These 24 chef-approved kitchen gifts will improve the life of any home cook or baker
With its annual gift guide, Fast company asked business leaders who know home—and some of our staff—for location-specific recommendations.
These products will give anyone’s kitchen a boost, whether you’re a novice pastry chef or someone who likes to play host. (And if you’re shopping for a board game fiend, check out our living room gift guide.)
Estelle colored glass drinkware from $185 for a set of 6
I love this kind of hand blown and specially made colored glass. Founder Stephanie Summerson Hall creates beautiful stoneware in a combination of precious tones and soft pastels. A collection of glasses makes a great gift. These pieces are truly gems on your dinner table. –Emma Grede, CEO, Good American; chief product officer, Skims
DASH electric egg $18.99
This is a very simple, low-quality egg cooker. I love having eggs for my breakfast, and there’s nothing better than waking up and having to throw eggs in and push a button. Perfect! –Kenny Leung, chef and co-owner, YAO
Peugeot salt and pepper mills $80
Peugeot makes good salt and pepper mills. They are the perfect combination of form and function. For many, the idea of eliminating salt opens up new areas of flavor ideas. –Freda Sugarman, executive chef, Sarabeth’s Greenwich Village
King Arthur bench knife $28.95
This tool has a nice wooden handle and is from a workman’s company. –Anne Latini, Fast company art director
Maamoul cookies sweet wooden mold $6.99
Maamoul cookies are a popular all day snack in the Middle East. These handmade knives are beautiful enough for display, while also being functional. Maybe pair them with your favorite date and cookie recipe. Or better yet, make a batch and tie a spoon to the pocket.” –Michael Mina, chef and executive chairman, Mina Group
Gozney Dome outdoor oven $1,799.99
It’s a great alternative to backyard grilling and entertaining, and it delivers professional results. Also, pro tip: Kids love pizza. –Richard Blais, chef and restaurateur, La Zozzona and Tiki Taka
Victorinox oyster knife $23.99
Yes, it’s used for shucking oysters, but I love this tool because it’s so versatile for other jobs. I use it to peel ginger or delicata squash seeds. It’s small enough to fit into portals and platforms, but not so sharp that it will damage the product. You can use it as an extension of your fingers. Definitely one of my favorite tools. –Ji Hye Kim, chef and owner, Miss Kim
Sweet! by Renato Poliafito $38
This chef is behind some of our favorite restaurants, including Pasta Night in Brooklyn. These desserts are not too difficult to make and are always a crowd pleaser. –Yasmin Gagne, Fast company associate editor
Imperia pasta maker $103
This easy-to-use machine comes straight from Italy! With it, you will be able to make authentic, fresh pasta right in your kitchen. This is one of my favorite activities to do with my kids and get the whole family in the kitchen. –Kieran Hales, executive chef and managing partner, Zingerman’s Cornman Farms
Miele CM6160 MilkPerfection coffee maker $2,299
This machine features a wide selection of coffee types, with the option to make two at the same time. –Chip Wade, CEO, Union Square Hospitality Group
Made in a sturdy stain-coated pan $119
Fine sweets and caramels are essential in our Salt & Straw kitchen. Making sure we get reproducible recipes with even heat can be the difference between a caramel sauce that’s shiny and smooth versus tacky and tooth-breaking. A good pan will go a long way in all aspects of the kitchen, including a quick hollandaise for weekend brunch. I love the pans from Made In Cookware; they work on both our induction and gas burners and last forever. –Tyler Malek, founder and ice cream maker, Salt & Straw
Vitamix 5200 blender $449.95
Vitamix makes excellent blenders. They are very strong and unbreakable. It’s the blender that every restaurant uses, and it’s perfect for everything. –CL
Anova Precision Cooker Pro $199
A circulator (better known as a sous vide machine) allows even a novice cook to properly cook proteins to offer by cooking them in a water bath with an even temperature. –Zachary Lovenguth, executive chef, Heartwood
Pulp: A Practical Guide to Cooking with Fruit by Abra Berens $35
Some may say I’m a little biased because Abra used to work in the retail kitchen with me, but I think she’s done a great job in all her books of coming up with recipes for a variety of Michigan’s agricultural offerings. They are all great books, including the latest one about fruit! –Rodger Bowser, chef and managing partner, Zingerman’s Delicatessen
SodaStream Art starts at $89.99
Having a SodaStream to make club soda is an essential ingredient in our kitchen, and the new Thoughtful Mixes, especially the elderflower and grapefruit flavors poured over ice, are incredibly delicious. The new enso is sleekly designed in stainless steel by renowned Japanese designer Naoto Fukasawa. –Michael Solomonov, co-owner, CookNSolo Restaurants
Highball & Chaser 13-piece cocktail set from $47.99
Every house can use a suitable bar setup. Even if you’re mixing mocktails like me, you want to have the right tools for the job and look cool doing it. This gift works in conjunction with your favorite spirits or on its own. –MV
Le Creuset bread oven $300
If you’ve jumped on the sourdough bandwagon, this is one step above using a Dutch oven to bake your bread. The shallow domed top makes it easy to transfer the bread in and out, and it’s easy to beat the dough. –Clarice Lam, pastry chef and author, Breaking the Bao
A Brooklyn Delhi tomato costs $12
If you love Indian flavors but don’t always have all the necessary ingredients, you need Brooklyn Delhi products in your pantry—and this one is my absolute favorite. It’s the key to the vodka sauce with tomato achaar and mac ‘n’ dal recipes in my cookbook, and it’s also great on eggs, pizza, and anywhere else you’d like to add a ton of flavor with nothing to do but open. pot! –Dan Pashman, host, Sporkfuland the author, Anything Pasteble: 81 Creative Recipes for Saucy People
Prices for Spearhead Spirits vary
The company makes gin, vodka, whiskey, and agave spirit using African ingredients. They taste incredible, and their bottles are works of art. –EG
Moromi soy sauce $20
I love this soy sauce—it’s special and made by small businesses. The manufacturer often releases special edition flavors such as heirloom corn soy sauce. –Yara Herrera, chef-partner at Hellbender
Smeg steam oven $774
I use a commercial combi oven in our kitchen at YAO so we can easily switch between heating the dish for a few quick minutes before baking. At home, I use this small and simple version of it. It’s an exciting machine for any home cook. –KL
Benriner mandoline slicer $54.99
This cutter is better than other similar products in the market. The sharpness and longevity of the product is unbeatable. I would recommend this as a gift for any chef or cook in your life. –Taka Sakaeda, chef partner at Nami Nori and Postcard Bakery
Zanzibar black peppercorns from $9.99
These are perfectly peppery with a nice, spicy bite at the end.
–Becca Millstein, founder of Fishwife
Misono kids knife $59.99
For those who have children like me and love to cook with them, I recommend the misono children’s knife. It teaches them the basics and gets the job done. It’s really easy on the hand and has a great shape to promote the rocking movement. –Chef Michael Vignola, Corner Store
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