Trying to find a gift for a friend or family member who loves to cook but not sure where to look? Let me help you get started with some ideas of my favorite kitchen items that I’ve actually tested and used throughout the years. I am very fortunate to have been able to play with some fancy kitchen toys but don’t worry, this list starts off with pricier items and ramps down to very affordable gift ideas too.
I tried to avoid gimmicky gifts that might only be used once, and chose ones that I truly enjoy using myself. If you have some other gift ideas you don’t see on this list, leave a comment and let me know what some of your favorite kitchen or cooking gifts are!
Splurge ($500+)
1. Vitamix – Ascent Blender
The Vitamix Ascent blenders may be one of the most powerful household blenders you can buy (even strong enough to blend up fibrous pandan leaves for making pandan waffles). The Vitamix brand is known for its power and durability, and the Ascent series is no different. It’s powerful enough to easily turn ice into powdery snow and even has the ability to make hot, steamy soup.
The Vitamix – Ascent 3500 has pre-programmed settings for things like soup, smoothies, dips, frozen desserts, and cleaning. I’ve been using a Vitamix Ascent 2500, a version that comes with a manual knob that I prefer but still has the same amount of power as its touch-screen-friendly cousin. The Ascent series blenders range from $500-$700. They’re pricey, but you can rely on their durability to last through the years, and they also have a 10-year warranty.
2. Anova – PRECISION™ OVEN
If you’re an avid baker or just love tech, then the Anova – PRECISION™ OVEN is a nice indulgence (see my full review here). The Anova PRECISION™ OVEN is a combi-steam oven that fits on your countertop–albeit it’s rather large for the counter, measuring 22.4 x 18.1 x 14.1 inches. Anova is known for their famous sous vide machine, and they boast that this oven does the same thing without any tools. A water tank provides steam throughout cooking and a strong convection fan that creates powerful cooking temperatures at high speeds.
It also has an app so you can preheat it from another room, turn off the oven, check on the temperatures, use the probe thermometer attached to the oven, and even browse for more recipes. With this oven, you can do more than just bake; the Anova PRECISION™ OVEN is made to air fry, proof, roast, dehydrate, broil, sous vide, defrost, and more. While smaller than a standard 30-inch oven, you can still fit a 12-inch cast iron pan or a jelly roll-size pan (15 x 10 inches) inside.
3. KitchenAid – Professional Stand Mixer
KitchenAid stand mixers are an excellent gift for home bakers because they’re durable, save time when prepping, and save you from overworking your arms and hands. KitchenAid Artisan mixers are good options for the occasional baker, but I would recommend a Professional version because they have more powerful motors and can fit more ingredients in the bowl, so you can get the job done with fewer batches.
One of my favorite things about KitchenAid stand mixers is their ability to add attachments. You can use it for mixing and kneading pasta dough, but if you buy the pasta attachments, you can cut your noodles into different sizes and shapes. There are a myriad of attachments to purchase that hook up to the “attachment hub” of any KitchenAid stand mixer, like a spiralizer, a juicer, a meat grinder, and even a shaved ice machine.
Mid-range ($100-$499)
4. Shun Classic Chef’s Knife
The Shun – Classic Chef’s Knife was the first professional knife I bought, and after 20 years, it’s still in great shape and still part of my knife set. I’ve sharpened it professionally and on my own since purchasing it, and it still works amazingly. I currently have the eight-inch model, and it works well for just about all cooking prep (except breaking bones or detailed knife work) and stores easily in a drawer or on a magnetic knife block.
Whenever I use this knife, it easily cuts through tough meat, delicate fish filets, and hard vegetables like kabocha. I often travel with this knife if I know I’ll cook in another kitchen. This Shun knife has a proprietary steel core with 34 layers of Damascus steel to give you a corrosion-resistant, strong, and sharp knife that will last. Shun also offers free knife sharpening if you send them your knives–this is the easiest way to get a super sharp edge after a few years.
5. All-Clad – Stainless Steel 5-ply Skillet
All-Clad’s 5-ply bonded stainless pans are some of the best on the market because they heat up quickly, retain heat quickly and evenly on the pan without hot spots, and come with a lifetime warranty. I’ve had my All-Clad stainless steel pan for almost 20 years and still use it weekly.
Stainless steel pans are such a workhorse in any kitchen, and I love using them because they are so durable. If you look inside many industrial kitchens worldwide, you’ll notice many stainless steel pans, and for a good reason: they’re incredibly reliable. Stainless steel pans can be used on any stove (electric, gas, and induction) and go straight into the oven even at high temperatures.
