Help your loved ones whip up a delight in the kitchen with a gift that will take their cooking game to the next level.
My Top Gift Choice For People Who Love To Cook
Every home cook needs a good quality set of knives for their kitchen, and a great place to start is with this chef's knife and paring knife set from Wusthof, as these knives are super sharp, precise, and comfortable to use.
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Cooking has become a hugely popular pastime, as you can see by the amount of cooking shows on TV in recent years.
And this is a good thing, because cooking can be great for peoples physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
As the repetitive motions involved in stirring, chopping, and slicing ingredients can help to relax you and relieve stress.
And cooking is a challenging and rewarding activity you can share with your friends and family, both in the cooking process and in sharing your creations with them afterwards.
Plus it's healthier too, as home-made food allows you to control what you put into your meals, meaning you get the all the goodness of real food, rather than eating processed food that is full of crap.
Not to mention the smells, tastes and flavours of the food, which makes your soul sing.
So, if you have a friend or loved one who enjoys cooking, then why not encourage them with a gift to help them out in the kitchen.
As the following gift ideas for people who love to cook are all things that any home chef would really appreciate.
1. A Good Quality Chef's Knife For Sharp Cuts
The first thing any self-respecting home cook needs in their armoury is a high quality chef's knife.
As this will help them to chop, dice, and slice vegetables and fruits precisely, while also being able to cut through meats and fish with ease.
And having a paring knife on hand is also important.
As this will give them even more control when cutting smaller and more complicated items, as well as being great for peeling fruit and vegetables.
So getting someone who loves to cook a kitchen knife set makes for a great gift idea, and one set I'd recommend is the Wusthof classic 2-piece knife set.
As this contains an 8" chef's knife and a 3.5" paring knife, both with high carbon stainless steel blades that are sharp, precise, and angled to give them the best cutting quality.
And the handles are comfortable and easy to grip too, which will help to keep their hands safe when slicing and dicing.
2. A Knife Sharpener To Keep The Blades Razor Sharp
Once you have a decent set of chef's knives, it's really important that you take care of them by hand washing and drying them immediately after use, and storing them safely on a hanging magnetic strip or in a butcher's block.
And it's also vital that you keep them sharp.
Because letting a good knife go blunt can damage the blade, make slicing and dicing more difficult, and make using it more hazardous for your hands.
As it's easier for the knife to get stuck or slip and for you to lose control.
So, getting them a knife sharpener is a gift idea that can help a home cook keep their knives in tip-top condition.
And a good option for this is the Chef's Choice Trizor XV.
As this one sharpens the blade in 3 stages to give the knife a 15 degree angle that gives them the best cutting performance.
Meaning it'll take less effort to cut through, and they'll have more control as they do so.
3. A Solid Maple Wood Chopping Board
A solid chopping board is an essential for every kitchen.
And while many home cooks make do with cheap plastic chopping boards, if you're passionate about cooking then it's worth investing in a dense wooden chopping board instead.
As not only do these boards go easier on your knives, meaning they stay sharper for longer.
They are also better for food safety, as the wood keeps out water, which is where bacteria can grow and develop.
Plus they look really professional too which is always a bonus!
So, a high quality wooden chopping board like the John Boos end grain maple wood block is a lovely gift to give to a home cook.
Because these are the chopping boards that even the top chefs like to use, as they are thick, durable, attractive, and pass food safety requirements for professional kitchens.
4. A Mandoline Slicer For Easy Slicing
While learning how to chop, slice, and dice like a pro is a fun thing to do, sometimes you just want to make life easier for yourself.
And that's exactly what you can do with a mandoline slicer.
Because they allow you to prepare fruit and vegetables for cooking faster and more efficiently than most home chefs can do themselves with a knife.
As they provide even and uniform cuts that are better for cooking with.
And with a variety of blades, you can get your food presentation looking spot on with crinkle cuts, ribbons, shredding, and grating options.
So, the gift of a mandoline slicer is a good one for any home chef, and one I'd recommend is the slicer above from OXO Good Grips.
As this one is safer to use, and comes with a variety of thickness settings and many different types of blades to cover all their slicing and dicing needs.
5. A Mortar & Pestle For Grinding Herbs And Spices
Mortar and pestles have been around in kitchens for a very long time.
And despite the invention of food processors, many chefs still prefer to use them to make certain things.
As grinding and pounding herbs and spices in a mortar and pestle releases oils, flavours, and aromas that can really make their food pop.
Which is great for creating some awesome home-made delights such as guacamole, pesto, salsa, hummus, and paste for curries.
So, if you know a home cook whose kitchen is lacking a mortar and pestle, then a set such as the one above from ChefSofi would make for a great gift.
As this is made from a hard and durable granite stone that is ideal for pounding their ingredients, and it has a non-slip surface that will make their life easier too.
6. An Electric Spice Grinder For Less Effort
The spices that you use in your dishes can make or break them.
And while you can buy ground herbs and spices in your local supermarket, they lack the freshness that comes from grinding your own at home.
So, for a gift that can give a home chef freshly ground spices every time they prepare a meal, how about getting them an electric spice grinder, such as the one above by Waring.
As this is a commercial strength grinder with sharp blades that will allow them to grind things down easily, such as cinnamon sticks, peppercorns, and nutmeg.
While also giving them the chance to create their own mixes and blends of spices specifically for their recipes and cooking.
7. A Stylish And Useful Spice Rack
Whether you grind your own spices or buy them from the supermarket, you're going to need a place to store them.
And rather than just shoving them away in a cupboard, how about using a spice rack instead.
As this will allow you to find what you're looking for much more easily and quickly, while also adding a touch of decoration to a kitchen.
So, for a good gift idea for a home chef, check out the YouCopia chef's edition spice stack.
As this one has 3 drop down drawers that can house up to 24 spice bottles, and with the handy labels on the front, they can keep everything nicely organised and easy to find.
8. A Set Of Kitchen Utensils For A Beginner Cook
This next gift idea is more for the beginner home chef, rather than a seasoned pro.
As it's to give them a starter kitchen tool set that contains everything they need to begin their culinary journey.
Because when starting out it's common to find that you're missing a vital utensil halfway through making a recipe.
And while you can usually make do with something else, it's much better to have the right tool on hand.
So, getting a kitchen novice the Home Hero 29-piece kitchen utensils set will go down a treat.
As this set contains all the kitchen essentials they could possibly need, such as a spatula, square turner, tongs, a grater, and a peeler.
9. A Cast Iron Skillet For Cooking At High Temperatures
Having a good quality cast iron skillet to cook with is a great thing for a home chef.
As the cast iron maintains heat brilliantly, which makes these skillets ideal for searing meats at super high temperatures.
And they get better over time, as after a few uses they naturally develop a non-stick coating that is far healthier for you than ready bought non-stick Teflon pans.
Plus they are much easier to clean afterwards than other pans.
So, if you want to treat your favourite home chef to a cast iron skillet check out the one above from Lodge.
As this skillet is durable, well-made, pre-seasoned and oven safe.
And it comes in a variety of sizes, so you can buy them the one that fits their stove and cooking needs.
10. A Cast Iron Dutch Oven For Stews And Casseroles
Dutch ovens are a fantastic way of slow cooking food.
As they have heavy, thick walls and a tight fitting lid to insulate them and trap in the heat, and they can be used both on the the stove and inside the oven.
Which means they are ideal for whipping up casseroles, stews and curries to keep you warm, happy, and well nourished.
But their usefulness doesn't stop there, as they can also be used to braise meat, bake bread, and deep fry things like chicken.
So, they're a really handy addition to any home chef's kitchen.
And if you want a really high quality one to give as a gift, check out the Le Creuset Signature cast iron dutch oven.
As the cast iron retains and distributes heat evenly and consistently as your food cooks.
And it can cook up to temperatures of 500 degrees fahrenheit, so will be able to handle almost anything!
Plus it looks really cool too and will take the pride of place in any kitchen.
11. A Flat Bottomed Wok For Stir Fries
If stir-fries and Asian cooking are particular favourites for your home chef, then a good wok would make a nice gift for them.
As the shape and design of a wok means they can cook at really high heats, as it retains heat and distributes it more evenly than a frying pan.
And this means they can use less oil when cooking, which makes their meals healthier too.
While the curved shape makes it easy to toss the food as it's cooking, making sure all the ingredients in the stir fry are nicely mixed and evenly flavoured.
So, consider getting them the Joyce Chen flat bottomed wok as a gift.
As the body is constructed of a professional standard carbon steel and measures 14 inches in diameter, so it's big enough to whip up quick meals for the whole family.
And the flat bottom means it balances better on the stove top and is safer to use.
12. A Food Processor For Faster Food Preparation
A good food processor is another invaluable tool to have in the kitchen if you want to save yourself time and energy.
As these can effortlessly blitz up your food with the touch of a button.
So, they're great for taking the strain of labour intensive food preparation tasks, such as chopping vegetables, kneading dough, or beating egg whites.
And you can do a variety of other things with them too, such as grinding and mincing meat, pureeing fruit and veg, and creating sauces, pastes, pesto, and salsas.
Which makes a food processor such as this 14-cup one from Cuisinart a really useful gift idea for someone who loves to cook.
As this one is big enough to be able to cater for home chefs who need to cook for a big family, and it has a heavy duty motor and blades that can cut through most things without any problems.
13. A Professional Grade Blender
Blenders are similar to food processors, but are better for certain tasks and not so good for others.
So, while a food processor is preferable for processing dry tasks like cutting and slicing, blenders are a better choice for whipping up wet food.
And having a blender on hand is a great way to stay healthy.
As you can blitz up combinations of fruit and vegetables to have as a morning smoothie to give you a nutritious energy boost.
Or whip up chunky vegetable soups to keep you warm during the winter.
And they can do far more besides, such as chopping, grinding, and emulsifying, to help you prepare foods for dinnertime.
Which makes a blender a good gift for a home chef, and if you want a real powerhouse then try the Vitamix 5200.
As this one is professional grade and strong enough to be used in commercial kitchens, and it's huge so can handle large batches when they're cooking for many people.
But you can also find decent blenders at lower price points that will also do a great job for most home cooking needs.
14. An Immersion Hand Blender For Soups And Smoothies
While blenders and food processors are great for making food preparation a breeze, if you're just making something small for yourself then they can be a bit overkill.
As the time it takes to clean them out after almost makes it not worth the effort.
So for small tasks such as making a bowl of guacamole or whipped cream, it is much easier to use an immersion hand blender.
As these are much smaller, lighter and easier to clean.
And they're great when making soups too, as you can blitz up the vegetables in the pot while the soup is cooking, giving you more control over the texture and consistency of your soup.
So, getting a home cook the KitchenAid cordless hand blender is a smart and handy gift idea.
As this one is powerful and has a good grip and an easy to use trigger control, which will encourage them to make home made soups on the regular.
15. A Pasta Maker For Fresh Pasta Dishes
Making your own pasta is a rite of passage for many home chefs.
Because why would you spend all that time and effort creating the ultimate home made pasta sauce, only to serve it with store bought dried pasta?
Because using your own freshly made pasta will just make the whole dish taste so much better.
So, buying a home cook a pasta making machine is a top gift idea, especially if they love Italian food.
And one I'd recommend is the Marcato Atlas 150 pasta maker.
As with this one all they need to do is mix the dough and get it to the right consistency, then simply run it through the machines smoothing rollers to achieve the right thickness.
And once they're happy with it, they can then run it through the cutting rollers to create perfect fresh pasta every time.
Deliziosa!
16. A Pizza Stone For Delicious Home Made Pizza
Home chefs that love Italian food will also want to make their own pizza.
However, most home ovens don't get hot enough to make great pizza, which can make this difficult.
So a gift that can help them to overcome this problem is to get them a pizza stone to use in their oven.
As this will provide the extra heat and power they need to get their pizzas just right.
And a good pizza stone will hold the heat evenly across it's surface, giving them pizzas with a consistent and crispy texture, without burning the toppings.
While also absorbing any excess moisture from the dough that can make a pizza soggy in the middle.
So check out the Cast Elegance pizza stone if this sounds like a gift your home cook would appreciate..
17. The Pizza Bible For Toppings Inspiration
Following on from the previous gift idea, how about pairing it with The Pizza Bible by Tony Gemignani.
Because no matter how good a home chef gets at making pizza, there is always more to learn.
And this book by an 11-time world champion pizza maker is full of great pizza recipes, as well as cooking methods and general pizza making tips and advice.
So they'll learn how to make every type of pizza they can think of, from Sicilian pan pizza to Chicago deep dish and every other variation in between.
Which will keep any pizza loving home cook busy for many months to come.
Click here for more gift ideas for people that love pizza.
18. A Heavy Duty Rolling Pin
Every kitchen needs a heavy duty rolling pin that can stand up to regular use.
As they will be needed to roll out, shape, and flatten dough when making bread, pizza, pasta, or pastry.
And they serve many other purposes too, such as tenderising meat, grinding up spices, and making breadcrumbs to go around chicken and fish.
So, a nice little gift to get for a home chef is a high quality rolling pin like the one above from J.K Adams.
As this one is 12 inches long and has handles at both ends to make rolling out dough easy.
And being made of maple wood means it's heavy and durable too.
Click here for gift ideas for people that enjoy baking.
19. A Food Thermometer To Check Cooking Temperatures
Being able to tell the temperature of the food as it cooks is important, especially when you're cooking meat.
As being able to test the temperature of the inside of meat is the safest way to know when it's done, and to avoid any food poisoning issues.
And it can help you to avoid overcooking the meat too, which can ruin even the finest cut.
As by knowing the right temperature you can cook it more accurately and to your specific liking.
So, a food thermometer like this one from Thermopop is a nice little stocking filler for a home chef.
As these are accurate, give them the temperature reading in 3-4 seconds, and have an easy to read display.
20. A Cookbook With A Wide Range Of Recipes
A good cookbook is an obvious but welcome gift idea for any home chef.
So, look for one that suits their particular cooking style or covers a genre of cooking that they want to improve in or learn.
As while cooking is an intuitive process, it also helps to have a few guidelines to follow, at least at first.
And if you want a cover-all type of cookbook to give them, then how about the Joy Of Cooking.
As this book contains over 4,000 recipes, including favourites dating back to the 1930s, and right up to the modern day.
So, whatever they want to cook, they're guaranteed to find a few gems in here.
21. A Cookbook Holder For Ease Of Use
Which leads us onto the next gift idea.
As if you know a home chef who loves to follow recipes from a cookbook, then a cookbook holder can be a really handy addition to their worktop.
As this way they can read the recipe from the book while keeping their hands free for the more important tasks, and without making a mess of the pages.
So check out the Deluxe large cookbook holder as this one also comes with a protective shield to protect the cookbook from any food splashes or stains.
22. A Hedley & Bennett Chef's Apron
The last gift idea for home cooks on this list is a true kitchen essential.
Because no self-respecting chef is going to be seen cooking without wearing their trusty apron.
As not only does an apron prevent food splashes and stains from getting onto their clothes, it also stops germs, hairs, and bacteria from transferring from them to the food they're preparing.
Making it a healthier and safer way to cook.
So an apron can make a really nice gift, especially if you get them a stylish one, such as those in the Hedley & Bennett range.
As not only do these look great, they also come with reinforced pockets that come in handy for holding their kitchen tools too.
Rounding Up
Cooking is a great hobby which is challenging, rewarding and therapeutic.
And it feels really good to be able to share the spoils with your friends and family, and watch them enjoy your culinary efforts.
So if you know someone who loves to cook, why not treat them to a gift that can help them on their journey to becoming a great home chef.
Because their are a wide range of kitchen tools and accessories that can make their time spent cooking easier and more enjoyable.
And these things all make great gifts for a home chef.
So I hope you've found something suitable among the gift ideas for people that love to cook at home that I've given you here.
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