Best Christmas gifts for cooks 2022: From kitchenware to cookbooks (2023)

Best Christmas gifts for cooks 2022: From kitchenware to cookbooks (1)

There is a place for extravagance at Christmas but right now, with the cost of living beyond a joke, really useful presents are worth giving and receiving.

That includes things that can help us economise – pressure cookers are looking covetable – and investment pieces that last.

We can add fun to cooking and eating in small ways: delicious oils and condiments, colourful little bowls, time-saving pieces of gadgetry.

Functional items don’t have to be expensive, but they should cheer up a kitchen, so consider bright pans and beautiful wooden boards. And a cheese course is always a crowd-pleaser.

We’ve rounded up the best Christmas gifts for home cooks and hosts to help spread a little cheer this festive season.

Shop the edit below

Our Place cast iron pan

Best Christmas gifts for cooks 2022: From kitchenware to cookbooks (2)

Our Place, the cool US kitchenware brand, has attracted a cult following - and with good reason.

This pan, like its ceramic predecessor comes in a variety of pretty shades (pans for the Instagram generation) but it’s made of enamelled cast iron. It’s a generous size, fairly (but not entirely) non-stick, it can be used on the hob or in the oven and it has a useful glass cover. But it’s heavy, so not one to give a frail relative.

Buy now £135.00, Selfridges

Remoska Tria 3-in-1 Oven-to-Table Electric Cooker

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This is possibly the most useful item in my kitchen, a cooker that looks like a pot, with an electric lid.

It cooks from above, heats quickly to a uniform temperature of 180 degrees and is enormously versatile: roasting, baking, heating up. Crucially, it costs about a third less than a conventional oven to run.

The basic version (£169.99) is brilliant for smaller quantities, but now there’s a new, larger three in one version that includes a pressure cooker component. It’s not cheap, and it takes up space but it could pay for itself.

Buy now £219.99, Lakeland

KitchenAid 4.8L Artisan Stand Mixer 5KSM175PSBIC

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There’s no doubt that the KitchenAid stand mixer is iconic - and for good reason. This machine is built to last with a solid die-cast metal body, and has a range of options for useful additional attachments, such as the pasta cutters and rollers that slot into the front.

Using the machine is as easy as turning it on and pulling the lever up to the speed you want. The head tilts up smoothly to change the mixing tool to suit your needs. Although it’s only 300W, it is strong enough to work tough bread dough. But is it worth the hefty price tag? While this mixer is a must-have for professional chefs, it’s not for those who just want to take it out of the cupboard every couple of months because of how heavy it is - 10.4kg!

Buy now £449.00, AO

Ninja Foodi MAX 15-in-1 SmartLid Multi-Cooker

It’s no exaggeration to say that Ninja appliances have changed our lives. We first tried its multi-cooker in lockdown; and if we were impressed with its capabilities then, it’s not a patch on what its successor can do now.

The brand spanking new 15-in-1 Ninja Foodi can practically replace your entire kitchen. It can do a range of cooking functions, from air frying and slow cooking to grill, steam and roast. It can even slow cook, using the same lid (saving you a ton of cupboard space).

Whether your mum loves whipping up family meals or could use something to make cooking easier, this Ninja is the sous chef she soon won’t be able to be without.

Buy now £299.99, Ninja

Embrace Handpainted Palestinian Dipping and Snack Bowl

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These little bowls (9x4cm) are handpainted and lovely for serving snacky things like olives, nuts, oils and salts. There are larger colourful versions for dips and spreads. And they’re sold by Embrace the Middle East, a charity that works with the Palestinian community. Best hand-washed.

Buy now £7.99, Embrace

Goldfinger Grained upcycled sycamore-wood serving board 40cm

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Yes, this is expensive, but it’s a thing of beauty, nicely grained, billed as being made from trees in London felled by storms, disease or urban development. It’s lovely to look at and to feel and nicely balanced. And it’s got a pleasing minimalist vibe. There are cheaper serving boards out there, but this is very classy.

