35 Gifts for Serious Home Cooks

Your favorite home cook probably already has a decent set of knives, but this one was on our list of the best because of its beautiful design and magnetic stand. In fact, we wrote: "As soon as you open the box, you get the same wow feeling you experience when you unpack a new iPhone." It'll impress anyone, and it's a reliable set with three high-quality blades.

Any serious home cook loves Le Creuset, and this beautiful 8-ounce mini cocotte would be a charming, lovely present. Available in an array of colorful hues, it would be perfect for mini desserts or baked brie.

This was our favorite splurge during our best electric knife test, because it feels premium and cuts like a dream. It has stainless steel blades that are dishwasher-friendly, and it works on everything from turkey to baguettes to even, thin slices of tomato. A home cook would have fun with this one.

Spice up a cook’s life – and their food – with a sleek battery operated pepper and spice grinder. All they have to do is fill one of the spice pods with their go-to peppercorn, seed, salt or garlic, press a button on top and voila. Fresh spices in an instant! They can make the grind more or less coarse with the turn of a dial at the bottom of the grinder. When they want to use a new ingredient, they can just pop on another pod. To quote the Barefoot Contessa: How easy is that?

Great cooks know that getting the sear right on a piece of meat is everything. So when the steaks are high (and hot), they’ll want to turn to a quality meat thermometer to make sure that the filet is fine. With the Chef iQ they can set their ideal temp, and put a tiny probe in the meat. Once it reaches that desired temp (140-150 degrees F for a medium cut of steak, for example) they’ll get a notification that the meat is done and ready to serve. It’s basically error-proof!

This gorgeous butcher block was on our round-up of best cutting boards because of it's generous size and centerpiece-worthy aesthetic. It'd be great for a roast or even to use as a charcuterie board.

Once they start using a fish spatula, they’ll never go back to turning trout with a regular old one. This thin, slimmer version is sturdy but flexible, which makes it ideal for sliding underneath salmon without tearing the skin. The slotted design also allows excess oil to filter out.

Trust us, they will not be bitter about getting this tasty set. It comes with strawberry, tangerine and blueberry fruit vinegars, which are not only super colorful and pretty in a pantry, but make great salad dressings and an unexpected addition to cocktails and desserts.

Every home cook struggles with leftovers, which in turn contributes to the larger issue of food waste. This innovative cookbook has an incredible 1,500 recipes to help turn leftovers into delicious new meals. It's a James Beard award nominee, too.

Made from sustainably sourced black walnut wood, this set allows home cooks to make two different types of pasta at home: gnocchi and linguine. Forget the fancy pasta attachments and do it the old-fashioned way.

This salt cellar makes seasoning dishes a breeze; just open up the sturdy lid, grab a pinch, and go. Home cooks who appreciate utility will love eliminating the hassle of a salt grinder, and anyone who favors design will swoon over the sleek marble. It comes with a spoon, too.

These innovative tongs from Williams Sonoma are flat and ridged; and they're specially made to easily lift delicate food off of sheet pans like vegetables, baked goods and fish. The handle is stainless steel and the head is made from durable nylon.

Upgrade your most used knife in the kitchen to this new chef's one to slice and dice all your foods for meal time and meal prep. The size and design is meant to fit into your hand and feel like a natural extension for easy, clean and precise cuts. And we love that the blade comes a little wide fpr when you're transferring ingredients from board to pan!

If there’s one thing cooks do a whole lot of, it’s standing around the kitchen…and pacing while waiting for things to finish cooking. Give their feet a break with a cushioned mat that fights fatigue. This one has beveled edges for safe stepping and waterproof woven-tweed exterior to keep it, and the kitchen, looking good.

For truly rockin’ guac, you need a good mortar and pestle set. This marble one is just 3" x 5" so it won’t take up a ton of cabinet space but will come in handy for making great guacamole or crushing herbs and spices to release maximum flavor.

Stylish kitchens require equally good-looking products that includes smaller items like kitchen timers. This analog model designed by Michael Graves in 1992 is a modern piece of design history, and more than worthy of counter space.

A nice apron is a non-negotiable for cooks (especially messy ones). And if you’re going to buy a chef an apron, it should be a Hedley & Bennett: a pro chef favorite thanks to their sturdy build and myriad of color and pattern options. Their Essentials apron comes in over 60 colorways and has a lifetime guarantee, so they can really put it through the ringer.

