30 Chef-Approved Kitchen Gifts That Are Worth Your Money

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Maybe it’s due to the upcoming holiday season, or the fact that we can't stop rewatching The Bear, but cooking gifts are on the brain. If you know someone who’s always testing out new and inventive recipes, they need a gift that will make cooking more efficient and fun.

From Le Creuset classics to chef-approved cookbooks and stocking stuffers, we hand-picked a little bit of everything that any cook would appreciate. We also featured a few cooking gifts that cater to kiddos who love helping out in the kitchen.

To curate the best of the best, we asked two industry experts about the best gifts they’ve ever received or given to fellow chefs. We also culled best-sellers with impressive reviews, unique experiences everyone in the family can enjoy, and downright adorable gifts that every chef needs in their possession.

From affordable to splurge-worthy, see below for the best cooking gifts for your favorite home chef and foodie.

Six Seasons: A New Way with Vegetables

For the friend who has everything, check out this chef-recommended cookbook. As the name suggests, author Joshua McFadden separates the year into six seasons: spring, early summer, midsummer, late summer, fall, and winter.

"McFadden cleverly breaks the produce seasons into six instead of four, which is exactly how I've always felt, especially since I am in one of the best regions in the world for produce," says Michael S. Quigley, executive chef at The Estate Yountville in Yountville, California. "I have given this book as a gift to several chefs, and home cooks, and they have all enjoyed it as much as I have."

Yolélé Bold West African Spice Rub/Dip Mix Trio

Started by Senegalese chef Pierre Thiam, Yolélé (a term loosely meaning "let the good times roll") brings African spices to your kitchen. This gift set includes three full-size tins of spices: Yassa, Afro-Funk, and Rof.

Gourmet 2-Piece Knife Cook's Set

For anyone looking to sharpen their cooking skills, these kitchen knives are a must-have, according to Lindsay Kinder, a San Francisco-based cooking instructor and creator of FOOD LA LA. "You don't need a full block," Kinder says. "Just a chef's knife and a paring knife—and if you spring for a third, make it a serrated knife."

Easy Peasie Vegetable Powder Blends

Know someone who has a picky eater on their hands? The gift that keeps on giving for parents is Easy Peasie Vegetable Powder Blends. Two tablespoons of the powder amounts to a cup of vegetables, so you can add them to any meal or snack for added (and yes, sneaky!) nutrition.

Chinese Soup Dumpling Kit

If you can't make it to Din Tai Fung for their dreamy Kurobuta Pork Xiao Long Bao, consider gifting this soup dumpling kit. It comes with a bamboo steamer, parchment paper rounds, a dumpling dough roller, wooden spatula, agar agar powder, and instructions on how to put them together.

TRUFFLIN Sriracha

When you think about hot sauce, there's at least one spice lover who comes to mind. This paleo- and vegan-friendly option is made with black truffles, making it the ultimate indulgence.

SIMPLi Sacred Valley Salt Trio

Salt can add so much to a dish, and your favorite home cook can start experimenting with this trio of salt tins. The items include a Peruvian herb salt blend, spice salt blend, and pink salt.

Simmered in Spice: Ethiopian Cooking

A hands-on experience can provide your cooking pal with the most unique, memorable gift. Chef Eleni Woldeyes is hosting several virtual cooking classes that will help home cooks learn how to prepare three traditional Ethiopian dishes.

Ratio: The Simple Codes Behind the Craft of Everyday Cooking

In this New York Times best-selling cookbook, author Michael Ruhlman goes back to the basics of cooking. "What this book does is break things down to ratios," Quigley says. "For example, if I needed to make a fish mousse, which is something I don't do very often, I completely know the technique to make it, and the different flavors that I want to incorporate."

My Family Cookbook

My 102-year-old Italian great-grandmother never shares measurements or specifics—for her, it's all about having a "feel" for the proper amount of any ingredient. One day, my husband joined her in the kitchen and wrote down everything, so we could have a clear record of her delicious recipes. This family cookbook will encourage your loved ones to record all of the recipes (and memories!) you'll want to pass down to future generations.

