Gift guide
Gifts for home cooks
Useful kitchen tools for someone who cooks most nights. Nothing gimmicky: a pan, a knife and a thermometer they'll reach for again and again.
Every product below comes from recent independent reviews, and an automated fact check confirmed each detail against its source. We don't test products ourselves. How we pick.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Cast-iron skillet
A heavy pan that works on the stove and in the oven.
Budget pick
Lodge Pre-Seasoned 10-Inch Cast-Iron Skillet
- Comes pre-seasoned. (Yahoo Shopping)
- Reviewers at Yahoo Shopping said it does exactly what it's supposed to do and holds up over time. (Yahoo Shopping)
Recommended in: Yahoo Shopping
See price on AmazonMid-range pick
Victoria 10-Inch Cast-Iron Skillet
- Weighs about 5.5 pounds. (Yahoo Shopping)
- Has a long, curved main handle plus a helper handle. (Yahoo Shopping)
- Reviewers at Yahoo Shopping found its cooking surface smoother than most and its pour spouts left only a few drips. (Yahoo Shopping)
- Made by Victoria, a Colombian brand that has made cast iron since 1939. (Yahoo Shopping)
Recommended in: Yahoo Shopping
See price on AmazonChef's knife
One all-purpose kitchen knife for chopping and slicing.
Budget pick
Mercer Culinary Genesis 8-Inch Chef's Knife
- Western-style 8-inch knife with a high-carbon stainless steel blade and a Santoprene handle; Yahoo lists it at 8.5 oz. (Yahoo Shopping)
- Yahoo's tester found it cut tomatoes and onions nicely, with mild resistance on the onions. (Yahoo Shopping)
- Yahoo lists a nonslip grip, easy sharpening and a limited lifetime warranty. (Yahoo Shopping)
Recommended in: Yahoo Shopping
See price on AmazonSplurge pick
Global Classic 8-Inch Chef's Knife
- Japanese-style 8-inch knife with a stainless steel blade and handle; Yahoo lists it at 5.5 oz. (Yahoo Shopping)
- Yahoo says it is made from a single piece of CROMOVA 18 steel. (Yahoo Shopping)
- Yahoo's tester diced onions with no noticeable resistance but found butternut squash a challenge. (Yahoo Shopping)
- Yahoo lists it as easy to maneuver and lightweight, with a lifetime warranty. (Yahoo Shopping)
Recommended in: Yahoo Shopping
See price on AmazonInstant-read meat thermometer
Checks the temperature inside meat and other food.
Splurge pick
ThermoWorks Thermapen One
- Taste of Home says it reads in under a second, with a stated accuracy of ±0.5°F. (Taste of Home)
- Waterproof body rated IP67; runs on a single AAA battery with automatic sleep and shutoff. (Taste of Home)
- Comes with a 5-year warranty. (Food Network)
- Can be recalibrated and comes with a calibration certificate. (Reviewed)
Recommended in: Food Network, Taste of Home, Reviewed
See price on AmazonStand mixer
A countertop mixer for doughs and batters.
Budget pick
Hamilton Beach All-Metal Stand Mixer
- Has a tilt head. (Food Network)
- Food Network's testers found it handled whipped cream, egg whites and cookie dough well. (Food Network)
Recommended in: Food Network
See price on AmazonMid-range pick
KitchenAid Artisan Tilt-Head Stand Mixer, 5-Quart
- Comes with a 5-quart stainless steel bowl. (Food Network)
- Includes a flat beater, wire whip and dough hook. (Food Network)
- Food Network's testers found it handled cookie dough, egg whites and whipped cream smoothly. (Food Network)
- Food Network says KitchenAid offers more colors than any other stand mixer brand. (Food Network)
Recommended in: Food Network
See price on AmazonSplurge pick
KitchenAid 7 Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer
- A bowl-lift mixer with a 7-quart bowl. (Yahoo Shopping)
- Yahoo Shopping lists 11 speeds, a 500-watt motor, a weight of 29.2 pounds and a 2-year warranty. (Yahoo Shopping)
- Comes with a flex-edge beater, dough hook, whisk and splatter shield. (Yahoo Shopping)
- Reviewers at Yahoo Shopping found it handled kneading, batter mixing and whipping with ease. (Yahoo Shopping)
Recommended in: Yahoo Shopping
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