We found practical, fun, and delicious gifts that every foodie can appreciate
We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Nuts Dispenser
From the latest gadgets to DIY baking kits, there’s a gift for every food connoisseur. A general rule of thumb is to gift a unique item they haven’t tried before but can use on a daily basis—especially if they are always looking for a new recipe or exploring ways to cook things differently with new items.
“Think about things they most likely don’t have in their kitchen already but you know they would love to try. Some ideas could be sushi kits, pizza stones, or paella pans,” says Silvia Hermanny, culinary expert and food and lifestyle content creator. “A meaningful gift also goes a long way to show that you were thinking of them in your everyday life.”
We put together our top gift recommendations, from luxurious truffle oil sets to practical additions perfect for their bar cart. In addition to Hermanny, we sought advice from Grant Lee Crilly, professional chef and co-founder of ChefSteps, as well as Jacqueline Blanchard, professional chef and owner of Coutelier NOLA.
Those who regularly grill and roast meat and poultry know that the temperature is what gets you juicy, perfect results. The Yummly Smart Meat Thermometer features preset programs for grilling different meat cuts, poultry, pork, fish, and wild game. They can set the device according to meat type and how they want things cooked—no more second-guessing if something is medium-rare. The wireless connectivity also allows them to keep an eye on the cooking from up to 150 feet away with the Yummly app, so they'll know when to turn over the meat and when it’s time to take it out.
For anyone who likes the art of slow cooking, consider this mortar and pestle from Cole & Mason instead. Made from solid black granite with an unglazed stone interior, it gives enough traction to easily whip up spice pastes, green seasonings, and pesto blends. The compact size ensures that it can fit in any pantry or cabinet, or even as a decorative element on a countertop or shelf. Just know that it’s not dishwasher-safe and must be hand washed.
This authentic paella pan was made in Valencia, Spain—the birthplace of paella. It’s made from extra-thick, professional-grade carbon steel and features a 14-inch-wide, shallow cooking surface with dimples to help with even heating. The 2-inch-tall sides keep rice, vegetables, and proteins from ending up on the floor, and looped handles make it easy to carry from cooktop to table. This size serves four to six people.
From David Chang's Momofuku comes the Bestsellers Pack, which includes all the pantry staples they need to make a restaurant-quality meal at home. Inside each box is all five of the brand's dried noodles (soy and scallion, sweet and spicy, tingly chili, spicy soy, and spicy chili), chili crunch, soy sauce, and savory seasoned salt. The noodles cook in about four minutes, and then all they'll need to do is add the sauce packet. It doesn't get easier than that.
This basket arrives fully arranged and ready to eat—no slicing required. The Boarderie Cicetti Cheese & Charcuterie Board comes with four cheeses (creamy coppinger, peppadew pepper white cheddar, merlot pecorino, blueberry Wensleydale, and aged yellow cheddar), three meats (black truffle salami, peppered salami, and salami picante) and a variety of accompaniments. It also comes with bamboo picks, a bamboo spreader, and bamboo tongs. It’s a spread fit for royalty, and the 9-by-9-inch acacia board can be saved to use again and again.
The Misen Professional Chef 's Knife is an 8-inch hybrid knife that combines the best features of Japanese and European knives: an ultra-low 15-degree angle found in Japanese knives, plus a Western double-bevel blade so the knife angle is exactly the same on both sides. Additionally, the alloy steel handle comes with a bolster for a better grip, making it a beginner-friendly all-rounder. We recommend it for new cooks who are still experimenting with what knives work best for them.
While a ratchet mill might not be the first thing that comes to mind for gifting, it will totally enhance their life in the kitchen. All they have to do is add salt, pepper, or whatever spice they want through the front-loading door before adjusting the dial to their preferred thickness and cranking the handle for a perfect grind every time. They'll never have to deal with below-average grinders from the grocery store again.
