I count myself in the very group of people this gift guide is intended for, an avid home cook who has a lot of gear and very particular taste. And I’ve also spent the last few years talking to countless professionals and trying out dozens (and dozens) of the latest tools, appliances, and ingredients myself. Bottom line: I know a thing or two about how to shop for someone who spends most of their time in the kitchen.
Here, I’ve gathered 32 truly special gifts for every type of home cook, including actually useful single-use gadgets they probably wouldn’t splurge on themselves, particularly nice upgrades to pieces they might already own, small indulgences like a stellar bottle of olive oil, and bigger ones like a classic (non–Dutch oven) Le Creuset. The items are curated from past and recent stories, as well as handpicked from gifts I’ve both received and given myself, so you can find something for the expert host, the budding pastry chef, the salt fiend, and so many more (even if you don’t know your way around the kitchen at all).
For the home cook who hasn’t cleaned out their miscellaneous tool drawer in years
For the home cook who keeps a salt cellar of Maldon next to their salt cellar of Diamond Crystal
This 20-ounce bucket of everyone’s favorite flaky finishing salt barely needs explaining. It’s funny, it’s dramatic, and it’s endlessly (no, like really endlessly) useful.
For the home cook who already has the Maldon bucket
If they’re still making their way through the Maldon bucket you bought them last year, this finishing salt is an unexpected alternative that makes “everything taste better and fancier,” says Strategist contributor Hannah Howard. It’s dried over birch smoke, which means the granules themselves are crunchy and slightly chunkier than Maldon’s pyramidal flakes.
For the home cook who prefers salt in a shaker
A set of shakers on the table, separate from their cooking and finishing salt, is a must for salt fiends who like to add, add, add. I love how the neutral wood looks with such a playful squiggle pattern carved in.
For the home cook who uses herbs with abandon
They’ll think of you every time they snip some tarragon or basil from this indoor kit in the comfort of their own kitchen. It’s our top-recommended model, too, endorsed by multiple experts and tested by my colleague Erin Schwartz, who says the compact size still “produces a prodigious quantity of herbs.”
For the home cook who has an entire fridge shelf dedicated to condiments
Not only does this preserved lemon paste come in a giftable, pretty jar, but it’s an incredibly vibrant and versatile condiment. Chef and writer Lauren Joseph told us that she swirls it into yogurt, turns it into a refreshing drink, mixes it into cake, dollops it into salsa verde, and more.
For the home cook who cares about what’s on their fridge just as much as what’s in it
This tape with magnetic backing is a favorite tool of senior writer (and resident art-supply aficionada) Liza Corsillo, who loves the floating effect it gives paper, she says. We think it’d make a delightful stocking stuffer or part of a bigger gift so they can get rid of clunky, mismatched magnets and keep their fridge looking streamlined.
For the home cook who eats dinner at their coffee table every night
These merino-wool felt coasters (that we’ve recommended before) absorb water droplets so liquid doesn’t pool on your coffee table — a simple but genius concept. They’re also one of my own go-to gifts for that reason: I’ve bought monochrome sets for friends with minimalist style and rainbow hues for those with louder taste.
For the home cook who’s always breaking wineglasses
Stems are fancy, but tumblers have a certain sophistication in their own way — and these from Bormioli Rocco are durable but still thin enough to feel satisfying to sip from. The sizable-but-stackable set is easy to store in any kitchen, whether it belongs to a friend who’s constantly complaining about not having enough wineglasses or someone who just moved into a new apartment.
For the smoothie-obsessed home cook
The Zwilling Enfinigy is, in my opinion, the most attractive blender on the market. The personal-size one is perfect for individual smoothies (yes, those blades really work), as well as making smaller-batch sauces, emulsions, and salsas of all kinds.
For the home cook who needs new knives
A chef’s knife is an undeniably great gift but can be prohibitively expensive. Not so with this shockingly affordable blade that cookbook author and editor Matt Rodbard says feels high-quality for the price, with a fine blade that’s easy to sharpen at home and a lightweight handle that makes it feel good in the hand.
For the home cook who’s always on dessert duty
A serious baker is likely to have all the essentials, so it’s imperative you get them something extra-special they don’t already own, like one of Nordic Ware’s stunning decorative Bundt pans. They’re a favorite of chef Vallery Lomas, who loves them not only for their intricate designs but because they “are so well constructed and reliable,” she says.
For the home cook who’s never been able to splurge on a Dutch oven
Le Creuset Dutch ovens are beloved by many pro cooks (and if you can swing it, you could get them one) — but the brand’s skillets are just as pretty and hardworking. This isn’t a cheap piece, but it’s still markedly less expensive than that infamous bigger pot, and you’ll still go down in their book as being a remarkably thoughtful gift giver.