Buy now £100.00, Selfridges

Nathalie Lete Apron

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Protect clothing from flying flour, wet batter and egg spills in style. French designer Nathalie Lete’s illustrated apron is full of details so exquisite you’ll be hard pressed to take it off. The cotton one-size piece comes with a stitched belt which ties on the reverse and is machine washable.

Buy now £36.00, Anthropologie

Paxton and Whitfield Cheese for Port selection

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A cheese course is a really thoughtful gift, and this excellent selection of cheeses from Britain’s oldest cheesemonger is designed to accompany port. There’s Stilchelton (unpasteurised Stilon), Lancashire, mature Gruyere and creamy Brillat Savarin. The port, alas, isn’t included, but the firm also does a very good tawny.

Buy now £45.00, Paxton and Whitfield

Georg Jensen Bernadotte Stainless Steel Coffee Press

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Georg Jensen’s Bernadotte Stainless Steel Coffee Press is for the coffee aficionados who want to pour their daily mug(s) with the same level of stylish flair that continues through the rest of their day.

This sleek cafetière deserves a place of pride on your kitchen counter - partially because of how frequently you’ll be using it but also because of its classy look. Adding a touch of Art Deco to the table every time you’ve got guests around, this cafetière is crafted from mirror-polished stainless steel and is double-walled to keep your coffee warmer for longer.

Buy now £119.00, John Lewis

Waitrose No.1 Rich Cream Sherry

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Did I by any chance see a curled lip at the mention of cream sherry? Well uncurl it right now, because this is delicious. It’s a mixture of oloroso and some raisiny Pedro Ximinez and it would be perfect in a sherry trifle, and with it or Christmas cake. But it’s also really good with cheese, especially blues. Yum.

Buy now £11.99, Waitrose

Ferm Living Ripple Smoked Grey Champagne Saucer Set of 2

Best Christmas gifts for cooks 2022: From kitchenware to cookbooks (12)

Bring a sense of mystery to your next Champagne moment with Ferm Living’s rippled glass saucers, made with subtly smoked grey glass. The beautiful craftsmanship means they stand out as a wonderful gift for a special occasion.

Buy now £39.00, Heal’s

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Cooking, by Jeremy Lee

Best Christmas gifts for cooks 2022: From kitchenware to cookbooks (13)

This is the cookbook of the year by a wonderful chef: all of it animated by a wondrous respect for good ingredients and, that indispensable quality in a good cook or chef, greed.

I want to cook the lot.

Buy now £20.18, Amazon

Piper’s Farm, Sustainable Meat Cookbook

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This is the ethical carnivore’s recipe book from an excellent meat provider, with delicious and varied recipes. It makes the case for buying good meat, for us, for animals, for the environment.

Buy now £24.45, Amazon

Best cheffy stockingfillers

Skeppshult Cast Iron Spice Mill with Walnut Wood Lid

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Now, I can see where you’re coming from. Almost fifty quid for a spice crusher is steep - but hear me out.

This is genuinely useful kit if you use spices a lot. It’s cast iron so it’s heavy. It’s better than a simple pestle and mortar because of its indented base, and it has a container on the top with a walnut wood lid to keep salt or spices fresh. Plus it’s made by skeppshult, the admirable Swedish manufacturer to an excellent functional design. I go for manual devices rather than electronic/digital ones.

Buy now £49.00, John Lewis

Waitrose No. 1 Yucutan Mexican Honey

I can never have enough honey; the good stuff, I mean. And this dark, rich, runny stuff from Mexico’s Yucutan province, is delicious. So many uses, but I fancy this with thick Greek yoghurt.

Alternatively if you enjoy yours light and floral, this pot of Spanish lavender honey is sweet and fragrant. Fortnum’s does some excellent English honeys including a Shropshire honeycomb (£8.95); this is a very good, soft set variety - delicious on toast.

Buy now £3.25, Waitrose

Microplane grater

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It’s universally admitted that Microplane do the best graters and this is terrifically cool. A heavy, all black grater – a zester here, but there are coarser blades – handy for grating Parmesan as well as citrus. It’s available from Borough Kitchen from mid-October but there are plenty of Microplanes available now if you’re keen to get a head-start on your Christmas shopping list.