Usually cookies have to be dipped in the milk—well not anymore. Flexipan teamed up with beloved pastry chef Dominique Ansel to create this baking pan that molds cookie dough into cookie shot glasses that they can then fill with milk. Genius.
This diner-themed jumbo puzzle is just about the cutest thing we’ve ever seen. It showcases all the classics, from meatloaf and an egg salad sandwich, to onion rings, coffee, and a burger with fries. It comes with 1,000 pieces—every shape is a random cut different from the next—so it’ll offer lots of fun and concentration for the foreseeable future. Just make sure the recipient isn’t working with a tiny table: The finished product measures 30 by 24 inches and can be destroyed and rebuilt again or framed and hung on the wall.
The Black + Decker Kitchen Wand 6 is a multi-tool that features six different attachments: a can opener, wine bottle opener, spice grinder, whisker, milk frother, and salt and pepper grinder. It’s a versatile gift that does everything from puree soup to froth milk. One charge offers about 30 minutes of runtime, and since it’s cordless they can easily carry it around the kitchen without limitation. In addition to the unit, the set also comes with a mixing cup, storage cases, and a charging dock.
The Omsom Saucy Noodle Sampler makes a great gift for friends and family who love quick-cooking noodles, but also enjoy bold flavors. It features either three or eight air-dried noodle packs with four flavorful sauces (coconut lemongrass curry, garlic black pepper, soy garlic, and chili sesame). The best part: Each pack can be made in just a few minutes.
With a subscription to MasterClass, they can perfect their cooking skills from the best to ever do it. Instructors include big names like Gordon Ramsey, Thomas Keller, Alice Waters, Wolfgang Puck, and Dominique Ansel. Starting at $10 a month, it's the gift that keeps on gifting.
This bundle of deliciousness features four boxes to disperse among four different people on your holiday list. Featuring two festive designs, each package holds six mini cupcake flavors, including vanilla fluff, Christmas sugar cookie, brookie, snowcap, white chocolate hot cocoa, and caramel cake batter.
This kit brings restaurant-quality sushi right to your giftee’s kitchen. The Special Sushi DIY Kit, from New York City hot spot Blue Ribbon, comes with a stunning spread of raw fish and accompanying fresh ingredients to make four to five rolls and two servings of crispy rice. The package serves two to three people and features the following: tuna, salmon, hamachi, shrimp, spicy tuna, spicy scallop, crispy rice, cooked rice, nori sheets, soy sauce, eel sauce, wasabi, pickled ginger, scallion, serrano chile, avocado, and a bamboo mat to roll it all up. You can even add impressive extras, like Wagyu, caviar, and a Japanese chef’s knife.
For anyone with a sweet tooth and a penchant for creating custom recipes, an ice cream maker is a fun and unique gift. We recommend this Cuisinart ice cream maker for both novices and beginners interested in making ice cream for the first time, since it makes creating custom flavors easy. Aside from pre-freezing the ice cream bowl overnight (a necessary step to make ice cream), it takes about 20 minutes max to churn about 1.5 quarts of soft, creamy ice cream. The machine makes frozen yogurt, too.
The Breville Bakery Chef Stand Mixer is our best overall pick when it comes to stand mixers, which is why we think it’s a tried-and-true classic gift for the baker in your life. This 12-speed mixer can do everything, from kneading dough to whisking meringues. It also features a double-sided scraper that significantly lessens mixing time. Added accessories include a dough hook, wire whisk, standard flat beater, spatula, splash guard, and stainless steel mixing bowls.
While truffle oil’s intense flavors make a great finishing oil, its high cost makes it a true luxury item. So why not surprise them with a truffle oil set from La Tourangelle? This set consists of two 8.45-ounce cans of white and black truffle-infused oil. Both oils feature a neutral sunflower oil base with hints of garlic or earthy notes depending on the type of truffle that’s inside. Drizzle liberally over meat, pasta, pizza, and even fries for a fragrant top off.