27-Piece Kitchen Foundation Kit for Kids

Do you have a pint-size sous chef in your household? If so, one of our favorite cooking kits for kids includes a variety of cooking and baking tools, plus an apron, chef's hat, and oven mitts.

UMAID Himalayan Salt Block

Chef Greg Mueller, recteq's director of culinary innovation, previously shared with Delish that this is one of his go-to grilling gifts—but it's also incredibly versatile. Use the salt block to cook, cut, and serve your food.

Ode to Home State Dish Towel

Let your loved one show off their state pride with this dish towel, which is made for each state in the U.S. Plus, each one has an "ode" based on the state's nickname.

Electric Lunch Box

There's always that one friend who's constantly on the go. With this electric lunch box, they have a transportable carrying case that will heat up their food. This unique item also comes in five other colors.

Kitchen Linens Set

Your home cook will look chic and sophisticated with this set of linens. Complete with an apron, dish towels, and hot mitts, Our Place will level-up anyone's kitchen apparel. If blue isn't their color, the set also comes in sage and lavender.

Nielsen-Massey Pure Vanilla Bean Paste

"This stuff is like liquid gold," Kinder says. "Use it 1:1 instead of vanilla extract, and it will add some oomph to whatever you’re baking or cooking (I love to add it to blended coffee!). It’s easy to use and is made with vanilla beans, so you get the vanilla seeds without having to do the work of splitting beans. You can buy smaller jars, but this big one is a much better deal—I splurge and buy the moms in my life a bottle of this each year!"

Stockpot

This is one of our go-to stock pots for many reasons. The carbon steel cookware can heat up your food quickly, plus it has cool-touch handles and is easy to clean. We're also obsessed with the wide color range available.

BSB510XL Control Grip Immersion Blender

This kitchen gadget is sure to make anyone feel like a pro. It has near-countless uses, but people love having it on-hand to make soups, sauces, whipped cream, and more.

Cup Board Pro Cutting & Carving Block

Cooking is all fun and games...until you have to clean up. But thanks to this cutting board, which you may have seen on Shark Tank, you can easily collect any scraps in the detachable tray.

VSOP 25-Year Barrel-Aged Balsamic Vinegar & Arbequina Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Gift Set

Sometimes, the best gifts are the elevated version of grocery store staples. This set of balsamic vinegar and olive oil bottles are a special something that will get a lot of use.

ORBLUE Garlic Press

Quigley says a garlic press is his most frequently used kitchen tool. "I have given this as a gift to several family members over the years, and they have all loved it, and didn't know how they lived without it before," he says.

Enameled Cast Iron Heart Skillet Fry Pan

Forget your sleeve and wear your heart on your stove with this cast iron frying pan. It's made in both red and light pink.

Williams Sonoma Classic Solid Personalized Adult & Kid Aprons

You and your mini me can match in these personalized aprons from Williams Sonoma. They come in six different colors, and you can customize them with your cook's name or monogram.

7-Piece Plating Spoon Kit

If home cooks really want to step up their game in the kitchen, they need to work on plating. This spoon kit has everything they'll need to look like they belong on the next season of Top Chef.

Kitchen Gadgets Set

If you know a cook who loves cooking while traveling, consider gifting them this miniature set of kitchen gadgets. The six-piece set includes a foldable paring knife, vegetable peeler, pizza cutter, grater, bottle opener, and garlic and ginger grinder.

Pasta Maker Machine

You don't need to travel to Italy for the best homemade pasta. This device, one of our all-time favorite pasta makers, is made in Italy and has additional attachments depending on your preferred noodle shape.

Foodie Dice

Decision fatigue is real, but you can avoid it at mealtimes with the Foodie Dice. Roll the dice and let fate decide what's on the menu that night.

Y Vegetable Peeler

Here's another kitchen tool that makes the ideal stocking stuffer: "This looks like just another veggie peeler, but until you’ve peeled with it, you can’t understand the magic," Kinder says. "Just trust me on this one and toss it in your stockings!"

MasterChef Family Cooking Game

Take family game night into the kitchen with this interactive gift. It comes with challenges, recipes, and child-safe knives, so you can create a fun learning activity the entire family will enjoy.

Hyzrz Chef Hat

There's always one person who's the chef of the household. And of course, every chef needs a proper hat to seal the deal.

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