13 Kitchen Gifts for the Badass Home Chefs on Your List [Chef-Tested and Approved]
These 13 kitchen gifts were handpicked by our Editor-in-Chief Laura Klein, so you can trust they’re ideal for the foodie friends on your list.
Know someone who’s a total kitchen badass? Or maybe that’s you, and you’re just looking for a way to treat yourself this holiday season. Well, regardless of if you’re a badass or just shopping for one, this list of kitchen gift ideas is for you.
The 13 Best Kitchen Gifts (Our Handpicked List!)
Every item on this list was handpicked by our Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Laura Klein, who is just about THE badass chef. Not only is she professionally trained, but she also reviews and tests kitchen tools all day. Trust us when we say her gift ideas for the kitchen are guaranteed to be a win, no matter what kind of chef you are.
1. Hurom H400 Easy Clean Slow Juicer
Every home chef needs a nutritional boost to keep them healthy, and this kitchen gift makes that a whole lot easier.
Skip the daily juicing (and get an extra half an hour of sleep) by batch prepping your juices for up to three days with the H400 Easy Clean Slow Juice. Part of Hurom’s Easy Clean Series, its strainer-free design makes it possible to create low-pulp, nutrient-rich juice without the pesky mineral buildup from conventional juicers. In our book, nothing says badass like easy cleanup.
Hurom Juicers have been a staple in our founder’s kitchen for years, and we absolutely love that we can batch make our juices now for Sunday brunch.
Specs:
- Large hopper for batch juicing
- Cleaning brush
- Power cord
- Recipe book & Manual
Price: $699.00 $594 at time of publish
2. Alva Cookware’s “Neat” Stackable Cookware
Small kitchen? Just tired of the clutter? The Alva Cookware “Neat” Stackable Cookware is ideal for any kitchen, big or small. It’s a 5-in-1 cookware set that ideally compacts without scratching or damaging any of the contents, kind of like a perfect kitchen puzzle. The body is made of 100% certified recycled materials, including silicone handles that stay cool while you’re cooking.
We love it for its minimalist design and the PFAS-free ceramic nonstick coating on the interior. This set is drip-resistant, dishwasher-safe, oven-safe up to 392 degrees Fahrenheit, and can be used on all cooktops (yes, even induction!). It even comes with its own space-saving colander and is sold in five gorgeous colors.
Specs:
- 8.5-inch Aluminum Frying Pan
- 8.5-inch Aluminum Glass Lid/Coaster + Strainer
- 2 Qt. Aluminum Saucepan with Silicon Spout
- 6-inch Aluminum Glass Lid/Coaster + Strainer
- 3.5 Qt. Aluminum Dutch Oven with Silicon Spout
Price: $199
3. Made In’s Carbon Steel Griddle + Press + Lid
All of the products on this list were handpicked by our founder, Laura Klein, but this tool is one of her favorites. She uses this carbon steel griddle to cook everything from burgers to pancakes, seared veggies, toasted buns, and more.
So why does she love it? It goes over two burners, which means you can create two hot zones and a cool zone down the middle to move food to. The cool zone offers a simple way to keep food warm (but not burnt!) after it’s done cooking.
Plus, the press has become a favorite tool for protein and smashed potatoes, although you can also buy the griddle on its own. Oh and did we mention, Laura loves to take it camping? Yeah, it’s that versatile and indestructible — some might even say badass.
Specs:
- 10.5-in x 24-in. Griddle
- Grill press
- Lid
Price: $327 $279 with press + lid at time of publish
4. Caraway Home’s Cookware Set
We’ve been testing this cookware set for years (no really, here’s our review after testing it for 5 years!), and we love it as much as ever. Caraway made PFAS-free, nonstick cookware that really lasts — and its ultra-modern design means it will stay classic until you need to renew your set. Available in eight beautiful colorways, it makes a perfect foundational set for any kitchen.
Its super slick coating is naturally nonstick, meaning minimal oil or butter and minimal cleanup required. It’s oven-safe up to 550 Fahrenheit, stovetop-safe, and you can also add minis to the set (or even start with the minis, if you prefer)! We promise you’ll be everyone’s favorite gift-giver if you show up with a gift-wrapped Caraway set.
Specs:
- 3-Qt. Saucepan
- 10.5” Frypan
- 6.5-Qt. Dutch Oven
- 4.5-Qt. Saute Pan
- 8” Lid
- 10.5 “ Lid
- 12” Lid
- Canvas Lid Holder
- Pan Organizer
Available Colors: Cream, Navy, Gray, Sage, Perracotta, Merigold, Black, White
Price: $545 $355.50 at time of publish (Price varies by color)
Shop Caraway’s biggest sale of the year for the Holidays, Black Friday and Cyber Monday, save up to 20% OFF.