We know you're not supposed to play with your food, but this is the exception. Compartes' edible game of tic-tac-toe features nine colorful pieces marked with either an X or an O. It's the perfect gift for the game lover in your life who also likes to dabble in gourmet chocolate.
Get them set for a truly special meal with the Cucina Combo from famed Italian restaurant Rubirosa. The collection includes cold-pressed extra-virgin olive oil, marinara sauce, and vodka sauce. All they need to do is mix it in with their favorite pasta shape or spread it across pizza dough.
The Zwilling Fresh & Save Starter Set is great for the home chef who likes to prep meals ahead of time. The set comes with a rechargeable vacuum pump, two containers, and four bags, which can be used to store, sous vide, marinate, and meal prep. The quality of the materials is fantastic: The containers and bags are freezer- and microwave-safe (without the vacuum seal), and the containers are dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup.
Odds are if they're a foodie, they know about Samin Nosrat's James Beard Award-winning Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking. The cooking encyclopedia is world-renowned and features more than 100 recipes and 150 illustrations.
The award-winning Laconiko Olive Oil is cold-pressed using hand-picked olives from Greece, and has eight times the antioxidants of standard olive oil—a heart-healthy option for your favorite foodie. This olive oil has a fruity and peppery flavor, making it a tasty dip for crusty bread and salad dressing. If you are looking to add extras to the gift, we recommend adding dark and white balsamic vinegars.
Have a holiday party to go to and want to pull out all the stops? The Christmas PieCaken is exactly what its sounds like: It's pie and cake. Each epic slice includes chocolate pecan pie, cherry swirl cheesecake, and red velvet cake. It's frosted and layered with cream cheese buttercream, with festive red and white sprinkles on top.
This fun (and functional) cutting board goes beyond basics with a design that will bring a smile to the recipient’s face every time they use it. The Fredericks and Mae Large Plastic Cutting Board measures 11 by 16 inches and is made from food-safe plastic with a powder-coated metal handle. Available in six colors—multi confetti, green and white, yellow and white, blue and white, rainbow, and black and white—this gorgeous board can be used for chopping ingredients as well as serveware for charcuterie and other snack spreads.
Runamok is a family-owned company based in Vermont that was originally known for its maple syrup. Fast forward to today, and it is also in the honey business and offers a gift box featuring three kinds of honey, each with its own distinct yet subtle flavor. In our books, this honey set is an A+ gift for foodies.
The Calicle Insulated Ice Cream Bowl Set is a gift specially made with ice cream lovers in mind. It features two vacuum-insulated bowls that keep your sweet treats from melting, so they can enjoy ice cream while enjoying a day in the park, relaxing poolside, or just chilling out on the patio. Choose between a classic black and white combo or beachy blue and pink options. And the best part? It keeps their food warm on colder days, too.
If you’re familiar with the pain of squeezing one or two peppercorn flakes out of a pepper mill, the Männkitchen Pepper Cannon could be a thoughtful gift for family and friends. It features stainless steel burrs that grind salt and pepper to the coarseness they choose, whether it be chunks or fine powder. The device is ten times faster than regular mills, which allows the flakes to stream rather than trickle out. In fact, the company claims that a person can pepper their steak in as little as seven cranks.
Upgrade pizza night with Boska’s ceramic pizza stone and make better-tasting pizza with a crispier crust. The stone is 11.4 inches (roughly the size of a medium pizza) and easily fits in a standard-sized oven or grill. We like that the stone has a raised edge on one side to prevent pizza from sliding off. The pizza stone is also available in a round 13-inch size and a 15-inch rectangular option, and comes with a 10-year warranty.
These unique colored Champagne flutes have a modern and chic look to elevate any glass of bubbly, cocktail, or mocktail. The set includes either two or six glasses, which measure 9.8 inches tall and come in a variety of colors, like blush pink, cobalt blue, and lavender. If you know someone who's celebrating a special occasion or milestone, these glasses are a fantastic gift.
