The 35 Best Kitchen Gifts for Anyone Who Loves to Cook

There are a few things that serious home cooks can’t live without: a good apron, durable dish towels, and heat-resistant oven mitts. This Kitchen Linens set from Our Place brings all these essentials into one package. It also comes in three appealing colors (blue salt, sage, and lavender) that will complement any kitchen.

After years of testing and countless rounds of rigorous tests, the Instant Vortex Plus is our absolute favorite air fryer. Every few months, we’ll get a new batch of air fryers to test against this Instant 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.

A cookbook is a fun and easy way to help home cooks hone their skills in the kitchen, and this is one of our favorites. Samin Nosrat’s Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat is a delightful look at the basics (and the intricacies) of cooking through the lens of four main elements. 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.

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.

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. This enameled Dutch oven will look excellent on any home cook’s stovetop.

Another editor-loved gift is this pizza oven, which achieves crispy, restaurant-quality pizza right from 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 heats up quickly and cooks evenly, so pizzas come out with crisped edges and gooey, melty cheese.

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 super easy release and comes in handy for things like cookies or sheet-pan dinners.

“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.

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.

For the friend who won’t let even their pepper grinder be boring, these Dunsen and Dunsen 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 easy grinding while looking stylish.

Nothing sets the mood at a dinner party like well-placed candlelight, and these farmhouse-style candlesticks are sure to add a bit of rustic charm. Made of hand-turned ash wood, they’re stained in light neutrals that show off the wood’s natural grain. The sleek, curved shape will bring a modern touch to the tablescape of the entertainer in your life.

Storage jars don’t scream memorable gift, but this set is the ideal replacement for most kitchens’ mismatched assortment of containers. “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.”

This scrumptious candle will make a great addition to any cook’s kitchen. Its light pear scent with hints of warm vanilla, whipping cream, and apple peel fill the room without overwhelming your senses. We think it’s an excellent gift for anyone who loves a luxury candle with a fresh and fruity fragrance for fall and winter.

Using good spices is the key to deep, fresh flavor. You can’t beat the quality of these single-origin spices from Burlap & Barrel — they’re non-GMO and made without additives or fillers. They’re ethically sourced and representative of the unique culinary regions they hail from. Any home cook will love this gift bundle’s vibrant and pungent flavors, which include Turkish chili flakes, French rosemary, and Vietnamese cinnamon.

We all know that one person drinks cold coffee year-round, our editors love this cold brew maker for iced coffee at home. Just fill the container with coffee grounds and top with water. The rainfall effect helps evenly distribute water, so the grinds steep consistently. The ultra-fine stainless steel strainer helps filter out any bits of coffee grounds, leaving you with fresh, smooth cold brew without the coffee shop prices.

“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 knife and a serrated knife,” says Food & Wine senior commerce editor Danielle St. Pierre. “The new limited-edition Sage colorway feels gift-worthy for the holidays.”

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 in, and this one helps users 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.

If you’re looking for a hostess gift that’s as practical as it is attractive, try giving a stylish casserole dish. This one from Great Jones is perfect for lasagna, baked macaroni and cheese, or blueberry 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 — winning it the top spot overall.

Whether breaking down a whole chicken or serving some bread and cheese, this Fredericks and Mae plastic cutting board is the answer. It’s made from thick, durable plastic, but that doesn’t mean it has to look drab. The slight terrazzo confetti pattern is one-of-a-kind and eye-catching. It blends form with function, making it an excellent gift idea. Everyone could use another cutting board, so in a sea of plain white, why not gift them their new favorite?

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 over all others in our testing. It’s sharp and lightweight, with a nonslip handle that promotes an ergonomic grip.

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. “Every cook uses oil, acid, and salt when cooking, and they can never get enough of it,” she adds. Keep your favorite home cook stocked with this set, which includes two oils and two vinegars.

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 this 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.

We love multitasking bakeware, and the cook on your list does, too. This 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, brownies, or chicken pot pie) to show off their new baking pans.

This Material set is our favorite colorful glassware and is made for gifting. Colored glass has always been a smart way to add a pop of interest to a place setting, but the muted, moody colors of this Material set strike a balance of on-trend and timeless. 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.

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, or bake, so it’s a useful gift for any home cook. We put eight of the leading pans to the test, and this model unequivocally won our best value spot for its outstanding performance at a reasonable price.

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 this steak knife set because it has top-quality blades but with design elements that traditional steak knives often lack.

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. It doesn’t require electricity, and there are no fussy settings; just pull the lever and you’ve got sparkling water in seconds.

Cast iron skillets are a heritage item that can be passed down from generation to generation. Smithey makes some of the finest ironware that any cook would be happy to recieve, 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 them.

Vintage Scandinavian design is currently trendy, yet totally timeless. Although this pot was designed almost 70 years ago, it looks right at home among more modern cookware. The lid is also a trivet, so the pot can go from the stovetop to the table, and any of the 13 colorways is worth a showcase.

A gooseneck kettle is the ideal choice for making a barista-level pour-over coffee. 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. When we tested electric kettles, this was our favorite gooseneck option because it gave the most precise temperature measurements of all, and it can hold temperature for up to an hour.

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 salad, 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.

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 flawless fluffy texture every time.

Unfortunately, not every home has a backyard or outdoor space suitable for a pizza oven. But don’t fret: The pizza lovers on your list can still make restaurant-quality pies at home. This is our favorite pizza stone because of its unbeatable heat retention. It gave us crispy-but-not-burnt pizza every time. After gifting this stone, you’ll be invited to pizza nights for years.

Fancy olive oil deserves to be displayed in a fancy bottle. This cruet from Le Creuset’s Olive Branch line is made of durable stoneware that protects the oil from harmful sunlight. The stainless steel spout is designed to open when pouring and close when finished, providing a steady, dripless pour. Its elegant design makes it a spot-on host or hostess gift.