The king or queen of the grill deserves their own set of cool tools, and this barbecue set definitely qualifies. It comes with a 4 ½-inch utility knife, 6-inch boning knife, 8-inch chef’s knife, 10-inch slicer and 10-inch curved blade. All of that comes in a sleek and sophisticated leather knife roll, so it basically gift-wraps itself!

This is a really special gift for a special home cook — it's a cutting board that can be personalized with a family recipe. Scan a recipe card and upload it after purchase, and they'll engrave it (handwriting and all) right onto the cutting board. It's a way to preserve memories for generations to come.

Tortillas are deceptively easy to make (you can make a pretty great one with just masa and water), and nothing beats one that's freshly made. However, you do need a tortilla press. We rated this cast iron option our "best value" pick in our tested review. It's made in Mexico and comes with 100 pieces of parchment for a nonstick finish.

When your favorite chef is working hard in the kitchen, keep their tea and coffee as warm as it was when they first poured it with this innovative mug. It keeps drinks warm for hours, with an automatic off function for pace of mind.

The best presents are both pretty and useful, so this hammered copper and glass dish really checks all the boxes. Use it to store butter at room temperature (which is the most delicious way to eat it!) and then serve it in this pretty container.

Roasted garlic anyone? Give garlic lovers (that doesn’t narrow down the pool much) the best way to turn it from a regular old bulb to silky buttery goodness— a cast iron baker! All they have to do is put a whole head inside, drizzle olive oil, and let it cook. Now it’s ready to spread.

One of the ingredients in a home kitchen that should always be high quality if possible? Vanilla extract. This set of three cold pressed options include Tahitian vanilla, Madagascar Bourbon and Mexican. It'll elevate baked dishes, beverages and more.

There are kitchen pans, and then there are works of art that also happen to cook food well. This hand-forged iron skillet is the second. It’s a modern heirloom that they can feel good about using now and handing down. For an extra special add-on, you can have the skillet engraved with their name, the date, or a personal message.

Everyone likes a nice new appliance, but what people who are cooking every day really need are awesome gadgets and tools. An upgraded zester, like this one which is made of surgical-grade stainless steel, will have them making killer cocktails, tangy dressings and other zesty dishes with a smile.

When gifting a cult-favorite ingredient, more is more! Maldon sea salt flakes are both a cook and baker’s best friend. Sprinkle them on top of caramel, butter, vegetables — you name it. It instantly elevates a dish, even if it’s just Tuesday morning’s buttered toast.

Staff makes everything more fun – or at least all those utilitarian household items we usually don’t give much thought to. This funky baster is the perfect example – it’s happy! It’s pink, purple, smiley-faced and definitely something they don’t already have.

Dull knives are the Kryptonite of most home cooks; and it'll turn even the most expensive chef's knife useless. This high-quality Japanese sharpening stone solves that problem. The double-sided whetstone both sharps and polishes while the wooden base keeps it sturdy.

Make no mis-steak, meat lovers will be thrilled to open this box from famous butcher, Pat Lafrieda. It comes with two black angus 30 day dry boneless strip steaks, two 30 day dry aged boneless ribeyes, four dry aged hamburgers and a bottle of steak sauce.

These stretch silicone bowl covers turn any vessel into an airtight container, making it quick and easy to keep leftovers safe and secure. The lids are especially handy for people who tend to lose the tops of their Tupperware containers (no judgment).

Frequent bakers have their go-to dishes, but there’s always room for a new favorite in a new size. The Little Hottie (how great is the name?) is just 8” x 8”, so it’ll become their go-to piece for small servings. The retro scalloped print comes in four bright colors and will be the envy at any potluck.

Our top pick for best kitchen scale, this will go far in a serious home cook's kitchen; especially for precision baking. We love how sturdy and durable it is, and it's exactly what we use in the Food Network Test Kitchen.

If you know someone who lives for making their own loaves of sourdough or sandwich bread, a bread box is the best way to keep them fresh for longer. This one was our top pick in our best bread box test, thanks to its deep compartment and sleek design.

You can't go wrong with kitchen towels; they're great for cleaning up everything from flour spills to wiping wet hands. These gorgeous striped versions are made from 100% Turkish cotton and are an elevated version of a much used staple.