For the home cook who is still using their plastic Ikea cutting board
John Boos makes the most revered wood cutting boards on the market. (I’ve had mine for nearly a decade and it still looks great.)
For the home cook who spends the winter project-cooking
If they’re the kind of person who happily spends hours tending to a Sunday sauce or making bone broth to keep in quart containers in the freezer, this expert-endorsed fermentation vessel will be right at home in their kitchen. Chefs Dave Park of Jeong in Chicago and Kevin Fink of Austin’s Emmer & Rye both told us it’s the most useful one they’ve ever used, with an insert that creates a seriously tight vacuum.
For the home cook who relies on ground spices
Any professional will tell you that grinding whole spices fresh is one of the simplest ways to improve your cooking — and it doesn’t get any simpler than with the battery-operated FinaMill, which lets you swap in and out a rotating cast of pods and seeds and pulverizes them at the press of a button.
For the home cook who takes care of their cast iron
I never knew how handy a cast-iron press would be until I got one about a year ago — I pull mine out for grilling sandwiches, searing meat, smashing potatoes, and more.
For the home cook living a Food Network fantasy
Hedley & Bennett aprons are worn in professional and test kitchens — and on the Food Network. They’re an industry standard because they’re sturdy and provide good coverage but still comfortable and stylish enough to wear at home.
For the home cook whose comfort show is Chef’s Table
I first learned about the Kunz — a spoon that many professional chefs keep with them on the line — when I worked at Bon Appétit. It’s a nondescript but mighty tool that’s the perfect size and weight for sampling dishes, basting sauces, transferring foods, and drizzling dressings.
For the home cook who doesn’t have a dishwasher
Is a dish rack kind of a weird gift to give someone? In a sense, sure — but it’s also one of the best presents I have ever received, superior to every version I owned previously and something I am truly thankful for each time I use it (which is every day). It holds a lot and is sturdy, smartly spaced out, durable, and remarkably pretty to look at.
For the home cook who’s a clean freak
If anyone I know is reading this, this dustpan and brush set is on my own wish list — the perfect marriage of style (I mean, look at how cute) and function (no crumb left behind).
For the home cook who Jackson Pollocks all over their countertops
Dishcloths might not seem like the sexiest gift, but if history has taught us anything, it’s that everyone loves these reusable paper-towel alternatives; they’re a product we’ve recommended time and time again that Strategist readers buy in droves. Plus, you can choose from dozens of different patterns (including some holiday-themed ones), which will make it feel thoughtful and tailored to your recipient’s taste.
For the home cook who takes pride in their popcorn-seasoning technique
W&P — the brand behind our favorite ice-cube trays — makes this fun and handy microwavable popcorn bowl where the lid doubles as a measuring device.
For the home cook who needs help with their popcorn-seasoning technique
I gave this jar to a friend last year and received so many exclamation points in their text response (and a subsequent report that it tastes amazing, like real cheddar cheese) that I knew it would become a regular in my gifting rotation. They’ll love it if their usual too-tired-to-actually-cook dinner is boxed mac and cheese or … popcorn.
For the home cook who’s obsessed with their Weber
Grill tools can often be cheap (a.k.a. flimsy) and overly designed (a.k.a. have too many unnecessary integrated functions). But these tongs from Strategist-approved Japanese brand Snow Peak are simple, sturdy, have a good grip, and — important for gift-giving purposes — look really good.
For the home cook whose kitchen is a little bleh
Regular cooks know you can never have too many kitchen towels — but while the everyday bulk ones are practical, they’re also boring. These, in Marimekko’s bold black-and-white Unikko pattern, will make a bold statement hanging on the oven door.
For the home cook who keeps accidentally slicing their fingers
If they’ve always been scared to use a mandoline, it’s time to change that with this chef-approved Japanese model that is sharp as can be (which actually means they’ll be less likely to injure themselves). Plus, they can replace the straight blade as needed, and it comes with a plastic safety covering to avoid slipping.
For the home cook who loves to host
These twisty, brightly colored candles (from a dream design collab) will make any table setting more fun. For extra credit: Gift them alongside a set of holders.
For the home cook who starts every morning with a cup of tea
A true aficionado will pause to admire the color of their tea, which is why this transparent glass teapot, recommended by tea consultant Sara Shacket, would make a thoughtful gift.
For the home cook who’s mastered a perfect steak
For the home cook loves a one-dish meal
If they’ve been relying on glass baking dishes (which are utilitarian but not exactly beautiful), upgrade their equipment with this handsome model from Made In. It’s clean and classic-looking so it will match any table — and baker Nicole Rucker says hard porcelain conducts very even heat, too.
For the home cook who has everything (but limited space)
When in doubt, fancy olive oil is a gift that never misses. This bottle, which one olive-oil sommelier describes as having a “distinctive fruitiness,” is the very best I’ve ever tried, full-bodied and luxurious.
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