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!
Sections
4
Everyday Essentials
Splurges
Knives
Cookbooks
Everyday Essentials
These are items and tools I reach for everyday while cooking!
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
A classic for a reason. You can't go wrong with the tried and true lodge cast iron skillet.
Lodge Cast Iron Skillets
Investing in a simple rice cooker has been a game changer for perfect rice every time!
AROMA Digital Rice Cooker
More “serious” cooks will tell you weight is more accurate than volume!
Escali Primo Digital Food Scale
This versatile tool can be used for a lot more than fish. It's the spatula I reach for most often!
Winco Fish Spatula
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
A good microplane is important for zesting and grating!
Microplane
This is a high quality set at a great price!
Nordic Ware Baking Sheet Set
A bit pricey but totally worth it. Freshly ground black pepper really is a game changer!
Cole Mason Derwent Pepper Grinder
I love how this set gives you different sizes and lids, very convenient!
Cuisinart Mixing Bowl Set
Splurges
These items are worth their price, and hey, the special home cook in your life deserves it!
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
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
While I'm not a baker, avid bakers I know rave about their KitchenAid stand mixers.
KitchenAid Classic 4.5qt Stand Mixer
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.
This is the knife I use for about 90% of my knifework!
Lamson Premier Forged 8″ Chef's Knife
I think everyone needs a good bread knife!
Gourmet 8" Bread Knife
Similarly a sharp pairing knife is a kitchen essential!
Wüsthof Gourmet Paring Knife, 3"
While I don't regularly use Japanese style chef's knives, this knife is great quality!
Tojiro DP 8.25" Kiritsuke Knife
Cookbooks
These are some of my favorite cookbooks that I regularly reach for on a daily basis!
Great quirky recipes that are delicious!
Cook This Book: Techniques That Teach and Recipes to Repeat
This is like a cooking bible. Even experienced cooks can learn something new!
Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking
Alison Roman has never let me down!
Dining In: Highly Cookable Recipes
I love Carla Lalli Music's flavor profile!
That Sounds So Good: 100 Real-Life Recipes for Every Day of the Week
Great book if you want to expand to Korean flavors!
Korean American: Food That Tastes Like Home
Accessible Indian (inspired) recipes and beautiful writing and stories throughout!
Indian-Ish: Recipes and Antics from a Modern American Family
