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Last Updated on September 4, 2020
If you are someone who doesn’t cook a lot it can be hard to know what kind of gifts to get your friends who do. A set of measuring cups sounds like it would be nice but the home cook in your life probably already has at least one of those and maybe even more. Finding out what they want may prove to be a challenge, especially if you don’t know what’s already in the inventory.
Browsing online will leave you with a slew of gifts that look fun, cute, and potentially useful but there is so much out there that it can feel like it’s impossible to tell what they’d appreciate and what they’d probably re-gift. To help we have gathered a variety of cooking baking and entertaining gift ideas for every foodie or home cook on your gift list.
Keeping a finger on the pulse of what is hot and what’s not in the kitchen gadget industry these are some products that will be helpful in the kitchen and not one-trick ponies that will take up your cabinet space. From nifty food prep tools to must-have appliances and accessories there are all kinds of gifts for every budget that you can imagine.
While coming up with gift ideas for someone who likes to cook, you want to find something that is both practical and personal. But finding a gift that strikes a balance between the two can be hard and that’s why we have made a list of gifts for every type of home cook in your life – from the newbie who just wants to make a good grilled cheese to the home cook who has it all.
- Air Fryers.
Air Fryers are a great invention that is useful for just about all kinds of cooking. Of course, there is the appeal of non-fried, lighter versions of fish sticks and chicken wings but you can also make anything from shrimp scampi and egg sandwiches to spiced nuts. Vegetable dishes like kale chips glazed carrots and stuff mushrooms are also some great recipes that you can make in an air fryer.
An air fryer is like a mini-convection oven – it lets hot air around the food and leaves it evenly cooked and crispy on all sides. This means that the recipes that usually call for a ton of oil often need none (or a couple of teaspoons at the most) so the calorie savings can really stack up! It’s a great option to add to any kitchen as it upgrades your food to a much healthier level.
- Multi-blade Mandolin.
When it comes to cutting the perfect, evenly sliced veggies like a pro chef, nothing comes close to a mandolin slicer. A mandolin slicer makes it so easy to make beautiful salads, which encourages one to eat them more, and are so inexpensive that they make a great gift!
This multifaceted tool does more than create the perfect salad veggies and ideal for turning fruits and vegetables – like potatoes, apples, zucchini, and pears – into crisp, healthy, and nutritious chips in the oven.
- Dutch Oven.
Dutch ovens are large cast-iron pots, often found with a brightly colored enamel coating. They are practical and pretty heavyweight helpers in the kitchen. As they are made out of cast iron they can go directly from the stovetop to the oven without concern and they maintain the heat very well once brought up to temperature.
They are fantastically versatile and perfect for roasting, browning, baking, broiling, searing and deep frying. While stews and roast are great recipes for a Dutch oven you might be surprised to know that you can also bake bread in them! If you opt for a larger size you can bake a whole chicken too, making for an easy one-pot meal.
If you don’t know what you are looking for, you can check out this Dutch Oven from STAUB which is a part of this Cool Things Chicago gift guide.
- A Smart Garden.
You can grow your own fresh vegetables and plants at home with this electronic smart garden that is super easy to use. All you need to do is plant the seeds in the smart pods and the technology controls everything from the amount of air, water, and fertilizer needed. These indoor vegetable and herb gardens also have pre-seeded plant pods and built-in grow lights too if the kitchen has no windows!
- A Pasta Machine
For an avid chef, making pasta from scratch is probably one of the most satisfying and fulfilling activities in the kitchen. A pasta machine would be a great addition to any kitchen and they usually come with attachments for different types of pasta – everything from fettuccine to tagliatelle to spaghetti!
- A Microplane Zester
This is another small but mighty must-have for the healthy home cook in your life as it can be used for a variety of recipes from all over the world. The micro plane zester is amazing for grating everything from garlic and ginger to lime, nutmeg, orange, etc.
You can even use it on some unexpected ingredients like cooked potatoes, goat cheese, cucumbers, and tomatoes. The zester is an easy way to add flair to a variety of dishes while being an easy to use and manageable device.
- A Food Scale
A kitchen scale is a must-have for any self-respecting baker or cook, especially if one is cooking for people with special dietary needs. It helps calculate carbohydrates as it instantly gives you all of the basic nutritional information of the food that you put on the scale (fat, protein, calories, carbohydrates, etc). It also helps with portion control as it shows you what ounces of protein look like or what 1/4 cup of pasta really is.
If you want to make sure that your family doesn’t have nutritional deficiencies it is a very handy device! A food scale helps you monitor your protein intake by calculating the amount of protein in your meals especially if your family follows a vegetarian or vegan diet and you are concerned if you are getting the right amount of protein.
Every pick on this list makes cooking fast, fun, and full of flavor. Hopefully, each one sends a thoughtful message to friends and family on your gift list. Show your appreciation to all these gorgeous home cooks by giving them an upgraded kitchen tool or a device that they will treasure for years to come.
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