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Gifts a home cook will be excited to receive!

Purple Star emoji 24 items
I love to cook and this list has a bunch of my favorite everyday essential, knives, splurge items, and cookbooks that I think would make great gifts for the home cook in your life!
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Everyday Essentials

These are items and tools I reach for everyday while cooking!

 
Matthew Zinck profile picture
This humble but versatile tool gets so much use in my kitchen! Easily transfer chopped foods to a bowl or pan, divide dough, and more!
Bench Scrapper
 
Matthew Zinck profile picture
A classic for a reason. You can't go wrong with the tried and true lodge cast iron skillet.
Lodge Cast Iron Skillets
 
Matthew Zinck profile picture
Investing in a simple rice cooker has been a game changer for perfect rice every time!
AROMA Digital Rice Cooker
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Matthew Zinck profile picture
More “serious” cooks will tell you weight is more accurate than volume!
Escali Primo Digital Food Scale
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Matthew Zinck profile picture
This versatile tool can be used for a lot more than fish. It's the spatula I reach for most often!
Winco Fish Spatula
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Matthew Zinck profile picture
I love the shape of this tool… part spoon, part spatula, it is perfect for stir frying and other cooking methods!
Bamboo Stir Fry Spatula
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Matthew Zinck profile picture
A good microplane is important for zesting and grating!
Microplane
 
Matthew Zinck profile picture
This is a high quality set at a great price!
Nordic Ware Baking Sheet Set
 
Matthew Zinck profile picture
A bit pricey but totally worth it. Freshly ground black pepper really is a game changer!
Cole Mason Derwent Pepper Grinder
 
Matthew Zinck profile picture
I love how this set gives you different sizes and lids, very convenient!
Cuisinart Mixing Bowl Set
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Splurges

These items are worth their price, and hey, the special home cook in your life deserves it!

 
Matthew Zinck profile picture
This is an heirloom quality piece that will last you a lifetime and can be passed down for generations!
Le Creuset Signature Round Dutch Oven
 
Matthew Zinck profile picture
All Clad makes the best stainless steel on the market in my opinion, and again worth the price.
D3 Stainless Everyday 3-ply Bonded Pots and Pans, 5 Piece Starter Set
 
Matthew Zinck profile picture
While I'm not a baker, avid bakers I know rave about their KitchenAid stand mixers.
KitchenAid Classic 4.5qt Stand Mixer
 
Matthew Zinck profile picture
A solid, thick chopping block is not only functional, but beautiful. I love my John Boos chopping block.
John Boos Maple Square Chopping Block

Knives

It can be difficult to buy knives as a gifts because it really is dependent on everyone's hand size and shape and preferences.

 
Matthew Zinck profile picture
This is the knife I use for about 90% of my knifework!
Lamson Premier Forged 8″ Chef's Knife
 
Matthew Zinck profile picture
I think everyone needs a good bread knife!
Gourmet 8" Bread Knife
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Matthew Zinck profile picture
Similarly a sharp pairing knife is a kitchen essential!
Wüsthof Gourmet Paring Knife, 3"
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Matthew Zinck profile picture
While I don't regularly use Japanese style chef's knives, this knife is great quality!
Tojiro DP 8.25" Kiritsuke Knife
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Cookbooks

These are some of my favorite cookbooks that I regularly reach for on a daily basis!

 
Matthew Zinck profile picture
Great quirky recipes that are delicious!
Cook This Book: Techniques That Teach and Recipes to Repeat
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Matthew Zinck profile picture
This is like a cooking bible. Even experienced cooks can learn something new!
Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking
 
Matthew Zinck profile picture
Alison Roman has never let me down!
Dining In: Highly Cookable Recipes
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Matthew Zinck profile picture
I love Carla Lalli Music's flavor profile!
That Sounds So Good: 100 Real-Life Recipes for Every Day of the Week
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Matthew Zinck profile picture
Great book if you want to expand to Korean flavors!
Korean American: Food That Tastes Like Home
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Matthew Zinck profile picture
Accessible Indian (inspired) recipes and beautiful writing and stories throughout!
Indian-Ish: Recipes and Antics from a Modern American Family
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