Pad Thai and stir fry are best done in woks like this premium model from Craft Wok. This 15-gauge carbon steel wok is hand-hammered and favored by many professional chefs. It has a long handle that consists of a steel helper handle and a wood handle, which offers a firm grip while tossing ingredients. Though it is not pre-seasoned, there are clear instructions on how to do it yourself. This is a high-maintenance gift that takes a lot of care to keep it in good condition, so we recommend gifting it to someone who would be willing to maintain it.
Forget the ice cream maker and give the foodie in your life a box of artisanal ice cream sandwiches from Cream + Sugar. Made in Wyoming, the ice cream is handmade and stuffed between the company’s signature cookies that are baked daily and rolled in candy sprinkles. All the ingredients are organic and locally sourced and come in a variety of flavors, including huckleberry, mint chocolate chip, salted caramel, vanilla, pumpkin, and peppermint. It comes in a box of 16, but you get to choose eight of each flavor.
Wine lovers will appreciate this Eat Chocolate, Drink Wine Gift from Clif Family Winery in the Napa Valley. This gift box is one of the most popular artisanal gift sets on their website, and makes a great gift for friends, family, and also work colleagues. Each gift box contains a 750-milliliter bottle of Zinfandel and three organic dark chocolate treats: dark chocolate sea salt almonds, dark chocolate toffee crunch, and dark chocolate sea salt caramels.
Meal prep containers make an easy yet practical gift, and this set has everything you need to store a variety of food. The W&P Sustainable Kitchen Starter Set features eight pieces in total: three seal-tight glass bowls, two reusable silicone bags, and three reusable stretch lids that fit over bowls you already own. All containers are microwave- and dishwasher-safe. They are made with borosilicate glass and LFGB-certified silicone (stricter testing than the FDA), and they come in five colors, including cream, mint, charcoal, blush, and slate. There are also 13- and 20-piece collections available.
If you know someone who has committed themselves to a healthy lifestyle, then a juicer like the Nama Vitality 5800 can add even more healthier benefits to their life. As a cold press juicer, the slow extraction process results in less oxidation and less heat, which means that essential enzymes in the fruit are not destroyed. As a result, the juice has more nutrients and a richer taste. In addition to juices, the Nama can also be used to make refreshing smoothies, sorbets, and plant-based milk.
Made from stainless steel, these steak knives from Material are sharp enough to effortlessly cut through steak and other types of meat. The knife set comes with its own wooden holder for storage that can be put in a drawer or standing on your kitchen countertop. Maintenance is also easy as they are dishwasher-safe and won’t rust easily. Overall, it’s a stylish pick that comes in four matte colors (light blue, navy blue, beige, and mixed for one of each color), ideal for anyone who loves to host dinner at their home.
If you can’t choose between a salty, sweet, or savory food gift, why not get them all? With this Olive & Cocoa gift box, you can make everyone happy, no matter their taste preference. The treats come inside a handcrafted wood crate (or canvas bag) and feature a variety of salty and sweet snacks, including chocolate-covered raisins, pistachios, dried fruit mix, Swedish fish, gourmet trail mix, corn nuts, peanut brittle, almond caramel popcorn (our favorite), chocolate churro pretzels, and more. The treats are available in petite and large crates, with Bavarian pretzels in the large option. And if the weather is really hot, the company will provide alternatives to any meltable treats.
For the host who likes to treat their guests to a lavish charcuterie board, they’ll need a board that comes with all the bells and whistles. The Beauplus Cheese Board and Knife Set comes with a spacious setup that can fit an array of salads, cheese, meats, crackers, and fruits. Plus, it comes with an extra pull-out drawer for utensils (including a wine opener) and small ceramic bowls for dips and jams. There are also side drawers for food and a separate round tray for more nuts and fruits.
