The 36 Best Kitchen Gifts for Every Type of Home Cook

Our Place Kitchen Linens Set

View on Our Place

This set brings together three essentials that serious home cooks can't live without: a good kitchen apron, durable dish towels, and heat-resistant oven mitts. This Our Place set comes in three appealing colors (blue salt, sage, and lavender) that will complement any kitchen and look way better than the mismatched items most people use.

Toiro Kitchen Kamado-san Double-Lid Donabe Rice Cooker

View on Toirokitchen.com

The contrast of raw clay and glossy glaze makes this vessel attractive, but it also has a practical purpose. A traditional Japanese rice cooker, the donabe uses earthenware's natural heat retention and porosity to cook perfect rice by regulating moisture and dispersing heat. The unique double-lid design of this Tojiro donabe creates a high-pressure environment, allowing the rice to continue to steam after the heat is off, yielding a flawless fluffy texture every time in a more traditional but no less effective way than the electric rice cooker.

Instant Pot Vortex Plus 6-Quart Air Fryer

$140 $90 at Amazon $120 at Target $150 at Williams Sonoma

After years of testing and many rounds of rigorous evaluation, the Instant Vortex Plus has proved itself our absolute favorite large-capacity air fryer. Every few months, we'll get a new batch of air fryers to test against this model, and every time, it comes out on top. Air fryers are quickly becoming one of the most ubiquitous kitchen appliances; pretty much anyone can get good use out of one. We love the Vortex Plus for its versatility and consistent results. No matter if you're shopping for a busy parent who'd love to save a few extra minutes after school or the meal prepper of the friend group, this Instant air fryer is the right gift.

Flamingo Estate Roma Heirloom Tomato Candle

$58 at Shopterrain.com View on Flamingoestate.com

No matter where you are or what the weather looks like outside, this candle can transport you straight to a summer garden. "It smells shockingly accurate to putting your face over a bin of tomatoes at the farmer's market in August," says Food & Wine senior writer Jason Horn. "Fancy candles can sometimes clash with the smells of cooking, but you can keep this one lit as you finish prepping the marinara sauce and fresh pasta for a dinner party." Flamingo Estate actually has an entire Tomato Collection, featuring lotion, room spray, soap, and surface cleaner with the same scent.

Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat

$40 $23 at Amazon $23 at Target $23 at Walmart

A cookbook is a fun and easy way to help home cooks hone their skills in the kitchen, and this is one of our favorite cookbooks of all time. Samin Nosrat's Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat is a delightful look at the basics (and the intricacies) of cooking through the lens of the titular elements of flavor. Both novices and seasoned cooks will love the histories, illustrations, and recipes woven throughout the book. It's both a comfort and a conversation piece.

Falcon Enamelware Falcon Enamelware Bake Set

View on Falconenamelware.com

We love multitasking bakeware, and the cook on your list does, too. Falcon Enamelware's set is great for the friend who always makes the best banana bread, or casserole, or mac and cheese, or chicken, or honestly anything that can fit inside the stunning enameled dishes. Plus, you'll benefit as the giver: Whomever receives this set will surely want to invite you over for a lasagna (or bread pudding, or brownies, or chicken pot pie) to show off their new quintet of baking pans.

Burlap and Barrel Fundamentals Collection 6-Spice Set

View on Burlapandbarrel.com

Using good spices is the key to deep, fresh flavor, and you can't beat the quality of the single-origin spices from Burlap & Barrel. They're non-GMO and made without additives or fillers, ethically sourced and representative of the unique culinary regions they hail from. Any home cook will love the vibrant and pungent flavors of the brand's Fundamentals Collection bundles. Your options range from these six most basic essentials — garlic powder, thyme, smoked paprika, chile flakes, cinnamon, and rosemary — to the ultra-generous 24-spice set that upgrades an entire cabinet's worth of ingredients at once.

Dusen Dusen Everybody Grinders

View on Areaware.com

For the friend who won't let even their pepper grinder be boring, the Dusen Dusen Everybody Grinders are what their kitchen is missing. The bright, vibrant colors and whimsical design add personality to any countertop. The internal mechanism is made from sturdy stainless steel and ceramic for reliable grinding with style.

