At first thought, buying kitchen gifts may not the best idea for that person in your shopping list who calls the kitchen their domain. They’re the ones who already tend to have well-stocked and adequately-equipped kitchens, after all. However, they’re also the ones who tend to really appreciate thoughtful kitchen gifts, especially if it helps them improve their favorite dishes, make their meal preps more efficient, or just make the kitchen feel like a more inviting place.
What makes a good kitchen gift? Usefulness is always at the top of our list. If it’s likely going to sit in a drawer untouched the moment they unbox it, you’re probably better off opting for something else. We also like to think about the likelihood that they already have something we’re thinking of giving them. As such, the more unique or unusual an item, the more we gravitate towards picking it as a present. We particularly enjoy kitchen gifts with some novelty involved, especially if it’s a genuinely useful item on top of that, since it’s probably not the kind of thing they will buy on their own.
Cookware is, of course, a popular category when it comes to kitchen gifts. Cooking is what we do in the kitchen, after all, so gifts that help on that end work very well. However, there’s a whole load of other categories you can explore, from cutlery and food storage items to unique condiments and foreign spices to dishware and organization gear. Suffice to say, you get a lot of options when shopping for gifts to help fill out someone’s kitchen.
These are the best kitchen gifts for the pro chefs, food nerds, and avid home cooks in your shopping list.
MayNest Refrigerator Liners
Refrigerator liners aren’t the kind of things we didn’t think we needed in our fridge for a long time. Until, of course, someone gifted us a set and they’ve been in constant use ever since. It’s one of those accessories that just never seem necessary. However, use them for a while and you immediately appreciate how much easier they make it to keep your fridge surfaces clean. Not only that, they also keep bottles and other curvier items from moving around when you set them down. They’re washable, too, so you can simply take them out and rinse with water for cleaning, then put them back in the fridge to keep serving their life’s purpose.
Prepare iPrep Adjustable Stand
We’ve all used our phones and tablets in the kitchen. Maybe you use it to watch cooking videos on YouTube. Maybe you use it to keep a recipe card nearby, so you can check it in the middle of cooking a dish. Heck, maybe you just keep one around to catch up on shows or new uploads on your favorite YouTube channels. Whichever the case, this stand gives your recipient an easy way to keep their viewing device upright right on the kitchen counter. It features a non-slip rubber base, an integrated stylus so you don’t have to touch the screen with your dirty fingers, and a stand that supports both portrait and landscape orientations for phones and tablets alike.
Thrifty Old Time Ice Cream Scooper
They already an ice cream scoop? Doesn’t matter, since this is a different ice cream scoop than what most people normally use. Specifically, it’s one that produces cylinder-shaped scoops of ice cream like they serve at Thrifty’s, which some people may find very nostalgic. We also love how easy it is to scoop ice cream with this thing, allowing for genuinely mess-free servings even with the ice cream coming from straight off the freezer. Plus, it’s made from stainless steel, so you can just throw it in the dishwasher for cleaning. Very, very convenient. Sure, it takes up more space than, pretty much, any other ice cream scoop, but it really is worth the extra room.
Epicurean Kitchen Series Cutting Board
The last few times we’ve given cutting boards for kitchen gifts, we either go with rubber boards (they’re awesome) or wooden boards with novelty designs (they’re fun). We also like this one, which is made from Richlite paper, a composite wood fiber material that’s durable, non-porous, and very gentle on knife edges. It’s slim and lightweight, too, making it very convenient to use at all times, all while being heat-resistant to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, so you can even use it as a pot holder in a pinch. It’s available in four sizes and three colors.
Uutensil Stirr
Whether you’re making soups, sauces, or stews, stirring the food you’re cooking is important. It helps the ingredients mix better, while ensuring every food item in the dish cooks evenly. In some cases, it also prevents food at the bottom from burning or sticking to the pot, which makes it necessary chore. What if you can just put down a device that will automatically stir the contents for you while your dish cooks, so you can leave the kitchen and do something a lot less mind-numbing than moving a ladle around over and over? This device does just that. Simply set it to one of three speed settings and the device will perform continuous spinning movements by itself, allowing your food to be stirred without anyone attending to it.