For the brunch lover in your life: the most legendary collection of bloody mary mixes and complementary fixings. The savory curation includes one 25-ounce bottle and one 1.6-ounce dry bloody mary mix, olive oil and sea salt water crackers, queso, a sea salt and pepper blend, cheddar cheese, black truffle hot sauce, and sweet soppressata.
Made from 100% cotton, this practical and cute Thyme & Sage kitchen towel set was made specifically with home cooks in mind. The set consists of three towel types: a super absorbent towel for mopping up spills and drying dishes, a flat towel to line bread baskets or cover bread dough while it rises, and a multi-purpose towel for everything else.
The Proctor Silex Retro Electric Tea Kettle may look like an old-school kettle, but it has all the functions of a modern one. At 1.7 liters, this cordless kettle is a great gift for families or tea aficionados who are never without a cup of hot tea. What makes this kettle different from others is the built-in thermometer that shows how hot the water is getting. Once the water comes to a boil, the automatic shut-off feature will turn the water off, and the clear gauge at the back will display how much water is left in the kettle. Just don’t expect it to whistle—it’s electric after all!
This Cuisinart Mini Belgian Waffle Maker’s vertical shape actually makes it easy to pour the batter inside without making a mess. It also allows them to choose from five levels to get the perfect brownness for the perfect waffle. Note that there could be a tiny learning curve (nothing major), but the included measuring scoop will help with the adjustment. Due to the verticality of the device, those with small cabinets might find it hard to store.
For your favorite sweet tooth, the Molten Chocolate Cake DIY baking kit from Red Velvet NYC consists of pre-measured, dry ingredients, and a pat of butter (you’ll need to use your own eggs). With easy-to-follow instructions alongside beautiful illustrations, the cake takes about 20 minutes to assemble and around 12 minutes to bake. Although this recipe is for advanced bakers, the brand offers many other cake recipes that are suitable for first-time bakers, as well.
For anyone who loves eating mushrooms and has a green thumb, the Back to the Roots Organic Shiitake Mushroom Kit makes it easy to grow and “forage” for non-GMO mushrooms grown right at home in just 10 days—no special equipment needed. It also makes a great family project for adults and kids. The kit comes with a grow log, spray bottle, and a plastic humidity tent with easy-to-follow instructions. Mini-mushroom, oyster, and pink oyster grow kits are also available.
This sleek and elegant Waterdrop Starter Set will help them stay hydrated while giving back to the environment. The Starter Set comes with a vacuum-insulated stainless steel bottle designed to keep drinks cold for 24 hours and hot for 12 hours. They'll also get flavored hydration cubes made with natural extracts in various flavors, such as black currant elderberry, peach ginger, and pomegranate goji berry. The bottle comes in 14 different colors and is available in two sizes: 20 ounces or 34 ounces.
With the sleek and polished Williams Sonoma Encore Bar Tool Set, anyone can be an expert bartender or mixologist and make exquisite cocktails (or mocktails). This set is made of stainless steel and includes an insulated cocktail shaker to keep drinks icy, a strainer, tongs, a bottle opener, a stirring spoon, and a double-sided jigger with 0.75 ounce and 0.25 ounce measurements. It also comes with a stand to compactly store all the tools in one convenient place.
From Egyptian falafel to a classic Philly sandwich, The Sandwich Shop: 50 Great Sandwich Recipes features delicious sandwich recipes from all over the world. Recipes are accompanied by beautifully photographed images and easy-to-follow instructions, so they will never be left not knowing what to cook or eat. The recipes cater to all tastes and have sandwiches made with meat, chicken, duck, pork, and seafood, as well as vegetarian and vegan recipes. Each recipe serves two people.
If you want to go big and give a gift that a coffee lover will never forget, then consider the Terra Kaffe TK-01. Although this espresso machine is definitely an investment, it makes cafe-quality lattes, cappuccinos, expressions, and more right at the touch of a button. The machine features a burr grinder to freshly grind beans and various settings to customize the brewing temperature, extraction volume, coffee dosage, and even milk frothing duration to create any coffee drink in less than a minute.
