What to Buy Gift Guides The 22 Best Cooking Gifts for Home Cooks Who Have Everything From spice grinders to Japanese barbecue sauce, these innovative gifts will surely surprise the chef in your life. By Laura Denby Laura Denby Laura Denby is a food writer and chef with six years of professional culinary experience. Find her work in Real Simple, Food Network, Better Homes & Gardens and more. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on November 1, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Williams Sonoma Some home cooks—myself included—have their kitchens so well-stocked that it can be impossible to find a cooking gift that they don't already own. Shopping is never more frustrating than when looking for someone who already has everything, especially when the anxiety of the holiday countdown starts to set in. But don't worry! If a new knife or cutting board won't cut it, there are still a ton of creative gifts for chefs that you probably haven't thought of yet. We've done the digging for you and rounded up some out-of-the-box kitchen gifts that are functional, thoughtful, and more importantly, inventive. If you're at a loss for what to give the chef in your life this holiday season, check out some of these inventive, yet thoughtful gifts. Finamill Battery Operated Spice Grinder Amazon Buy on Amazon This battery-operated spice grinder adds extra functionality to even the most well-stocked home kitchens. It comes equipped with interchangeable spice pods that easily swap in and out, allowing you to quickly grind different spices without any mess or cleanup. Just fill the pods with your favorite whole spices, lock it into place, and press the button to grind. A built-in LED light makes seeing your food even easier. Price at time of publish: $40 Solo Stove Amazon Buy on Solostove.com For anyone who regularly hosts family and friends in the backyard, a smokeless fire pit is a must. Solo Stove's wood-burning fire pits are designed for optimal airflow to avoid teary eyes and the usual fire pit carousel of avoiding waves of smoke. The pit provides plenty of heat, has a removeable ash tray for easy cleanup, and even has a stand option that makes it safe for wooden decks. And yes, there are cooking accessories, including a wok, a pizza oven, and a cast iron griddle. Price at time of publish: $400 Diaspora Co. Build Your Own Spice Shelf Diaspora Co. Buy on Diasporaco.com “Flavor building in both cooking and baking happens in layers, and dried spices and herbs are an essential starting point. This brand sources single-origin, fair trade, and incredibly fragrant essentials from South Asia. Stack a loved one’s pantry with a customizable starter pack for the most impactful savory dishes and sweet treats.” — Kristin Montemarano, Ecommerce Food Writer Price at time of publish: $67 Master Maison Damascus Steel Meat Cleaver Amazon Buy on Amazon Most home cooks are already set with their favorite chef's knife, but if you're looking for a gift they don't already have, try thinking beyond the usual cutting board tools. A meat cleaver can be more versatile than the name implies—it's perfect for cutting into tough fruits and vegetables like pineapple and squash—and this one from Master Maison is forged with Damascus steel. The complete set comes with a sharpening stone, drying cloth, mosaic handle, and gift box. Price at time of publish: $110 Brightland The Mini Artist Series Brightland Buy on Brightland.co “I’m a big fan of just about every oil, vinegar, and pantry staple I’ve tried from Brightland, but this new set of miniature infused olive oils feels especially gift-worthy. This set includes my favorite basil-infused olive oil, ARISE, along with three other deliciously infused olive oils.” — Danielle St. Pierre, Commerce Editor Price at time of publish: $85 Lodge Cast Iron Pan Scraper Amazon Buy on Amazon Serious home cooks know how important it is to take care of cooking equipment, and this $7 tool is an easy way to care for cast iron tools. A pan scraper is a guaranteed way to tackle even the toughest, most caked-on bits of food, and this one comes with a standard edge and a grill edge. It's durable and sturdy with an easy-to-grip silicone handle. Price at time of publish: $7 Bachan's Japanese Barbecue Sauce Amazon Buy on Amazon “After trying out this gently sweet, umami-packed sauce earlier this year, I've made sure to have my kitchen stocked with it at all times. It turns even the most basic pantry meals into something really special. I love this on fried rice.” — Maria Yagoda, Senior Editor Price at time of publish: $32 De Buyer Carbon Steel Pan Made In Buy on Amazon Every chef knows the benefits of a cast iron pan, but some home cooks still aren't privy to its more refined cousin, the carbon steel pan. A carbon steel pan acts like a cross between a cast iron skillet and a nonstick pan as a two-in-one culinary workhorse. Carbon steel is slick enough to scramble eggs and durable enough to perfectly sear steaks and chicken thighs. Even if your favorite home cook is already stocked with pots and pans, this is a piece of equipment they might not already have. Price at time of publish: $75 Made In Universal Silicone Lid Made In Buy on Madeincookware.com In my experience, some of the most passionate and excited home cooks are also the messiest, and this universal silicone lid is a polite way to encourage them to clean it up a bit. Food splatter is an unpleasant but inevitable effect of most culinary adventures, so we love that this lid fits multiple sizes of pots and pans. This silicone lid is made with a stainless steel interior