6. Le Creuset – Round Dutch Oven
Believe in the hype of an enameled cast-iron Dutch oven because it’s so valuable for the kitchen. If a chef in your life loves to make stews, soups, roasts, frying, and baking, a Le Creuset – Dutch Oven is a special and lifelong gift. I love to use it to sear meat (like in my beef panang recipe) and then continue simmering ingredients in the same pot.
Le Creuset has made quality products since 1925 in France and continues to be a reputable (as well as beautiful) brand today. Their enameled round Dutch ovens are known for their bright and interesting colors and come with a lifetime warranty that I’ve used myself.
Le Creuset Dutch ovens come in different sizes (from 2 quart to 13 ¼ quart) and retail for $260-$625, but you can easily find sales and factory stores that sell them for lower prices. These enameled Dutch ovens also work on various stoves (electric, induction, halogen, and gas) and can be used inside the oven for up to 500 ℉. The Le Creuset Dutch oven works like other cast iron products; however its enameled coating doesn’t require seasoning so that you can cook on it out of the box. I also prefer the white enamel inside so you can see inside your pot easier, for example, if you’re deep frying ingredients.
7. Bamix – Professional Immersion Blender
We tested a bunch of immersion blenders, and loved the Bamix the best. Immersion blenders are helpful kitchen tools, especially if you have limited space. The Bamix – Professional immersion blender does more than liquify ingredients in soups; it also aerates, chops, and emulsifies. We’ve tried various immersion blenders throughout the years, and the Bamix Professional is one of our favorites because of its strong motor, durability, and design. We also like the ergonomic grip, which makes it easier to hold, and the two-speed motor doesn’t sound too loud.
It comes with interchangeable blades for different ways to process food, such as the multipurpose blade that cuts, chops, and purees; a beater that aerates; a flattened whisk that mixes; and a meat mincer. You can also buy other accessories to process larger quantities of food. The Bamix Professional comes with a two-year warranty for the blade and a lifetime warranty for the motor.
8. Breville – Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro
I’ve exclusively used Breville toaster ovens in my kitchen for almost a decade and recently upgraded to a Breville – Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro. Upgrading my old toaster oven to an air fryer oven allowed me to reduce the amount of appliances I had in my kitchen. This is also a great option for cooks who want an air fryer that isn’t made up of mostly plastic.
While some reports show that toaster oven air fryers are less powerful than traditional basket air fryers, I disagree respectfully. The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro has 1800 watts of power and features both convection and super convection (air fryer mode) to cook food as fast as any traditional air fryer. It can heat up to 480 ℉, whereas its air fryer counterparts stop at 450 ℉.
Note that this air fryer toaster oven is larger than most toaster ovens and air fryers, so it will take up some space on the countertop. It fits a 14-lb turkey! However, the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro is our most used kitchen appliance, so we feel that it’s well worth the price in counter space and well worth the price.
9. Marcato Atlas – Pasta Machine
During a cooking class, I first learned how to make homemade pasta and immediately purchased a Marcato Atlas Pasta machine. I’ve made dozens of pasta noodles to eat for meals, give as presents, and experiment because it’s so much fun to use. My original machine came with a hand crank, but after making a lot of pasta for friends and family, I upgraded to a machine attachment for faster pasta-making.
The Marcato Atlas pasta machine comes in two sizes, 150mm and 180mm. We recommend the smaller machine for households that don’t plan on making large volumes of pasta. I usually make about 280g of flour for fresh pasta in one batch (3 servings), and the small size works just fine. Both machines feature an adjustable dial that comes in 9 widths for various pasta thicknesses. They also come with pasta cutters in 1.6mm for spaghetti and 6mm for fettuccine. You won’t have to worry about rusting because its durable metal body is nickel and chrome-plated. We’ve had our machine for almost a decade, and it works as well as the first day we brought it home.
10. Fellow – Stagg EKG Pro Electric Gooseneck Kettle
If the chef in your life loves coffee or tea, the Fellow – Stagg EKG Pro kettle is a useful present. It comes with a digital screen to control precise temperatures, customizable brewing settings, the ability to accurately brew at your altitude level with location settings, and Wi-Fi capabilities. For chefs who prefer pour-over coffees, the gooseneck design creates a smooth and even flow of water over coffee grounds.
I boil the water at 205 °F for pour-over coffee and around 180 °F for matcha, and the dial makes it quick and easy to adjust. The Fellow Stagg EKG Pro holds up to .9 liters of water and boils water so fast that I often use it to pre-boil water before cooking in a pot. This speeds up the process on the stove. It comes in four colors (mainly neutrals) and has a sleek, minimalist design.
11. Cooking Classes – Sur La Table & FoodStory Los Angeles
Do you know someone who wants to get into cooking but is still a little nervous? Or do they want to explore new types of cuisines? Give them a cooking class! I’ve taken several cooking classes throughout the years; they’re informative and fun. You also make new foodie friends in class.