Made In Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven

$199 at Amazon View on Madeincookware.com

While this Dutch oven first caught our eye because of its rich, inky blue color, it also passes muster in the kitchen. We especially love the wide cooking surface and the slick enamel coating that keeps proteins from sticking to the pot. Made In's enameled Dutch oven will look excellent on any home cook's stovetop. Don't like the blue? There are always bright red and off-white options, plus a rotating seasonal assortment that includes deep ruby red and forest green colorways right now.

Emile Henry Oil Cruet

$50 at Amazon $57 at Food52 $57 at Sur La Table

Fancy olive oil deserves to be displayed in a fancy olive oil bottle. Our single favorite olive oil dispenser, this cruet is made of durable stoneware that protects the oil from harmful sunlight, from a beloved French ceramic brand that's been around since 1850. The stainless steel spout is designed to open when pouring and close when finished, providing a steady, dripless pour and keeping dust out of your oil. Its elegant design makes it a spot-on host gift, especially paired with a nice bottle of EVOO.

Ooni Koda 16 Pizza Oven

$599 at Amazon $600 at Williams Sonoma View on Ooni.com

Another editor-loved gift is this pizza oven, which achieves crispy, restaurant-quality pizza right in your own backyard. When shopping for a home cook who has everything, an outdoor pizza oven is an exciting option that can add variety and a new skill to a home cook's repertoire. This one was our top pick in testing because it heats up over 900°F quickly and cooks evenly, so pizzas come out with crisped edges and gooey, melty cheese.

Ninja Creami Deluxe 11-in-1 Ice Cream Maker

$250 $220 at Amazon $230 at Wayfair $220 at Walmart

Viral social media trends tend to burn out pretty quickly; only a few things are actually worth the buy a few months later. The Ninja Creami is undoubtedly a trending item that has the longevity to earn a permanent spot in our kitchen. It quickly became our favorite ice cream maker because you can turn almost any liquid into ice cream, and you don't need to know how to make fussy custard bases or worry about letting the machine run for hours on end. Everyone loves ice cream, and this is the ultimate gift for ice cream lovers.

Dorai Dish Rack

View on Doraihome.com

Luxury is probably not the first thing people look for in a dish drying mat, which is why Dorai's high-end one makes a great kitchen gift. The base plates made of diatomaceous earth soak up and evaporate water so quickly it looks like magic, while the shelf above helps you keep everything organized. There are snap-on bonus racks for knives, utensils, and glassware to truly keep all your items safe and contained while they dry.

Vitamix Ascent X5 Blender

View on Vitamix

“I don't feel any rush to get married, except I worry that I won't receive a Vitamix blender unless that happens," says Food & Wine senior editor Maria Yagoda. "Let's normalize gifting single people Vitamixes because they deserve to have super silky smoothies, soups, and sauces too!” The incredibly powerful and versatile blenders are pretty pricey, and a special occasion is the perfect excuse to ask for one. The Ascent A3500 was our previous favorite Vitamix, but it's in the process of being discontinued in favor of the similar but even-more-advanced X5.

Threshold Table Runner

$23 $18 at Target

Every cook needs a well-adorned table, and this Threshold runner is sure to enhance any tablescape. With its minimal and lively geometric design, it can fit in with a variety of kitchen and dining room aesthetics and will accent any stylish dinnerware set, no matter the color or vibe. Best of all, it's machine-washable for easy cleaning and maintenance between uses.

Dough-Joe The Samurai Baking Sheet

$92 $76 at Amazon View on Fallsculinary.com

Unfortunately, not every home has a backyard or patio suitable for an outdoor pizza oven. But don't fret: The pizza lovers on your list can still make restaurant-quality pies at home. The Dough-Joe Samurai is our favorite pizza stone because of its unbeatable heat retention. Though not technically made of stone (it's carbon steel), it gave us crispy-but-not-burnt pizza every time. After gifting one of these, you'll be invited to pizza nights for years.

Thrifty Old Time Ice Cream Scooper

$27 at Amazon

If you haven't heard, we really love this ice cream scoop. It's a unique kitchen gadget that even the home cook who has everything will be glad to add to their collection. The genius design is totally unlike every other ice cream scoop we've ever tested, making cylindrical pucks that fit perfectly atop a waffle cone. It's an unexpected and useful gift that they'll reach for over and over again.

