The Best Cooking Gifts
Whether you're shopping for a chef-in-training or an amateur home cook, cooking gifts are one of the best types of gifts out there. Not only are they useful, but since cooking is part of daily life, good cooking-related gifts are bound to be used frequently. That being said, when it comes to surprising someone with a perfect present for their kitchen or pantry, it isn't always easy knowing what to pick from the myriad options on the market. With that in mind, we rounded up some of our favorites to make your search easier.
What to Look For
When you’re shopping for a good cooking gift, the world is your oyster. The market is brimming with all kinds of tools, accessories, and foodstuffs that can make cooking easier and more pleasurable. But that same abundance of choice can make it tough to narrow down the options, so we suggest asking yourself three questions as you shop: Will this product simplify the cooking process? If not, will it at least make my giftee’s culinary experience richer? And am I buying this product just because I like it, or is it truly a good fit for my giftee? Those questions should help you find your own favorites, but we’d also like to suggest a few of our best-loved cooking gifts. Overall, we love the Instant Vortex Plus air fryer. It makes it healthier, easier, and faster to fry just about any food, and it can do so much more than just frying. It’s a fantastic machine that your recipient will probably use on the daily. But for something a little more humble, we love the set of stainless steel measuring cups and spoons offered by Hudson Essentials. The truffle oil set by TruffleHunter isn’t half bad, either, thank you very much. Keep reading to learn more.
Instant Vortex Plus 6-in-1 Air Fryer
Cook up a storm
There’s a reason why air fryers have swept the market so quickly: they’re simply incredible. Lauded for their versatility, air fryers like this one allow you to fry foods to crispy perfection easier and faster than with traditional methods. With the Instant Vortex Plus, you barely have to use any oil at all, so it can help you prepare healthier meals. And air-frying isn’t the only thing this beauty can do: it can also be used to broil, roast, dehydrate, bake, and reheat food.
Pros:
- The non-stick frying basket and tray are super easy to clean; it’s also dishwasher-safe
- More energy-efficient than electric ovens
- Large enough to cook for a family of six
Cons:
- Fairly large, so it will take up some counter space
Fullstar Vegetable Chopper Spiralizer and Slicer
There are plenty of folks out there who would love to cook more frequently but don’t have the time. That’s why a nifty tool like this could be a great gift for the busybody in your life. Chopping, slicing, and dicing are perhaps the most consuming and labor-intensive steps in the cooking process, and this tool helps make it so much easier to do all of that. All your giftee has to do is peel the food they want to dice, mount the appropriate attachment onto the housing, and slice away. Compared to laboriously cutting veggies by hand, this method is so much faster.
Pros:
- Unlike other slicers, this one is pretty easy to clean
- Great gift for friends or family who want to cook but don’t have the time
- Includes various attachments, such as a slicer blade, ribbon blade, and two dicing blades
Cons:
- Slicing blades can be dangerous; careful with use around children
TruffleHunter Truffle Oil Set
Ooh la la
Something of a delicacy, truffle oil is uncommon but delicious, making it a great gift. This particular set is perhaps our favorite on the market for a few reasons. Three different types of truffle oil are contained in this multi-pack: English, white, and black truffle oil. They’re all made from fresh-shaven truffles that are then infused into high-quality carrier oils. The result is a potent but well-balanced truffle oil that can impress sophisticated palates and the uninitiated alike.
Pros:
- Halal, kosher, and vegan-friendly
- A little goes a long way, so this set will last
- Excellent price considering the quality
Cons:
- Some may find the flavor overpowering, but since it’s made with truffles, that comes with the territory
Hudson Essentials Stainless Steel Measuring Cups and Spoons
When precision matters
While part of the fun of cooking is improvising, another important component is attention to detail. You can mix the perfect ingredients, but if you have too much or too little of something, it can throw the whole dish out of whack. With that in mind, we believe every kitchen should be stocked with some reliable measuring cups and spoons, and this bundle from Hudon Essentials offers some of the best ones out there. Made of stainless steel, the pieces in this set are high in quality, so they’ll last for years and years.
Pros:
- An especially useful gift for bakers, as baking requires serious precision
- Spoons come attached to a ring so that they’re nearly impossible to lose
- Cups can be stacked, so they don’t take up lots of space
Cons:
- We wish the handles of the cups were a little longer
Hamilton Beach Electric Stand Mixer
Lean, mean kitchen machine
The ideal present for a baker, this stand mixer is beautiful, affordable, and easy to use. Its primary function is to make it easier to mix thick batters and doughs without having to break a sweat. Whether your giftee likes making bread, brownies, or pizza, this stand mixer from Hamilton Beach can help them achieve it thanks to its powerful motor and its wide variety of settings. Plus, it comes with all the most common stand mixer attachments, such as a whisk, dough hook, and flat beater.
Pros:
- Available in a variety of gorgeous colorways
- Built-in handle makes it easy to lift and move the machine when it’s not in use
- Also includes a dishwasher-safe stainless steel mixing bowl
Cons:
- There are better stand mixers out there; however, as far as we can tell, you won’t find them at this price point
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it better to gift foodstuffs or kitchen tools?
There’s no right answer here. The only way to know is to consider your giftee’s lifestyle and preferences. It also helps to know what tools and appliances they already have in their kitchen.
What kind of cooking gift is best for someone who doesn’t know much about cooking?
Since new cooks lack experience, they won’t have any preferred recipes. That makes a cookbook a great gift. But if they don’t cook, they probably don’t own some of the stock tools they’ll need to cook. Pans, cooking appliances, utensils, and measuring containers are great all-around picks.
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