The 18 Best Gifts For Cooks Of Every Skill Level

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Forbes Vetted Nov 18, 2023, 03:41pm EST Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Avid home cooks usually keep a stocked kitchen full of all their favorite tools and ingredients, so getting them a gift they don’t already have can be tough. Luckily, there are plenty of unique, sustainable, hand-crafted kitchen gifts that any home cook—regardless of skill level—can enjoy. From seasoned salts and internationally-inspired sauces to the cutest miniature cookware and baking pans , the list of the best gifts for cooks goes on and on—meaning, you’re sure to find something your recipient will love.

There are plenty of out-of-the-box, sustainable, hand-crafted kitchen gifts that any home cook can . . .

[+] enjoy. Illustration: Forbes / Images: Retailers If you don’t know where to start your search, consider what types of food your loved one likes to cook and eat. Then, you can think about their skill level.

(And of course, there’s always the matter of budget. ) Ahead, here are what we believe to be the gifts for cooks of every skill level, including longtime favorites items from leading brands as well as yet-to-be-discovered makers. (And if you’re tempted to pick up a fun kitchen gadget for yourself, we won’t tell.

) Best Gifts For Cooks Under $30: Nordic Ware Apple Cakelet Pan , Stone Hollow Farmstead Poultry Brine , Henckels Take-Apart Kitchen Shears , Blank Slate Kitchen Flavor Duo Gift Box , Venezia Glass Taper Candle Holders Best Gifts For Cooks Under $50: Staub Ceramic 3-Piece Oven Set , Spiceology Infused Salt Variety Set , Crow Canyon Home Splatter Large Covered Roaster , A Large Tumbler To Keep You Hydrated All Day Best Gifts For Cooks Under $100: Staub Mini Cocotte Set , Ancient Olive Trees Dinner Party Pack , Droosh Spices Variety Pack , Solo Stove Mesa Best Luxury Gifts For Cooks: Hedley & Bennett Rifle Paper Co. Nutcracker Smock , The Boardsmith Maple End-Grain Cutting Board , Ooni Volt 12 Pizza Oven , Misen 3-Piece Knife Set , Oofos Recovery OOMG Sport Lo Shoe MORE FROM FORBES VETTED Apple iPhone 15 Pro Review: The Flagship Phone To Lure Android Users To iOS By Rebecca Isaacs Forbes Staff Best TVs For Bright Rooms That Are Sunshine Ready By Jon Martindale Contributor Best Gifts For Cooks Under $30 A Cute Pan That Puts Cupcakes To Shame Crate & Barrel Nordic Ware Apple Cakelet Pan Buy From Crate & Barrel This adorable pan provides an easy way to make creative little cakes that are perfect for the holiday season. Each divet is shaped like a different piece of an apple so when the cakes are finished cooking, you’re left with a bushel of warm, pillowy apple cakes.

Perfect for amateur bakers or occasional cooks, this fun pan is a great way to elevate fall and winter baking projects. An Easy Way To Add Extra Flavor Stone Hollow Farmstead Stone Hollow Farmstead Poultry Brine Buy From Bespoke Post This pre-mixed poultry brine is bursting with flavor: It consists of sea salt, cane sugar, brown sugar, black peppercorns, garlic, yellow mustard seed, rosemary and juniper berries. To use, all you have to do is pat your bird dry with a paper towel, then season generously with the dry brine mix.

Even if your recipient knows their way around a spice collection, they’ll appreciate that this mix takes the guesswork out of seasoning chicken or turkey. Sharp Shears For Safer Slicing Zwilling Henckels Take-Apart Kitchen Shears Buy From Zwilling Every home cook needs an efficient set of kitchen shears, as they make tough culinary jobs—like breaking down chickens and cracking open shellfish—easier and safer. This take-apart option from Henckels, in particular, is a standout pair.

Not only are the shears sharp, easy to hold and easy to clean, but they’re also affordable. Internationally-Inspired Sauces That Kick Up The Heat Blank Slate Kitchen Blank Slate Kitchen Flavor Duo Gift Box Buy From Blank Slate Kitchen For anyone that’s in a cooking rut, an internationally-inspired sauce might be exactly what they need to start feeling creative again. This gift box from Blank Slate features two sauces: vibrant, zesty zhug and fiery Sichuan chili oil, both of which are made without preservatives, additives, chemicals and colorings.

Something To Set The Mood Crate & Barrel Venezia Glass Taper Candle Holders Buy From Crate & Barrel After a day spent cooking the perfect meal, shouldn’t the chef be able to enjoy it at a beautifully-set table? These chic candle holders are a fantastic way to set the mood, as they can take any dinner table to the next level, regardless of what’s being served. Available in four colors and three sizes, the candle holders are a fantastic gift for any host or hostess looking to accent their menu with a little bit of ambiance. Best Gifts For Cooks Under $50 A 3-Piece Set Of Essential Cookware Zwilling Staub Ceramic 3-Piece Oven Set Buy From Zwilling Staub makes some of the highest-quality ceramic cookware available, and this 3-piece set is an incredible value for the price.

Available in four colors, the set includes one medium and one large casserole dish—perfect for lasagna or roasted vegetables—and a pie dish. They’re durable, sturdy, and microwave, oven, freezer and broiler safe. A Salt Set That Sneaks In Added Flavor Bespoke Post Spiceology Infused Salt Variety Set Buy From Bespoke Post Everybody knows that salt is the key to flavor—and infused salts can add even more great taste.

And since salt is the one ingredient that every home cook can agree on, seasoned salt makes the perfect gift for any home cook. This set includes six 1. 3-ounce jars of irresistible flavors: sriracha, lime, espresso, jalapeño, black truffle and chardonnay.

