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Shopping for the home cook in your life can be challenging, especially when it seems like they already have every tool imaginable. While another pot, pan, or set of measuring cups is bound to come in handy, it’s not exactly exciting. The ideal gift is a gadget, appliance, or accessory they don’t own yet — and that’s both useful and unique. If that seems like a tall order, we consulted some pro chefs about the kitchen gifts they like to give — and receive.
Whether you’re looking for something to give your foodie friend, your grillmaster father-in-law, or your spouse and favorite sous chef, here are some expert-approved tools that are sure to make them feel like a real pro in the kitchen.
Crate & Barrel
Ooni Karu 16 Pizza Oven, available at Crate & Barrel, Amazon, and Ooni, from $639.96
Eric LeBlanc, culinary director of Burtons Grill and Red Heat Tavern, calls this the Cadillac of pizza ovens — in part because of its high-quality construction. The Ooni Karu 16 is super straightforward to use, heats up in just 15 minutes, and takes one minute flat to cook your pies to chewy, lightly charred perfection. It’s versatile, too: multiple fuel options yield different flavors and textures of crust, and the oven can also be used to make seared veggies, steaks, and so much more.
Made In
Made In Blue Carbon Steel Frying Pan (12″ Unseasoned), available at Amazon and Made In, from $79
Iverson Guo, chef and owner at Karma Asian Fusion, says this carbon steel nonstick pan is a must-have for high-heat searing. According to Guo, carbon steel is like cast iron, but better — it’s oven safe at high temperatures and retains heat just as well, but is much lighter in weight. Guo says this pan even gets better with time — once seasoned, it’s the perfect vehicle for achieving a crispy crust on filet mignon.
Amazon
WeVac CV10 Chamber Vacuum Sealer (10 inches), available at Amazon and WeVac, from $265.05
This compact but powerful vacuum sealer works great for sous vide cooking, and can preserve everything from marinated meats, vegetables, and herbs to sauces and soups in a cinch, says LeBlanc. He also notes that you can customize the time according to the food you’re sealing— or just measure the bag size and let the CV10 do the math on the “smart vac” setting.
Williams Sonoma
Miyabi Birchwood SG2 8-inch Chef’s Knife, available at Williams Sonoma, Macy’s, and Zwilling, from $299.95
When it comes to practical and versatile kitchen gifts, you can’t beat a high-quality chef’s knife. Guo’s go to brand is Miyabi, because it uses high-tech materials, time-honored techniques, and premium steels for exceptional sharpness and precision. According to Guo, what really makes this chef’s knife stand out is how light and balanced it feels in your hand — which makes slicing, chopping, and mincing a breeze.
Amazon
Lavatools PT12 Javelin Digital Thermometer, available at Amazon and Walmart, from $24.69
“A thermometer could be the difference between a perfect steak and a pretty good steak. Using a thermometer takes a lot of the guesswork out of it.” — Matt Gillett, co-owner of Saddleback BBQ
Amazon
Mercer Culinary Millennia 6-Inch Curved Boning Knife, available at Amazon, $17
“A boning knife is essential for getting your meat ready to grill. A sharp reliable boning knife is what I recommend. It can help you with everything from frenching bones to trimming brisket or ribs.” —Matt Gillett, co-owner of Saddleback BBQ
Amazon
OXO Good Grips Locking Tongs, available at Amazon, Macy’s, and OXO, from $14.99
“I always use OXO tongs. I think they’re good. They’re not fancy, but they’re good. And, I always want metal-tipped ones for grilling.” — Morgan Bolling, deputy editor for Cook’s Country magazine at America’s Test Kitchen
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Zojirushi Micom Rice Cooker & Warmer (3-cup), available at Target, Best Buy, and Crate & Barrel, from $157.95
“It’s a must-have for Asian food lovers. You can make rice, congee, even soup with it. It’s very versatile and fun to experiment with.” — Amelie Kang, co-founder and owner of MáLà Project
Amazon
Wüsthof 10″ Knife Sharpening Steel with Loop, available at Amazon and Sur La Table, $50
“A diamond sharpening steel is a great gift. A sharp knife is essential for any home cook. Hint: Include a link to professional knife sharpening instructions, because this is a simple tool, but if used incorrectly, will take the edge off the knife!” — Kraig Hansen, executive chef at Fable Lounge
Wayfair
Cuisinart AFR-25 Air Fryer, available at Amazon and Walmart, from $99.95
“My top recommendation for a gift is the air fryer. It’s great for cooking things on the fly and getting the best results. It allows home chefs to enjoy their favorite fried foods without the added fat.” — Chelsea Knight, chef de cuisine at Fable Lounge
Amazon
OXO Good Grips 11-Inch Balloon Whisk, available at Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond, and OXO, from $11.95
“This balloon whisk is perfect for a good handle when baking cacao or chocolate goodies at home. We create a lot of our products on-site, and therefore, need the proper tools to be successful.” — Oded Brenner, chocolatier and founder of Blue Stripes Urban Cacao
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KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer, available at KitchenAid, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Williams Sonoma, from $349.95
“If you have the counter space, a KitchenAid stand mixer is always worth it. Easy to mix up doughs or mixtures without the extra mess.” — Oded Brenner, chocolatier and founder of Blue Stripes Urban Cacao
Omsom
Southeast Asian Omsom Sampler, available at Omsom, $29
“We love Omsom — the sauces and the ladies behind it. Not only are the Asian sauces they’ve created delicious but they’re so easy and versatile to use. It’s been heartwarming especially during the pandemic to see how much they’ve been supporting the Asian community.