Some of my favorite classes are from Sur La Table, where I’ve taken homemade pasta and Thai cooking classes. To this day, I still use the same information I learned from the pasta class to make fresh noodles at home. What’s great is that you get a coupon to use in-store after your class to buy any tools. I also like FoodStory Los Angeles for traditional Japanese cooking, like sushi or ramen. These women are so sweet, and I learned so much about making sushi, from knife gear to sushi rice seasoning.
12. Acaia – Pearl Scale
Scales are an essential kitchen tool, and it’s a shame that home cooks don’t have one. They make cooking and baking so much easier. And they reduce the number of measuring tools and scoops you need to wash since you can weigh everything into one bowl. That’s a win in my book.
Since I’m a coffee nerd, I like the Acaia Pearl Scale for its precision and minimalist design. It offers ounce and gram measurements (0.1 gram accuracy) and features a timer for measuring pour-over and espresso brews. I also use this for daily sourdough starter feedings and baking. You can certainly get a cheaper kitchen scale, but I love the design, speed, and accuracy of Acaia’s products.
13. Thermoworks – Thermapen ONE
Another big-time kitchen necessity is the Thermapen ONE instant-read thermometer. Compared to other thermometers, this one is instant and super helpful while you’re cooking a dish where timing is essential, like steak or baked goods. The Thermapen ONE states that it reads temperatures in a second, and it’s true. I’ve used this in my kitchen for over four years, and sometime, I even bring it to friends’ homes when we’re preparing food there.
I like that it comes in several colors to match any cook’s aesthetic. The magnetic backing is also helpful for keeping on the fridge or metal hoods, so it’s always near your cooking station. Thermapen ONE also has a nifty bright backlight useful when measuring food inside a dark oven. With its five-year warranty, this is a nice and durable gift for any cook.
14. Cuisinart – 14-Cup Food Processor
Food processors are multi-tools in the kitchen because they can do more than chop or mince food. This Cuisinart food processor can help mix pasta dough, shred cheese or carrots, or even make nut butters. The photo above is me blending marinade ingredients for Korean bulgogi marinade. The 14-cup size is good for larger recipes, like 2 cups of pesto or 2-4 servings of pasta dough.
We’ve had our Cuisinart food processor for over 5-year, and the blades are still just as sharp as they were when we opened the box. Even though we have plenty of box graters, we opt for taking this machine out for shredding cheese or other ingredients because it makes shredding super easy and fast.
15. Charcoal Konro Grill
For the chef in your life who loves yakitori (Japanese skewered chicken) or grilling foods over smoky, hot coals, the Korin Charcoal Konro Grill is a treat. Konro grills are made of diatomite bricks that help insulate and evenly distribute the heat of the binchō-tan (white charcoal) and allow for longer periods of grilling. The Konro grills also have special vents that allow for changing the temperature inside the grill if it gets too hot.
I have a Korin Konro in size small, but I wish I would’ve upgraded to a medium size to grill more skewers. Currently, Korin’s grills are sold out due to production issues; however, the Kaginushi Konro grill is comparable and available to purchase.
More Affordable ($50-$99)
16. Hedley & Bennett – Apron
If you’ve been to any hip restaurant these days, you’ll notice a common apron worn on servers and kitchen staff with a cute ampersand tag on the front. Hedley & Bennett aprons come in various styles, colors, prints, and sizes for the whole (cooking) family. They also have cool collaborations, like Disney, Vans, and more.
We love these aprons because they’re durable, washable, and you can also customize them with embroidery for a cool personalized gift. We’ve been using the classic style apron, which is a halter style, and a crossback style that eases the weight of the apron on your neck. All of their aprons also have a lifetime guarantee that makes me feel better about their hefty price tags.
17. Emile Henry – Ceramic Dishes
Since 1850, Emile Henry Ceramics has made durable and well-made ovenware suitable for home cooks and even industrial kitchens. What makes these ceramics unique is their Burgundy clay fires in a proprietary high-resistance ceramic manufacturing process; this means Emile Henry ceramics are strong enough to withstand high amounts of thermal shock and prevent cracking. You can take their ceramics from the freezer straight to the hot oven without a tempering period. But just in case something happens, all their products carry a 10-year warranty on defective items.
We love using the ruffled pie dish for our annual apple pie during Thanksgiving and the classic square baker for sushi bakes.
18. Great Jones – Hot Dish
I get it; sometimes, you just want something cute that works well in the kitchen. Let me recommend the Great Jones – Hot Dish. This is my go-to dish for oven-baked pasta, serving the annual honey maple glazed ham for Thanksgiving, and more. Its beautiful retro and vibrant design is really eye-catching and just dresses up your food in such an enticing way. It also has a lid that helps keep the food warm before serving.