An Artistic Roaster That Doubles As A Gorgeous Centerpiece Crow Canyon Home Crow Canyon Home Splatter Large Covered Roaster Buy From Wayfair This large enameled porcelain roaster from Crow Canyon Home, featuring an artistic splatter paint design, would make a fantastic gift for someone who likes a playful pop of color in the kitchen. The sizable dish is perfect for roasting meat, vegetables or casserole side dishes, and the large size allows for even heat distribution throughout. Another perk: The gorgeous platter is dishwasher safe, too.

A Large Tumbler To Keep You Hydrated All Day Hydro Flask Hydro Flask All Around Travel Tumbler Buy From Hydro Flask Long days spent over the stove can be exhausting, which is why it’s extra essential to stay hydrated. Hydro Flask is known for keeping cold water extra cold and this extra-large water bottle does it with ease. Featuring a 40-ounce capacity, this generously sized tumbler from Hydro Flask is up to the task: It can keep you supplied with extra cold water to sip while you stand over the hot stove.

Better yet, it’s available in nine colors including lavender and dark blue. Best Gifts For Cooks Under $100 Tiny Bakeware That’s Just As Efficient As It Is Cute Zwilling Staub Mini Cocotte (Set Of 3) Buy From Zwilling You’d be hard-pressed to find cookware cuter than these mini enameled porcelain cocottes from Staub. Sold in sets of three, the petite dishes are perfect for baked eggs, mini apple pies, soufflés or single servings of macaroni and cheese.

Better yet, they’re scratch resistant and safe to put in the microwave, dishwasher, oven and broiler. Olive Oil And Olive Juice Make The Perfect Pairing Ancient Olive Trees Ancient Olive Trees Dinner Party Pack Buy From Ancient Olive Trees High-quality olive oil is essential in any home kitchen, this bundle from Ancient Olive Trees is everything you need to get the party started in one convenient set. Alongside a bottle of extra-virgin olive oil, the set includes balsamic vinegar and martini juice.

Vibrant Spice Blends To Brighten Up Any Dish Droosh Droosh Spices Variety Pack Buy From Droosh If your loved one is looking to experiment with the vibrant, lively flavors of Indian cooking but doesn’t know where to start, Droosh’s spice blends are here to help. This gift set comes with four bold spice mixes that are perfect for any type of food, whether you’re cooking meat, fish or vegetables. Packaged in bold and vibrant colors that match the aromatic flavors inside, this culinary gift set is perfect for any avid home cook.

A Mini Fire Pit That Delivers Fuss-Free S’mores Solo Stove Solo Stove Mesa Buy From Solo Stove For apartment dwellers or anyone with a small backyard, having a full fire pit can be unrealistic. Enter Solo Stove’s Mesa fire pit, which is no bigger than a coffee can and sits on your outdoor tabletop for quick, easy fires that don’t take up a ton of space. Compatible with a cooking accessory bundle, it’s the perfect way to cook sausages, hot dogs or s’mores outside under the stars.

Best Luxury Gifts For Cooks A Festive Apron For Happy Holiday Cooking Hedley & Bennett Hedley & Bennett Rifle Paper Co. Nutcracker Smock Buy From Hedley & Bennett Hedley & Bennett makes some of the best kitchenware available, and the brand’s line of expertly-designed smocks are beloved by professional chefs and home cooks alike. Unlike a standard apron, smocks have a cross-back style with thicker straps that allow for more coverage and freedom of movement.

If your loved one likes to get in the holiday spirit, you can’t miss with this Nutcracker-themed option. And for home cooks who want something more classic, the brand also sells the smock in plain colors. A Premium Butcher Block That’s Easy On The Eyes The Boardsmith The Boardsmith Maple End-Grain Cutting Board Buy From The Boardsmith Our favorite high-end wooden cutting board , The Boardsmith Maple End-Grain Cutting Board is among the most beautiful chopping blocks out there.

Featuring a 2-inch thick end-grain construction that’s strong yet gentle on knives, this board would make a fantastic gift for someone extra special. Whip Up Perfect Pizza Inside Or Outside Crate & Barrel Ooni Volt 12 Pizza Oven Buy From Crate & Barrel A pizza oven is a major investment, to be sure, but this one is totally worth it. Not only is it incredibly easy to use and store, but the hybrid-style oven can be used inside and outside.

A fantastic option from the folks at Ooni, this pizza oven is the perfect gift for enthusiastic home pizzaiolos: It yields pies with crispy edges and tender center, and the heating capabilities rival that of large, industrial-style outdoor ovens. Chic And Sharp Knives That Save Space Misen Misen 3-Piece Knife Set Buy From Misen Every chef needs a few sturdy knives, and this compact option from Misen—our favorite basic knife set that we’ve tested—comes with everything you need to cut and carve. If your favorite home cook could use an upgrade in the cutlery department, consider this excellent option.

Including a chef’s knife, bread knife and paring knife, the streamlined set has some of the sharpest blades out there. A Supportive Shoe For Long Days In Front Of The Stove OOFOS Oofos Recovery OOMG Sport Lo Shoe Buy From Oofos Anyone who spends a lot of time in the kitchen knows how sore your feet, legs and back can be after a long day standing over the stove. That’s why having the right footwear is essential.

These ultra-comfortable shoes from Oofos provide maximum arch support, while the patented footbed design reduces stress on the knees, ankles and joints. They’re an essential item for long days spent standing on your feet and cooking in the kitchen, and any serious home cook will welcome the relief and recovery. Coupons Kiwico Link to Coupon Laura Denby Editorial Standards Print Reprints & Permissions.