Instacart reveals shoppers’ surprising Thanksgiving shopping trend

Even though the food feast might be circled on the calendar, Thanksgiving shopping is not always the most popular to-do list task. According to a recent Instacart survey, hosts might be procrastinating a little too much. Luckily, that shopping delivery service is ready to come to the rescue.

From the forgotten gallon of milk to lacking the energy to do the weekly grocery run, Instacart has become many people’s shopping savior. During the holidays, that ability to click and have food, household staples, and a variety of other items dropped at the door is the ultimate present. From saving time to reducing stress, that service has become a favorite in many households.

According to a recent Instacart survey, the brand found that 85% of people will celebrate Thanksgiving in 2023. Whether that food event is big or small does not matter. People are wanting to gather around the table.

On the other hand, the findings shared that 38% of people will wait to the last minute to shop. Whether it is busy schedules, not enough room in the fridge, or a variety of other reasons, that ramp up to turkey day is focused on shopping for all the food.

Unfortunately, that time crunch creates more stress. From remembering all the ingredients for that signature pumpkin pie to planning for enough mashed potatoes to feed the always hungry teenagers, the reality is that things can be forgotten, misjudged, or overlooked.

While the turkey talk helplines have rescued cooks staring at the oven, Ask Instacart can help before the cooking begins. From planning for the right amount of food to how to make green beans fancy, every question has an answer. It is a modern version of phone a friend.

What are the most requested Thanksgiving shopping items leading up to the big feast?

Although weekly shopping might focus on the staples, like milk, bread, and eggs, Thanksgiving shopping features food that might be enjoyed only during the holiday season. From baking to side dishes, there are plenty of specialty foods that fill the list.

According to Instacart, the last-minute Thanksgiving shopping peak items include the following:

• Whipped cream
• Pumpkin pie
• Elbow pasta
• Pie crusts
• Evaporated milk
• Frozen pies
• Vanilla extract
• Apple pie
• Canned pineapple
• Condensed milk

While other non-food items, like aluminum foil, food storage containers, and disposable serveware spike, too, the food list seems to focus on desserts. Whether people are baking or buying, the spike in sweet items is clear. For anyone who wants a particular pie, it might be best to plan ahead.

Then again, this list could represent a scenario where that baking went array. Whether the novice baker experienced a soggy bottom or the pie filling overflowed into the oven, the reality is that sometimes a shopping service like Instacart needs to come to the rescue.

For those celebrating the holiday, Thanksgiving shopping cannot be avoided. Luckily, with Instacart’s help, a little bit of shopping stress can be reduced.