Top ten gifts for the cook in your life
We all know that one person who lives in the kitchen and loves creating food. In my house, that person is me! These gift ideas are all under $50, and are all products I own and use (or something very similar) or have personally added to my own Christmas list! Some of these are even stocking-sized.
1. This gift is for the practical cook who follows recipes on a phone or tablet. This tablet holder keeps devices out of foods way. I use a similar one and it keeps my spills and splatters off of my phone.
2. Every cook needs better control on oil use! This Oil spritzer not only functions well but is a pretty addition to the countertop. I have a very similar one and it’s a game changer. Pro tip: if you use cast iron, one spritz from this is exactly enough to season a skillet.
3. Meat thermometer — We use these when grilling and also to check a roast chicken without having to slice it open (ruining the crispy skin!). This is a must have.
4. For the avid pie baker, a French rolling pin is a must. Regular pins bend at the handles when rolling a particularly cold crust, plus, this one is so stylish and stows away easier.
5. It just isn’t soup season without an elegant Enameled Dutch oven. This white one looks crisp and fresh while it evenly cooks your soups, stews, and pot roasts. This one is an oven-to-table classic you’ll keep forever.
6. Every home cook must have a copy of Marcella Hazan’s “The Essentials of Italian Cooking”. This book teaches all the essentials, from pasta to sauce to gelato. This is one of my recipes inspired by this book.
7. This Le Creuset Pepper Mill is beautiful enough to display and functional enough to use for everything. You’ll forego grocery store grinders in favor of bulk peppercorns forever. And if you have any other pieces by Le Creuset, there’s a color to match.
8. A Pastry cutter and biscuit cutter set is a small luxury but a worthwhile one nonetheless. My mother sent me this one when she saw a video of me cutting biscuits with my vintage glassware. It quickly became a staple for crusts, biscuits and cookies. You can even use it to poach or fry a perfect egg.
9. A good chef knife is really the main thing you need in the kitchen. This one (I have a similar one that is out of stock) is surprisingly sharp and heavy for the low price. If you’re not ready to invest in a set of pricier cutlery, this one is a great choice.
10. An immersion blender always seemed like an unnecessary gadget to me, until I finally got one. This is an indispensable tool in our kitchen as it prevents me from having to put hot soup in a stand blender. I also use it for salad dressings, the whisk attachment for cakes and puddings —you name it, this high performer can do it.
Have any suggestions that need to be added to the list! Let me know by emailing me at sarah@modernhippiekitchen.com. These are affiliate links, which means I get a small commission if you purchase while browsing. I only post items I have personal knowledge of and think will help my readers in their cooking journeys!
About The Author
Sarah
I am a mom of two and wife to a martial arts school owner, full-time social media professional and avid cook and gardener. I love creating recipes and involving my kids in the process. The food we cook is usually dairy-free and gluten-free, and sometimes paleo, but we make exceptions (ahem, sourdough bread). The “hippie” part of this blog comes into play in the ingredients we use—I’m pretty vigilant about the health of my family and you could even call me “crunchy.” The “modern” part is that I am busy! You won’t catch me making my own nut milk or churning butter (not that there’s anything wrong with that). I’m more than happy to take the shortcuts provided by our lovely grocery stores and online shopping —especially in the midst of this global pandemic.