for extra durability and is heat-resistant, dishwasher-safe, and oven-safe up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Price at time of publish: $59 Mr. Coffee Mug Warmer Amazon Buy on Amazon For coffee lovers, there's nothing worse than when a warm cup of coffee quickly starts to cool. That's why this mug warmer makes such a great gift—it keeps your coffee hot and fresh all morning long. Perfect for tea, cocoa, and soup, this easy-to-transport gadget is a steal. Price at time of publish: $25 Spaghetti Measuring Tool Amazon Buy on Amazon If you find yourself guessing every time you make spaghetti, you need this handy gadget in your life. The stainless steel tool easily tells you exactly how much dry spaghetti to cook up for the number of people you're feeding. At $7, it makes the perfect stocking stuffer for experienced home cooks and amateurs alike. Price at time of publish: $7 Saltverk Gift Box Amazon Buy on Amazon “Using quality salt makes all the difference when you're cooking, and this assortment of Icelandic salts from Saltverk makes a practical gift for home cooks. I use the Flaky Sea Salt on top of ice cream, and the Arctic Thyme Salt packs a ton of flavor for soups and sauces.”— Danielle St. Pierre, Commerce Editor Price at time of publish: $45 Made In Champagne Saber Made In Buy on Madeincookware.com Thought sabering bottles was reserved for the caves of Champagne? Now you can saber a bottle in your own backyard (or living room) with Made In's newly launched Champagne Saber. Made of stainless steel with an ebony wood handle, this saber is an impressive gift that every serious sparkling fan will appreciate. Price at time of publish: $199 Kitchen Conversion Chart Magnet Amazon Buy on Amazon Even professional chefs have questions when it comes to kitchen conversions. This handy magnet takes the guesswork out of multiplying recipes because it does the culinary math for you. Price at time of publish: $15 Marble Tiered Fruit Bowl Williams Sonoma Buy on Williams-Sonoma “I get very excited about filling up my kitchen with fresh fruits and vegetables each week. This is the centerpiece of my countertop, which displays all of my hard-won garden tomatoes or apples. I love filling it with citrus for parties because it is a fragrant and beautiful display that lasts longer than flowers.” — Jennifer Zyman, Senior Commerce Writer Price at time of publish: $300 East Fork Pottery Henri's Red Glaze Bowls East Fork Buy on Eastfork.com “The Asheville-based pottery mavens at East Fork make some of the most beautiful bowls, plates, and mugs on the market, and I'm obsessed with their new holiday glaze, Henri's Red. Inspired by the recent show “The Red Studio” at the MoMA and a nod to East Fork founder Alex Matisse's great-Grandfather, Henri Matisse, this is *the* holiday 2022 centerpiece for art lovers and passionate holiday hosts alike.” — Oset Babür-Winter, Senior Drinks Editor Price at time of publish: $160 Nordic Ware Cozy Village Baking Pan Amazon Buy on Amazon Forget cookie cutters, Nordic Ware's line of decorative pans takes holiday baking to an entirely new level. This sweet piece is perfect for baking up your own mini gingerbread village with its cozy design. Made from nonstick aluminum, it ensures evenly distributed heat and consistent cooking throughout all the little nooks and crannies of the pan. The nonstick coating makes it easy to use and even easier to clean. Price at time of publish: $35 Modern Picnic Luncher Modern Picnic Buy on Modernpicnic.com These super chic lunch boxes are a surprisingly elegant way to transport food. Disguised as a fancy purse, the insulated bags come in a variety of different sizes for any type of picnic. We love the Luncher for commuting to the office or the Mini for bringing cheese and crackers to your next park picnic. Price at time of publish: $149 Graza "Drizzle" and "Sizzle" Pack Graza Buy on Graza.co “I love these cheery squeeze bottles of EVOO from Graza, a brand I fell in love with this year. The oils themselves are high-quality (made from Spanish Picual olives), but it's the convenience of the bottle that makes this set a true must-gift.” — Oset Babür-Winter, Senior Drinks Editor Price at time of publish: $35 Andrew Molleur Trivet Food52 Buy on Food52 Ditch the folded dish towel under your serveware for this stunning piece of slab porcelain, marbled with deep shades of blue. Each one is handmade in upstate New York, ensuring even if you buy a few, they’ll all be unique. Price at time of publish: $34 Bushwick Kitchen Sweet & Spicy Gift Set Amazon Buy on Amazon Buy on Food52 “This Sweet & Spicy Gift Set offers a great introduction to these small-batch condiments. The Spicy Honey is awesome on pizza, and the Gochujang Sriracha kicks up the heat in a Bloody Mary recipe.” — Danielle St. Pierre, Commerce Editor Price at time of publish: $40 Ooni Koda 12 FOOD & WINE/FRED HARDY Buy on Amazon Buy on Ooni.com In the decade since Ooni’s launch, it has proven to be the secret to good pizza at home for both chefs and home cooks alike. We’ve tested it, written about it, and recommended it multiple times, but still, this magical oven is the best of its kind. Playing double duty as a savvy appliance and a true centerpiece for entertaining, the Ooni is the perfect gift for the cooking-and-hosting obsessed. “The gas-powered oven is a breeze to set up and get heated,” says Drew Record, Sommelier at Chezchez in San Francisco. “Even if I get home from work at 3 am, I can fire up a quick pizza if I wanted to.” Price at time of publish: $400 Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit