The Best Gifts for Every Type of Home Cook

This 20-ounce bucket of everyone’s favorite flaky finishing salt barely needs explaining. It’s funny, it’s dramatic, and it’s endlessly (no, like really endlessly) useful.

If they’re still making their way through the Maldon bucket you bought them last year, this finishing salt is an unexpected alternative that makes “everything taste better and fancier,” says Strategist contributorHannah Howard. It’s dried over birch smoke, which means the granules themselves are crunchy and slightly chunkier than Maldon’s pyramidal flakes.

I’ve owned my Unicorn for nearly a decade and love it as much as the day I got it. You can choose your grind size (which stays consistent until you change it), it’s comfortable to grip and twist, and it comes with a little tray at the bottom so there aren’t loose bits scattered around all the time. The one disclaimer is that this product tends to go in and out of stock quite frequently, so if you find yourself unable to purchase it, consider this ultraluxeone fromMannkitchenor a classicPeugeot.

Perhaps they have plenty of decentpots and pansand even a solidknife set.Now they’re ready for a tool for leveling up.The Chef’s Press can be used to apply pressure to skin-on fishfillets,vegetables, sandwiches, cutlets, steaks, and so much more so that they make proper contact with a skillet’s surface for more even cooking.

This Shun Hikaribladeis a real stunner with its blond-wood handle. It’s lightweight — but not so much that you feel out of control when chopping and slicing.

Manyknife setscome withkitchen shears, but if your recipient doesn’t already have a dedicated pair, consider these chef-favorite ones from Wüsthof. They’re easy to pull apart and clean — but not so much that they separate while you’re using them to prep.

This lovely book came out several years ago and remains one of my favorites. Mark Diacono details how to growmanydifferent types of herbs — and also gives recipes to cook with them. Plus, it’s a particularly pretty (re: giftable) volume.

Not only does thispreserved lemon pastecome in a giftable, pretty jar, but it’s an incredibly vibrant and versatile condiment. Chef and writerLauren Josephtold us that she swirls it into yogurt, turns it into a refreshing drink, mixes it into cake, and dollops it into salsa verde. If they might appreciate something else for their pantry, I’ve got a guide tomore edible gift ideas.

These merino-wool felt coasters (that we’ve recommended before, and that I’m personally obsessed with) absorb water droplets so liquid doesn’t pool on yourcoffee table— a simple but genius concept. They’re also one of my own go-to gifts for that reason: I’ve bought monochrome sets for friends with minimalist style and rainbow hues for those with louder taste.

No shade to stemless glasses (they certainly have their time and place), but every cabinet should have a delicate stemmed glass or two. According toFlynn McGarry, this is the perfect one: big enough to release aromas but proportioned so that it’s not overwhelming to the eyes or in the hand. The stem is also long enough to be elegant, but not so much that it becomes unwieldy.

Graf Lantz also makes these sweet wine-glass tags, so guests can keep track of which drink is theirs. (You can choose from several sets made up of different colors.) I think this would make an especially nice host gift.

If they fancy themself an at-home mixologist, they likely have all they need in the way of jiggers and shakers — but they might not have an ice bag and mallet. This one is made by Viski (known for its decorative cocktail glasses). Their guests are in store for a fun show next time they offer to make drinks that require crushed ice.

Grinding beans fresh is the single best way they can improve their brew. While high-endcoffee grinderscan be extremely expensive, Baratza has kept the price point of this model relatively low — and it’s still recommended by the pros. The machine is consistent, has a large range of grind sizes and a strong motor, and comes with a cup that makes it easy to dispense grounds without making a huge mess.

Compared to high-end and deeply expensivegrindersandespresso machines, thismilk frother(our very favorite, by the way) is a small luxury. It makes perfectly textured microbubbles, can create hot or cold foam depending on the season, and is a breeze to clean. (And if you’re interested in shopping for morecoffee gifts, I have a dedicated guide to that, too.)

A true aficionado will pause to admire the color of their tea, which is why this transparent glass teapot, recommended by tea consultantSara Shacket, would make a thoughtful gift. (If you need more ideas for the tea drinker in your life, check out my list oftea gifts.)

Gestura’s offset spatula is much bigger than the standard size you usually see — but that makes it all the more versatile. They can use it to spread icing and release cakes from the sides of their baking pans as well as to transfer cookies fromsheet trayto cooling rack and even to serve slices. The brand’s stainless-steelcake testerandbench scraperwould also make lovely gifts.

Every baker should have ascale. Weighing ingredients (instead of measuring) is a much more consistent way to go. Plus it comes in handy for portioning foods, like ground meat for burgers or produce from the farmers’ market. The Escali is a reliable model that comes in a ton of colors, so you can pick out your recipient’s favorite.

A braiser is also made from enameled cast iron but not quite as deep. This makes it ideal for braises (of course) but also baked pastas, gratins, rice dishes, seared steaks, or chicken thighs — and so much more.