Farmhouse Pottery Pantry Candlesticks

$75 at Food52 $65 at West Elm View on Farmhousepottery.com

Nothing sets the mood at a dinner party like well-placed candlelight, and these hand-turned wooden candlesticks are sure to add a bit of rustic charm. They're made of ash, and available in two sizes and three colors (natural, white, and black). Combined with tapered candles, the sleek, curved shape will bring a modern touch to the tablescape of the entertainer in your life.

Ball Stack & Store Jars

$30 $26 at Walmart

Food storage containers don't scream memorable gift, but these jars are the ideal replacement for most kitchens' mismatched assortment. "As a person with a small kitchen, these jars were such a game changer," says Food & Wine social media editor Merlyn Miller. "They made it easy to maximize my storage space, they look nice, and they keep dry goods fresh for so much longer."

Mueller Cold Brew Coffee Maker

$17 at Amazon

We all know that one person drinks cold coffee year-round, and our favorite cold brew maker in testing is the perfect gift for creating concentrated iced coffee at home. You just fill the basket with coffee grounds, fill with water, and stick the whole thing in the refrigerator for a day or two. The ultra-fine stainless steel strainer helps filter out any bits of coffee grounds, and everything fits together nicely for a leakproof seal. The Mueller is remarkably low-priced, but it outperformed options many times its cost.

Material The Trio of Knives

$195 $158 at Amazon View on Materialkitchen.com $170 at The Container Store

“Material's bestselling 8-inch chef's knife is one of my go-to knives, and this set includes that knife, plus a smaller 4-inch paring knife and a serrated bread knife," says Food & Wine senior editor Danielle St. Pierre. "The new limited-edition Sage colorway feels gift-worthy for the holidays.”

Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Bread Oven

$300 at Amazon $300 at Williams Sonoma $300 at Nordstrom

For adventurous home cooks looking to try their hand at breadmaking, set them up for success with a bread cloche from Le Creuset. Bread cloches create the ideal environment for dough to thrive as it cooks, and this one helps bakers achieve a crispy crust with a solid base and tender, structured center. Available in a range of gorgeous colors, this petite cooker from a classic brand makes an elegant and timeless gift.

Great Jones Hot Dish

View on Greatjonesgoods.com $90 at West Elm $90 at Urban Outfitters

If you're looking for a host gift that's as practical as it is attractive, try giving a stylish casserole dish. This one from Great Jones is our very favorite, perfect for lasagna, baked macaroni and cheese, or cobbler, and it makes for a fantastic gift for any type of cook. The large, looped handles make it easy to grab from the oven, and the ceramic construction is naturally nonstick. We baked a ton of lasagnas to find the best casserole dishes, and this one produced flawless results every time.

Hayate Yoshihiro Cutting Board

$100 at Amazon View on Echefknife.com

Most cooks wouldn't think to look for a luxury plastic cutting board, and that's why this Hayate Yoshihiro is a great gift. It's designed for sashimi, sitting incredible stably on the counter and absorbing slices from ultra-sharp Japanese knives without damage. While cheap plastic boards might only last a few months, this one will be good for many, many years.

Mac Knife 8-Inch Hollow Edge Chef's Knife

$155 at Amazon View on Cutleryandmore.com View on Macknife.com

Everyone needs a reliable chef's knife, and for a passionate home cook there's no better gift. Though there are a ton of styles to choose from, this Mac model stood out in our testing. It's sharp and lightweight, with a nonslip handle that promotes an ergonomic grip.

Caraway Large Baking Sheet

$49 at Amazon $45 $41 at Target $55 $50 at Nordstrom

The pop of color on the underside of this cookie sheet somehow makes holiday cookies from your favorite home baker look even tastier. Caraway is an editor-favorite brand due to its nontoxic ceramic coating, which makes for easy release and comes in handy for things like cookies or sheet-pan dinners. The inside is a standard silver color to ensure recipes work as expected, but the bottom offers nine distinctive options you can't find in any other cookie sheet.

Brightland The Mini Essentials Set

View on Brightland.co $53 at Bloomingdales

A set of fresh and flavorful oils and vinegars is an ideal gift for any cook, no matter their skill level. Besser notes Brightland as one of her favorite brands for both — and it won our own olive oil taste tests, too. "Every cook uses oil, acid, and salt when cooking, and they can never get enough of it," she adds. This set is a great introduction to the brand, with 100-milliliter mini-bottles of two olive oils, a balsamic vinegar, and a Champagne vinegar.