The Great Jones Hot Dish can heat up to 500 °F in the oven, so you can safely bake your recipes at high temperatures without worrying about your dish breaking. It’s also dishwasher safe, so you can easily clean it after any meal.
19. Williams Sonoma – Square Pizza Stone
You don’t have to buy a whole new pizza oven to make pizza (or even bread!). Use this pizza stone in your oven or grill and get great results. I first bought my pizza stone to make baguettes while in my college apartment almost 20 years ago, and it’s amazing how well it’s worked throughout the years.
We recently made pizza with the pizza stone on the grill, and it made the crispiest and golden pizza crust just as good as brick oven pizza spots. Our guests were so impressed they were encouraged to buy their own.
Budget (Under $50)
20. Lodge – 12-inch Cast Iron Skillet
Cast iron cookware is known for its heat retention, nonstick seasoning, durability, and ability to go from stove to oven and even over fire. Any Lodge cast iron skillet is a workhorse in the kitchen. I’ve seen people hand down their great great great grandma’s cast iron from generations back—they just last forever. Season a cast iron (or just use it to cook with). It’s good enough and better than any nonstick pan you’ll ever buy.
Lodge is a reputable and affordable brand that has been around for generations. I love that this 12-inch Lodge cast iron pan is only $30 and accessible to many new cooks. I’ve had my 12-inch Lodge cast iron pan for almost 20 years, and it’s still one of my favorite pans.
21. Epicurean – Nonslip Cutting Board
I got my first Epicurean cutting board over 15 years ago, and I still use it to this day. It’s been through many moves and the dishwasher an innumerable number of times, and it’s still good as new. At this point, I’ve added even more of these boards to my kitchen in other sizes, colors, and features. One of my favorite features is the silicone grip tabs, which prevent the board from moving during use.
Epicurean cutting boards are made of Richlite material that’s compressed water-resistant paper, which makes them extra durable and lightweight. I’ve had plenty of cutting boards throughout the years, like popular Boo’s Block boards, but I often reach for the Epicureans cutting boards because they make cooking so easy because they’re light and easy to wash.
22. Nielsen Massey – Pure Vanilla Bean Paste
If you love adding vanilla to your baked goods, pancakes, waffles, or any tasty dessert, use Nielsen Massey – Pure Vanilla Bean Paste. This extra concentrated ingredient offers a rich and deep vanilla flavor. It’s just a little fancier than a traditional vanilla extract because it provides the tiny flecks of vanilla in your recipe.
You can interchange vanilla extract for vanilla paste in any recipe, too, so you don’t need to change the measurements. For most retailers, you can find vanilla paste at the same price as vanilla extract.
23. Diamond Crystal – Kosher Salt
Diamond Crystal – kosher salt is a nice gift for any chef who likes to control every meal’s saltiness. Its flat, crystalized shape makes this type of salt different from even other kosher salt brands. When you weigh Diamond Crystal salt and compare the measurements to traditional, coarse kosher salt, you’ll find the former is lighter.
This means you can control the salt in recipes in more precise increments, preventing oversalting. I like to order Diamond Crystal online, like at Webstaurant or Amazon. But if you’re in a pinch, grocery stores like Whole Foods can stock this specific salt in-store.
24. Red Boat – Fish Sauce Salt
Did you know there’s such a thing as fancy fish sauce? Red Boat Fish Sauce is definitely fancier than what I grew up with, but it’s because the flavor is so potent and clean. A relatively new item they’ve created is Red Boat – Fish Sauce Salt. Yup, their fish sauce in salt form for extra umami in anything you eat. This is a great gift for chefs who appreciate that extra flavor twist in addition to salt. Be careful, though, because this stuff is potent!
25. Cookbooks
I think of cookbooks as autobiographies for the chefs who write them. Reading a good cookbook can change your palate and your understanding of food (and potentially culture). Obviously, I am very biased, but receiving cookbooks is one of my favorite gifts. My favorites are Salt Fat Acid Heat, Mayumu, Six Seasons, The Food Lab, and Ever Green Vietnamese.
These books often have stories from the authors about their journey in cooking and where it led them to make these recipes. Books like Salt Fat Acid Heat and The Food Lab help you gain an overall understanding of culinary techniques and the research behind them–it’s great for cooking nerds alike.
Mayumu gives you a remixed and modern version of Filipino and Filipino American desserts–you can make out-of-the-box recipes from traditional classics. And Six Seasons gives you a whole book dedicated to making seasonal and vegetable-forward recipes throughout the year.
Like this recipe? Subscribe to my newsletter!