Misen’shybrid carbon-steel–nonstick panis somewhat of a revelation. It heats evenly, retains that heat, and has a shockingly smooth and slick surface without any coating at all.

Misen’s tiny saucier is a size they’re unlikely to have — but it’s still extremely useful. They can use it for melting butter (naturally), simmering sauces, making oatmeal and hot chocolate, reheating broth, and more.

Vacuum sealingcan seem intimidating if you’ve never done it, but the process with this machine couldn’t be simpler. If your recipient stocks up on meat or fish, they can freeze individual portions for easy dinners. It also works on dry goods and is useful for sous vide cooking.

Not only is this one an upgrade in terms of material, but it’s absolutely stunning. Each is a unique mix of wood types, so you won’t know exactly what you’re going to get until it shows up.

Alessi makes many truly giftable items, and while certain of the brand’s things cost a pretty penny, there are affordable gems to be found. This spaghetti measurer hits all the right notes: fun and funny, somehow still luxe, and actually useful.

Oakland-based Sarah Kersten makes some of my favorite ceramics. I have a handful of her plates and bowls, but this fermentation jar is truly gift-worthy. This one is her smallest size (it holds two quarts), perfect for someone who lives in a smaller space or wants to try their hand at ferments.

Any professional will tell you thatgrinding whole spices freshis one of the simplest ways to improve your cooking — and it doesn’t get any simpler than with the battery-operated FinaMill, which lets you swap in and out a rotating cast of pods and seeds and pulverizes them at the press of a button.

They can never have too manyaprons, and we love this one from White Bark Workwear that has been recommended by many a pro.

Infuse a bit of fun into their routine with these adorableKorean dish scrubbersthat Strategist writerLauren Rocan’t stop buying. They come in all sorts of shapes to match your recipient’s interests, and Ro says they would make an especially nice gift paired withKorean Mamison dishwashing gloves.

Give them a luxe finishing step to their routine with our very favoritehand cream. It’s packed with peptides, niacinamide, vitamin C, and vitamin E — all ingredients that will keep their hands deeply hydrated (but not tacky feeling) after a long scrubbing session.

This dustpan and brush set is the perfect marriage of style (I mean, look at how cute) and function (no crumb left behind).

If they’re aregular cookbook user(or even if they have a big collection they should be inspired to turn to more often), I think this would make such a fun gift. It’ll save them precious counter space, and the acrylic panel protects the pages from stains. Double up on thisanda new title and you’ll have a real standout present.

Every home cook should keep a stack of cheapdish towelsthey can use with abandon, throw in the wash, and not feel bad about when they have to replace them. But especially nice ones — like these from Ferm Living, which come in a variety of lovely, muted tones and designs — are an easy way to make your kitchen cuter if it’s otherwise lacking. I have a set of these that I leave on my oven-door handle and use only occasionally to dry my hands.

Tapered candlesmake any tablescape more inviting. These beeswax ones are a favorite of Strategist deputy editorSimone Kitchens, who says they’re the best she’s ever smelled. If you’re more inclined to givecolored tapers, I have a lot of options for those, too.

You can never go wrong with a set of cheese knives, especially when it’s as lovely as this one from Sabre (and a bit less predictable than the brand’s iconic Bistrot line). If you don’t want to spend quite so much, consider a set fromBe Home,West Elm, orHawkins New York, all of which are under $40.

I own thisplatterand have gifted it as well. It’s fantastically versatile, the perfect size for sides of roasted veggies or as a snack plate to start a dinner party. It’s nice enough to set out for guests but not so precious that I don’t pull it out on a weeknight for just me and my husband. And it’s neutral enough to go with many tablescapes.

I’m a fan of Casafina’s ceramics and think that this olive dish, with a separate compartment for pits, is a clever vessel any fan of the fruit would make great use of. The hand-painted design feels slightly kitsch in a good way.

This is exactly the type of speciality item I wouldn’t necessarily buy for myself but would be thrilled to receive as a present. It will inspire many a cozy winter dinner party — so long as they “have good melting varieties and add a dash of nutmeg at the end,” says Amanda Parker, managing director ofCowgirl Creamery.

Opinel’ssteak knivesare super-well-made, with sharp blades and comfortable wood handles. This set comes in four color options so you can choose the perfect one for your recipient to enjoy the fruits of their reverse-searing labor.

This is a spendy gift, but one that’s well worth the money because Yeti makes the best-of-the-bestcoolers. We’re betting that your recipient will deeply appreciate having a reliable, comfortable-to-carry pack to take with them on park hangs, car rides, and trips away.

The regular olive oil from Wonder Valley is lovely — but the Olio Nuevo, a smaller batch made from olives picked at the very start of the season, is even more special, as bright and fresh as it gets.