Buy now £49.95, John Lewis

Niwaki Mainichi Kitchen scissors

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Niwaki, the Japanese manufacturer, does terrific kitchen knives, which are a pleasure to use, but check out too its kitchen scissors. Mainichi means “everyday” and these excellent functional scissors, with an inbuilt bottle opener and nutcracker, are made of very finely serrated steel and come apart for easy cleaning. Given how often we use a kitchen scissors it’s not as expensive as it seems.

Buy now £39.00, Trouva

Harvey Nichols Christmas Cranberry Sauce with Red Wine

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Yes, I do know that cranberry sauce is a doddle to make (try it with port and orange juice) but sometimes it’s handy to have really good stuff in a bottle. This is an excellent sauce; good, obviously, with turkey, recommended with brie, and I’d eat it with ice cream too.

Buy now £4.95, Harvey Nichols

Tracklements Wholegrain Mustard

Best Christmas gifts for cooks 2022: From kitchenware to cookbooks (20)

An excellent, tangy wholegrain mustard. There’s a nice honeyed version too. A useful stocking filler.

Buy now £2.69, Amazon

Waitrose Kirsch 20cl

Best Christmas gifts for cooks 2022: From kitchenware to cookbooks (21)

This is very old fashioned present, but fabulous in cheese fondue and fruit salads and indispensable in Black Forest Gateau. I love it.

Buy now £8.50, John Lewis

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FAQs

What to buy a cook that has everything? ›

40 Unique Gifts For Chefs Who Have Everything
  • Chef's Knife Roll-Up Bag.
  • Indoor Herb Growing Kit.
  • Personalized Cutting Board.
  • Stainless Steel Soap.
  • Portable Pizza Oven.
  • Japanese Knife.
  • Food Smoker.
  • Copper Measuring Set.
7 days ago

What to get a man that likes to cook for Christmas? ›

26 Wonderful Gifts For Men Who Like To Cook
  • Cutting Board With Etched Bamboo And Knives. ...
  • Gifts For Men Who Like To Cook The Grill. ...
  • Cooking gifts for men With Bamboo Butler. ...
  • Highest Quality Damascus Steel Knives. ...
  • The Grilling Personnel. ...
  • Personalized Kitchen Knife. ...
  • Package Of Spiced Sauce.
May 5, 2022

What do you get someone who doesn't know how do you cook? ›

2. They won't want gifts that make cooking easier, because they'll still have to cook. However, we think the latter is good for them.
...
  1. Countertop Dishwasher. ...
  2. Breakfast Sandwich Maker. ...
  3. Microwave. ...
  4. Clear View Toaster. ...
  5. Rice Cooker/Food Steamer. ...
  6. Snoopy Grilled Cheese Maker. ...
  7. Slow Cooker. ...
  8. Lockitron.
Nov 21, 2016

What gifts do chefs like? ›

16 Unique Cooking Gifts for Chefs Who Have Everything
  • 1. Japanese Knife. ...
  • A Good Knife Sharpener. ...
  • Indoor Herb Growing Kit. ...
  • Tofu Making Kit. ...
  • Pizza Stone. ...
  • Stainless Steel Soap. ...
  • Indoor Stovetop Smoker. ...
  • Beeswax Reusable Wrap.
Aug 22, 2022

What gift goes well with a cookbook? ›

If you want to go one step above, Janet recommends giving a piece of equipment with your cookbook gift, such as pairing a slowcooker, cast iron skillet, a zester, or another kitchen tool that would be needed to complete the recipes in the cookbook you're giving.

What do you buy a chef? ›

A cookbook is truly the gift that keeps on giving, and the Taste of Home 30 Minute Cookbook is one every chef should keep in their kitchen arsenal for easy meal time inspiration. The chef in your life will be thrilled to finally have a cookbook on hand that doesn't require hours of preparation.