Cuisinart Vertical Waffle Maker

$60 at Amazon $70 at Walmart View on Cuisinart.com

Homemade waffles are the ultimate breakfast indulgence, and this gadget makes it easy to have them every day of the week. Give your favorite home cook the gift of weekend brunch with our top-tested waffle maker. The vertical design makes it efficient and compact; it doesn't take up too much space on the countertop, so a batch of waffles is always within reach.

Material The Full Glass Set

View on Materialkitchen.com $64 at Saks Fifth Avenue $65 at Zola

This Material set is among our favorite colorful glassware and is made for gifting. Colored glass has always been a smart way to add a pop of interest to place settings, and the muted, moody green Malachite or grey-black Haze available for this Material set strike a balance of on-trend and timeless. (You can also get the uniquely shaped vessels in traditional clear glass.) For the person who always has a stocked bar cart or batched cocktail at every dinner party, these glasses will be the pieces their collection is missing.

Merten & Storck 12-Inch Carbon Steel Frying Pan

$50 $29 at Amazon $50 at Walmart

For serious cooks who love cast iron, it's time to add a carbon steel pan to their cookware collection and open up a whole new world. Professional chefs agree that carbon steel is a game-changer: It combines the benefits of nonstick skillets with the heat retention abilities of cast iron. It's a heavy-duty workhorse that can sear, fry, bake, or even go on the grill, so it's a useful gift for any home cook. We put eight of the leading carbon steel pans to the test, and this model was one of our top finishers for its outstanding performance at a reasonable price.

Misen Steak Knife Set of 4

$84 at Amazon View on Misen.com

Vibe-y and unique flatware sets always show a host's personality, but most don't come with steak knives, and knife sets can be dull or clash with the rest of the utensils. That's where this set of Misen steak knives comes in. Misen is known for its razor-sharp chef's knives, and we love its steak knife set because it has top-quality blades with memorable design elements, plus seven handle color options.

Aarke Carbonator III Sparkling & Seltzer Water Maker

$226 $210 at Amazon $230 at Williams Sonoma View on Aarke.us

This countertop carbonator is the perfect gift for the friend who always has a can of seltzer in their hand. It was one of our favorite soda makers during testing. It saves money compared to store-bought and eliminates waste. Aarke has a line of flavor drops as well as cocktail mixers for your favorite host's at-home bar. The machine doesn't require electricity, and there are no fussy settings; just pull the lever and you've got sparkling water in seconds.

Smithey No. 10 Cast Iron Skillet

$85 at Food52 View on Smithey.com $215 at Zola

Cast iron skillets are heritage items that can be passed down from generation to generation — if you choose the right one. Smithey makes some of the finest ironware that any cook would be happy to receive, thanks to its smooth, polished surface that is both elegant and effective. In addition, these skillets are durable and heavy-duty, with curved walls and an extra-long handle. And yes — you can put soap on cast iron.

Food52 x Dansk Købenstyle Saucepan

$72 at Food52

Vintage Scandinavian design has been trendy for years: We're declaring it officially timeless. Although this pot was created way back in the 1950s, it looks right at home on a table in 2024. The lid also doubles as a trivet, so the pot can go from the stovetop to the table, and any of the dozen colorways is worth a showcase. Plus, retailer Food52 is one of our favorite places to buy cookware, and you can probably find another piece for yourself while you're browsing.

Fellow Stagg EKG Electric Kettle

$165 at Amazon $166 at Target $166 at Target

A gooseneck kettle is the ideal choice for making a barista-level pour-over coffee, and the Fellow Stagg EKG was our favorite gooseneck kettle, as well as one of our favorite electric kettles overall. It has a built-in brew timer for the easiest coffee-making experience. But tea lovers (and instant ramen aficionados) will also love this kettle for how quickly it heats up and how easy it is to get a controlled pour. The Stagg EKG gave us the most precise temperature measurements of all in testing, and it can hold its temperature for up to an hour.

East Fork Mixing Bowl

View on Eastfork.com

This handmade ceramic bowl comes in five stunning core colors as well as a rotating seasonal assortment. The wide, sloping shape is ideal for proofing bread dough, serving salads, or storing fruit on the countertop — or, of course, for mixing things. No matter the use or the type of cook, they'll want to keep this bowl out on display.