. Stain-resistant material is an absolute bonus.”

Everyday crockery can be used for Christmas lunch, but we think it's fun to have decorated pieces to mark the occasion. This 12-piece porcelain dinner set has a subtle Holly design and is dishwasher safe, making it perfect for your household.

Review: “This is the second of these tablecloths that I’ve bought. Simple design, beautiful depth of colour. Stain-resistant material is an absolute bonus.”

Cloth napkins make a nice change from standard tissue napkins and will make Christmas lunch, and your guests, feel even more special. Plus, it's more eco-friendly to use reusable napkins which we're all about. This set of four polycotton napkins is covered in festive holly and berries.

A good Christmas wine needs decent glasses to serve it in, and we think these gold rim glasses add a touch of elegance and refinery. Perfect for the special occasion, make sure you have enough for all the wine-drinking adults.

Review: “Bought these for Christmas and they looked elegant and festive on my dinner table. The simple gold rim makes them perfect for any party occasion. The main bonus for me is that they are also dishwasher safe which most glasses with gold adornment aren’t.”

If you want your guests to pour their gravy with the least amount of spillage or resistance, a gravy boat is a must. Designed with a classic gold band, this stylish gravy boat will look stunning on your table at Christmas and all year round.

Review: “Lovely Gravy boat. Nice and big. Looks classic and is sturdy.”

If you're a fan of a savoury dessert, we'd recommend cheese and crackers as a scrumptious follow-up to the main course. You can't go wrong with Brie or Camembert. This chopping board with a lovely Christmas engraving will make for a great cheese board or a gift for fellow cheese lovers.

Pros: Handmade in the UK
Cons: None

Help your guests serve up their veg with a decent-sized serving spoon that they'll appreciate way more than a standard dessert spoon. This Robert Welch Radford Serving Spoon will do just the job and be a timeless piece of cutlery you can use all year round.

Review: “Practical, stylish and good old-fashioned high-quality product. A sound investment and gives you use every day.”

Everyone loves to nibble on the likes of nuts, dates, and crisps while waiting for Christmas lunch to be ready, so a large serving platter will help keep your snacks in place and will be easy to top up when necessary. This ceramic Christmas tree serving platter is the perfect addition to your festive crockery with pretty star indentations.

Review: “Practical, stylish and good old-fashioned high-quality product. A sound investment and gives you use every day.”