What to buy a man who likes to cook? ›

From grilling accessories to kitchen knives, we have a cooking gift your man will love to use when he is cooking up his favorite dish.
...
  1. Guide to Cooking Oils.
  2. Organic Herbs and Spices. ...
  3. Mountain Men Wood Burned Spoon. ...
  4. Perfect Cooking Camper Mug. ...
  5. Oven Mitts. ...
  6. Adjustable Kitchen Cooking Hat for Men. ...

How do you get inspired to cook? ›

Many readers found inspiration in food media:
  1. Read a cookbook or magazine. • Whenever I need some inspiration, I pull down some cookbooks. ...
  2. Visit a food blog. ...
  3. Other inspiration! ...
  4. Farmers' markets & grocery stores. ...
  5. But, in the end, don't worry too much.
  6. Pictured above:
Jun 5, 2019

What do you get a chef for their birthday? ›

Gadget Gifts
  • This handheld food smoker to infuse food and drinks with natural smoky flavors. ...
  • A Sous Vide Precision Cooker that connects to your chef's smartphone. ...
  • This Food Dehydrator for dried fruit and jerky lovers. ...
  • A Bamboo Steamer Set by famous restaurateur Joyce Chen that's ideal for dim sum.

How do you prepare good food? ›

Healthy cooking
  1. Use healthy cooking methods such as steaming, broiling, grilling and roasting. ...
  2. Cook foods in as little water and for as short a period of time as possible to preserve all water soluble vitamins (Bs and C).
  3. Use a variety of herbs and spices for additional flavor rather than relying on salt alone.

What to get someone who loves to cook Reddit? ›

  • you can get pretty decent pans at places like wal-mart or target for cheaper than you think. ...
  • a good wood (butcher block?) ...
  • a hand (immersion) blender or small food processor.
  • a nice-ish knife or two. ...
  • a good wok, maybe with a steamer basket for dumplings etc.

What should a beginner chef buy? ›

The 26 Best Cooking Gifts for Beginners
  • Cookbooks. How to Cook Everything. ...
  • A Nice Pan (or Three) Lodge 10.25-Inch Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet. ...
  • A Super-Sharp Knife. ...
  • Boards That Make the Cut. ...
  • A Couple of Sheet Pans. ...
  • Nimble Tongs. ...
  • A Fast-Draining Colander. ...
  • A Quick, Accurate Digital Thermometer.
Sep 23, 2022

Is a cookbook a good gift? ›

A new cookbook can be a wonderful, personal gift, which is why we love to give and receive them, especially during the holidays. We've cooked our way through many new cookbooks this year, and have recipes bookmarked in many more to try in 2022.

How do you wrap a cookbook in dish towels? ›

Put your book in the middle, on the diagonal. It should roughly be in line with the opposite corners of the tea towel. Fold in the sides so that they are parallel with the sides of the book. Fold them over the book to make sure they just overlap each other.

What to eat when you have no motivation to cook? ›

  • Nachos. You can go as big or small as you want here, but pre-bought salsa and guac are your friends. ...
  • Steamed vegetables. Every supermarket sells bags of veg you can prick and pop in the microwave. ...
  • Eggs. Boil 'em, poach 'em, fry 'em. ...
  • Smoothies. ...
  • Soups. ...
  • Ready meals. ...
  • Rice or noodles and anything you have. ...
  • Order in.
Apr 12, 2018

How do I stop being lazy and cook? ›

How I Motivate to Cook When I'm Feeling Lazy
  1. make meal preparation a real priority again.
  2. find ways to make cooking more fun.
  3. keep a stocked pantry.