Stylish yet sustainable, these Maaterra plates almost look too good to be used as single-use plates. And unlike regular foam disposable plates that may take years to break down, these plates are made from palm tree leaves and are fully compostable. They come in a set of eight and are available in 10-inch and 12-inch sizes. The plates have beautiful etched designs on them featuring natural elements like carrots, bison, whales, and the moon and stars. However, if you want a special touch, custom designs are available upon request.
With the personal-sized CrockpotGo Electric Lunchbox, a hot home-cooked meal is feasible for anyone at work or even students on-the-go. Made from stainless steel and dishwasher-safe, it’s a less wasteful alternative to keeping food in plastic containers. At 3.5 cups, it has enough space for a filling meal and comes with a detachable cord that’s conveniently tucked at the bottom for heating. Just keep in mind that the inner tray has no separations (it’s not a bento box) so might not be a suitable lunchbox for assorted snacks.
Having blunt knives not only slows down slicing and dicing, but is also more dangerous for the user. That’s why the Chef’s Choice Model 130 Electric Knife Sharpener is a practical gift that will help keep their chopping safe and fast. The sharpener features a built-in 20-degree guide to help position the knife correctly and protect it from damage. The sharpener has three slots, including a slot designed to polish blades good for everyday cutting tasks and a micro-serrated finish for slicing meat. It can even sharpen bread knives.
Crilly recommends gifting a hand-forged knife like a gyuto, a Japanese-forged blade in a Western Style.
“This stunner of a knife is hand-forged and has a carbon steel core sheathed with good-quality stainless steel, which gives you the benefits of carbon steel (holds a sharp edge for a very long time, easier to sharpen) but with added protection from the stainless steel,” Crilly says. “That means you don’t have to worry about the metal oxidizing or rusting as quickly. It also features an octagonal handle, which is quite common in Japanese knife-making.”
A pepper cannon is another great practical gift. “It’s a pepper grinder, sure, but it’s the best pepper grinder,” says Crilly. “You can dial in the fineness of your grind for great consistency, and it cranks out pepper at warp speed. No more wasted time spent twisting away to get a scattering of pepper crumbs on your food.”
Additionally, Crilly says that “every kitchen should have a chef’s press or two—or even three or four.” The simple, vented design can be for searing steaks and for keeping sous vide bags submerged in a water bath. If you're looking for great stocking stuffers, they're a great option and can be stored compactly in any kitchen.
“There’s no better splurge gift than a torchio. I have TWO!” says Crilly. A torchio is a hand-crank pasta press that can be used with various dies to create different types of pasta shapes. “It attaches to almost any countertop or bench,” he says, “and it allows you to get in a good arm workout while you’re making fresh pasta.”
Crilly also points out that one useful gift that chefs will undoubtedly find beneficial is a Y-shaped vegetable peeler, since cooking requires lots and lots of peeling. He says that “you want to get peelers that are cheap enough, so when they get dull, you can toss them and buy new ones.”
“I always put some nice pantry items in a gift basket, like…[a] nice flaky sea salt, a delicious bottle of extra virgin olive oil, or a bottle of artisanal soy sauce,” Blanchard says. Blanchard recommends small tools that can be used daily like a Microplane, vegetable peeler, a wooden spoon, and a four or five inch petty knife.
This article was written by Nor’adila Hepburn, a contributing writer for Real Simple. To find the best gifts for foodies, she researched a wide variety of kitchen gadgets and food products to find the top picks. For expert tips on what makes the best gift, she spoke to Grant Lee Crilly, professional chef and co-founder of ChefSteps, Jacqueline Blanchard, professional chef and owner of Coutelier NOLA, and Silvia Hermanny, a culinary expert and food and lifestyle content creator.
OEM Dry Food Storage Exporter By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.