They raised over $8,000 for Heart of Dinner, which allows us to then purchase over 1,000 hot nutritional meals from our restaurant partners for seniors and at the same time provides funding to help our restaurant partners and keep them going during this rough time!” — Moonlynn Tsai, co-owner and operator of Kopitiam
Amazon
Vitamix 5300, available at Vitamix and Amazon, from $449
“This blender is great for combining professional power and ease of use at home. It makes perfectly smooth soups and sauces, along with the fastest hollandaise sauce on the planet. It’s my favorite kitchen appliance to use on a Sunday morning when making brunch at home.” —Brad Warner, corporate chef at Bodega Negra and Tao Group Hospitality
Amazon
Kamenstein Revolving 20-Jar Spice Organizer, available at Amazon, Walmart, and Wayfair, from $44.99
“As someone who uses a lot of spices, a rotating spice rack is exactly what I recommend for organization and efficiency.” — Tarik Fallous, chef at Au Za’atar
Korin
Masamoto Sohonten VG Petty Knife, available at Amazon, $127.80
“This small utility knife is a little larger than the paring knife. It’s one of my most used knives in the kitchen. It is extremely versatile and is great for more delicate precision cuts.” —Tabitha Yeh, chef at Umma by Noodlelove
Amazon
Rosle Horizontal Peeler, available at Sur La Table, Amazon, and Macy’s, from $27.29
“One thing I feel lost without is this peeler. I peel everything: veggies, root veggies, squash, sweet potatoes, and regular potatoes. It makes it all fast and easy.” —Mee McCormick, owner of Pinewood Kitchen
Target
Anova Precision Cooker, available at Amazon, Target, and Crate & Barrel, from $139
“This immersion circulator cooks food to precise temperatures over long periods of time, creating amazing texture in meats and seafood. I love to use it to impress my friends when I’m hosting dinner at my house.” — Brad Warner, corporate chef at Bodega Negra and Tao Group Hospitality
Amazon
Breville Joule Sous Vide, available at Amazon, Sur La Table, and Crate & Barrel, from $248.50
“I love this sous vide machine because it is small, transportable, and reasonably priced. You can also operate it with the app on your phone, which makes it extremely easy to use.” — Leah Cohen, owner and chef of Pig & Khao and “Top Chef” alum
Hedley & Bennett
The Essential Apron, available at Hedley & Bennett, from $72
“Aprons from Valentich or Hedley & Bennett are sturdy, fashionable, with pockets in all the right places for your pens, tweezers, towels, and phone.” —Tabitha Yeh, chef at Umma by Noodlelove
Williams Sonoma
Walnut Ravioli Stamp, available at Williams Sonoma, from $42.95
Philips Pasta and Noodle Maker Plus, available at Amazon and Sur La Table, from $244.25
“There’s nothing more gratifying than making your own pasta at home. To make easy ravioli shapes, you can use a stamp to punch out the perfect pasta shapes with any fillings of your choice. Williams Sonoma makes a great option.
If you want an easy pasta maker to do the work, the Philips Pasta maker is a great tool to get fresh pasta at home, without the hassle of mixing and kneading the dough.” —Riccardo Orfino, chef at Osteria 57
Made In
Made In Silicone Universal Lid Kit, available at Made In, $69
“I would gift the Made In Universal Lid set to myself, and then probably any other “foodie” out there! I’m sure many can relate to having a plethora of differently sized pots and pans with a million different lids. These Universal Lids fit on all pots and pans, so you only need one — making it a lot easier to declutter and streamline, or as some say, ‘Marie Kondo’ their kitchen. — Brooke Williamson, co-owner of Hudson House and “Top Chef” winner
Williams Sonoma
Breville 4-Slice Smart Waffle Pro, available at Williams Sonoma, Sur La Table, and Crate & Barrel, from $219.95
“This is my favorite waffle maker to use on my days off when I am home with my husband Ben and now newborn. The waffles come out nice and crispy on the outside and chewy and tender on the inside. Easy to manipulate, too.” — Leah Cohen, owner and chef of Pig & Khao and “Top Chef” alum