Thermoworks Timestick Trio
There’s no shortage of kitchen timers out there. In fact, your recipient probably already owns one. This kitchen timer, though, just offers so much more than other timers. For one, it lets you set three timers in one go, with a three-line display letting you see all three timers at a glance. Each of the three timers get their own unique beep pattern, too, so you know exactly which one just went off even if you’re in an another room. Oh yeah, the beep is loud, too, so you’ll definitely hear it, so long as you’re not locked up in the upstairs bedroom far away from the kitchen. It can be set to count up or count down, with a rubberized keypad that’s sealed to keep the whole thing water-resistant. The device can be hung on a hook, worn around the neck, set down on a flat surface, or mounted to a ferromagnetic surface.
Willow & Everett Gooseneck Electric Kettle
It may not be the best electric kettle out there. We’re partial to Cuisinart’s Perfectemp for that. At less than half the price, though, this is arguably the best value you will find in the category. We also love the vintage good looks, which we have a feeling the recipient of your kitchen gift will definitely appreciate. It comes with five temperature settings, a simmer setting to keep water warm after boiling, and a one-liter capacity that you can bring to a boil in around six minutes.
Stasher Premium Silicone Reusable Storage Bags
These reusable storage bags make for a kitchen gift your recipient will definitely use. Everybody could use additional storage for all sorts of food items, after all. These bags function much like disposable zip-loc bags, so they’re air tight and help keep food fresh, all while having food-grade silicone construction, so they’re dishwasher-safe, making cleaning and reusing them an easy affair. It’s even safe to use inside microwaves and ovens at temperatures of up to 425 degrees Fahrenheit, so you can use it as a container for reheating food. Not only is it a useful gift, it helps your recipient reduce their own waste, too.
Greentech pureAir FRIDGE
We don’t know many people who use an air freshener for their fridge. It’s just not something many people think about, which is why we think it always makes a great kitchen gift, since there’s a big chance your recipient haven’t bought one for themselves. Will they find it useful, though? We think so, since aside from absorbing unwanted odors in the fridge, it’s also supposed to extend the fridge life of the food you keep in there. We don’t know if it actually does the latter, but it makes for a great selling point. Plus, it’s small, so it won’t take up all that much space even in a crowded fridge.
Hedley & Bennett Essential Apron Denim
Funny aprons have been a consistent part of our kitchen gifting strategy for a long time. If your recipient is not a big fan of aprons with funny quips and graphics, though, you can give them this serious protective garment instead. It’s made from denim, so it brings the same rugged protection as your jeans. We also love all the little useful details, from the adjustable straps (neck and waist) and two large pockets on the lap to the two small pockets on the chest and the utility loop for your hand towel. It’s just a good-looking, well-made apron that keeps you shielded from all the mess the kitchen sends your way.
Made in Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven
There’s something about well-made Dutch ovens that feel like they’re integral parts of a proper kitchen. This one is made from cast iron with a nonstick enamel coating to make cleaning an easier affair, complete with a lid that traps steam on pea-sized dimples, so it bastes your stew continuously. It can sear and oven roast at up to 580 degrees Fahrenheit, allowing your recipient to use it for all sorts of dishes, while boasting high levels of heat retention and circulation for even, consistent cooking. If you’re going to give cookware as a kitchen gift, might as well make it something nice like this one.
Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Bread Oven
Dutch ovens, like the one above, are great cookware for braises and stews, which is why it’s one of the cooking pots many avid cooks we know prioritize acquiring for their own home kitchen. Because of their high side walls, though, traditional Dutch ovens aren’t that great for making bread. This cookware modifies the Dutch oven design by integrating a flat base, low side walls, and a tall domed lid, making easier to bake delicious bread with a crispy crust that’s soft and tender inside. It’s made from cast iron with a porcelain enamel finish for easy maintenance, a tight-fitting lid that traps steam for continuous circulation, and raised ridges for even browning.
Ooni Volt 12
Many avid cooks we know bought into the backyard pizza craze and got themselves an Ooni or some other brand of compact pizza oven. If you’re thinking of getting them one, why not make it an oven that will let them make them their pizza indoors? That’s exactly what this electric pizza oven does, delivering a performance that’s comparable to those outdoor pizza ovens. It can preheat to 850 degrees Fahrenheit in just 20 minutes, cook fresh 12-inch pizzas in just 90 seconds, and even let you roast, grill, and sear other food items. Since it’s electric, it’s pretty low-maintenance, too, eliminating the need to mess with firewood, gas, and charcoal like their outdoor counterparts.