How do you get excited when cooking? ›

Get Excited In The Kitchen With These Cooking Tips
  1. Head To A Farmers Market. Farmers markets are so enjoyable. ...
  2. Bring A Restaurant To Your Home. ...
  3. Cook A One-Pot Dish. ...
  4. Try New Foods & Vegetables. ...
  5. Buy A New Gadget. ...
  6. Make It A Party. ...
  7. Find A Cooking Companion. ...
  8. Re-Make Recipes As Makeovers.
Jun 13, 2016

What can I make for dinner when tired of everything? ›

PureWow
  1. 15-minute Herb-crumbed Fish. Time Commitment: 15 minutes. ...
  2. Hot Honey Chicken Thighs. Time Commitment: 40 minutes. ...
  3. Easy Green Chicken Enchiladas. ...
  4. 50-50 Buttered Noodles And Greens. ...
  5. Teriyaki Salmon Bowls. ...
  6. Smashed Chickpea Salad Sandwich. ...
  7. Slow Cooker Green Chicken Chili. ...
  8. Easy Roasted Tomato Bucatini.
Jun 20, 2022

What to buy a man who likes to cook? ›

From grilling accessories to kitchen knives, we have a cooking gift your man will love to use when he is cooking up his favorite dish.
...
  1. Guide to Cooking Oils.
  2. Organic Herbs and Spices. ...
  3. Mountain Men Wood Burned Spoon. ...
  4. Perfect Cooking Camper Mug. ...
  5. Oven Mitts. ...
  6. Adjustable Kitchen Cooking Hat for Men. ...

What do you give a new cook? ›

The 26 Best Cooking Gifts for Beginners
  1. Cookbooks. How to Cook Everything. ...
  2. A Nice Pan (or Three) Lodge 10.25-Inch Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet. ...
  3. A Super-Sharp Knife. ...
  4. Boards That Make the Cut. ...
  5. A Couple of Sheet Pans. ...
  6. Nimble Tongs. ...
  7. A Fast-Draining Colander. ...
  8. A Quick, Accurate Digital Thermometer.
Sep 23, 2022

What to get someone who loves to cook Reddit? ›

  • you can get pretty decent pans at places like wal-mart or target for cheaper than you think. ...
  • a good wood (butcher block?) ...
  • a hand (immersion) blender or small food processor.
  • a nice-ish knife or two. ...
  • a good wok, maybe with a steamer basket for dumplings etc.

What do you get a chef for their birthday? ›

Gadget Gifts
  • This handheld food smoker to infuse food and drinks with natural smoky flavors. ...
  • A Sous Vide Precision Cooker that connects to your chef's smartphone. ...
  • This Food Dehydrator for dried fruit and jerky lovers. ...
  • A Bamboo Steamer Set by famous restaurateur Joyce Chen that's ideal for dim sum.

What do you get someone for a new kitchen? ›

Create your own holiday gift list to share gift ideas with family and friends.
  1. Smirly Cheese Board and Knife Set. ...
  2. Umite Chef Kitchen Cooking Utensils Set. ...
  3. Instant Pot Duo Mini Seven-in-One Electric Cooker. ...
  4. Cuisinart Double Belgian Maker Waffle Iron. ...
  5. Cuisinart 15-Piece Knife Set. ...
  6. Modern Mixology Bartender Kit.

What do bakers like for Christmas? ›

The 10 Best Gifts for Bakers
  • Cuisinart Stand Mixer. The Cuisinart 5.5 - Qt Stand Mixer is an essential tool and one of the must-have gifts for bakers or home cooks. ...
  • Non-Stick Bakeware Set. ...
  • Mixing Bowl Set. ...
  • Kitchen Scale. ...
  • Food Processor. ...
  • Decorative Rolling Pin. ...
  • Ceramic Pie Dish. ...
  • Electric Hand Mixer.
Oct 7, 2022

What to get someone who like baking? ›

  • Glass Cake Stand. From $44, food52.com. ...
  • Leather Julia Child Coffee Table Book. $179, potterybarn.com. ...
  • Bake Eat Love Monthly Baking Kit. ...
  • Juliet Rose Recipe Tin. ...
  • Five Two Silicone Oven Mitts & Pot Holders. ...
  • Williams-Sonoma Olivewood Pastry Tools, Set of 4. ...
  • Jeni's Bagel Shop Collection. ...
  • Personalized From the Kitchen of Labels.
May 6, 2022

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