5. ThermoMaven One Thermometer
Tired of not knowing exactly when your consciously raised meat is done cooking? Stop guessing — we’ve got you covered. This compact and affordable meat thermometer will tell you the temperature within a 0.5 degree of accuracy, every single time (and in under one second!).
So whether you’re searing a perfect steak or spicing it up with some Thai chicken meatballs, this thermometer (available in red or black) is a great stocking stuffer for your favorite kitchen badass.
Specs:
- One thermometer
- 1 AAA batteries
Price: $29.99 $18.96 at time of publish
6. Spiceology’s Popcorn Seasoning Variety Pack
Ready to spice up your Saturday nights with a popcorn-fueled Netflix binge? This seasoning variety pack makes it easy for you to up the flavor on any snack or dish — and with flavors this fun, it’s going to be hard not to sprinkle seasoning on everything.
We love making homemade versions like this vegan za’atar popcorn and this green ‘superfood’ popcorn, but sometimes movie nights call for pure relaxation outside of the kitchen. Thank the badass chef in your friend group by letting them off the hook for snacks this weekend.
Flavors:
- Apple Cinnamon
- Bleu Cheese Buffalo
- Jalapeno Popper
- Pizza
- S’mores
- Truffle Parmesan
Price: $39.95
7. Great Jones Saucy
While it’s probably a dream for everyone to have a 24/7 live-in private chef, most of us don’t have access to that yet (keep manifesting, ladies). Fortunately for us, Great Jones sells this amazing Saucy that lets us whip up our favorite sauces while we manifest.
The 3-quart saucier has everything you could need to whip up the perfect holiday gravy or creamy risotto — curved sides, etched measurements, and a pouring spout. It’s safe for all stovetops (yes, including induction!) and dishwashers, and its welded handles prevent food from getting trapped in any screws and rivets.
Specs:
- 3-Qt. Saucy
- Matching Lid
Price: $120 $80 at time of publish
8. GreenPan’s Elite Convection Air Fry Oven
We’re obsessed with GreenPan’s Elite Convection Air Fryer. You can find our full take here, if you want the complete list of why we’re so in love. But if you just want the highlights: this air fryer does it all.
Not only does this air fryer oven have multiple cooking functions like bake, roast, dehydrate, slow cook, and broil (to name a few), the spacious interior also lets you cook for the whole family. It’s endlessly versatile and perfect for efficient, healthy cooking. And of course, we love that the nonstick interior is PFAS-free.
Specs:
- Convection Air Fry Oven
- Baking Pan
- 2 Oven Racks
- Air Fry Basket
- Broil Rack
- Pizza Pan
- Crumb Tray
Price: $574.99 $399.99 at time of publish
9. Made In’s Japanese Damascus Steel Santoku Knife
Every head home chef needs at least one good chef’s knife! We’ve been in love with the Japanese Santoku Knife forever. Nothing says badass like a rapid slicing and dicing session. Its tall blade and rounded nose makes tough jobs like quickly chopping an onion effortless.
Why do we love this particular knife? Because it’s made with a damascus steel blade that has carries a higher carbon content than any other knife in Made In’s collection. That keeps your knives sharper for longer, because nobody wants to spend a lot of time sharpening knives. It’s also full tang, meaning its been made from a single rod of stainless steel for durability and balance.
Specs:
- 6.6” Blade Length
- Made in Japan
Price: $199
10. Zwilling 21” x 16” Cutting Board, Beechwood
Does your friend still use small plastic cutting boards in their kitchen? Even the most badass chef isn’t immune to bacteria — here are some quick facts about the safety risks of plastic cutting boards. Firstly, they aren’t sanitary and harbor bacteria, even after running them through a dishwasher. Second, every time they’re used, they release small shreds of plastic into your food, which isn’t so appetizing (or safe).
This holiday season is the perfect time to upgrade your friend’s prep station with a wooden cutting board. We’re fans of this one because it provides a large working space to quickly cut and organize your veg for every meal. It’s also pretty enough for serving your next charcuterie spread, so it serves a dual purpose!
Specs:
- 12 lb. cutting board
Price: $109.99
11. Pampered Chef’s Rapid-Prep Mandoline
If you want to make fancy french fry cuts for your new air fryer oven, this mandoline is for you. It can make uniform veg cuts a breeze, which is the key to making sure everything cooks evenly. Plus, it’s designed for maximum safety and keeps hands away from the steel blades. We love that it can easily fold up to be put neatly in a drawer so it’s out of sight.
Specs:
- Mandoline
- Food Catch Tray
- Food Chute
- Food Pusher
- Dual-sided Cleaning Brush
Price: $70
12. KitchenAid’s 2024 Design Series Evergreen Tilt-Head Stand Mixer
Okay, this one’s on the spendier side, but who doesn’t want to bring the outdoors in with this beauty? And when we say beauty, we mean seriously gorgeous. The deep evergreen mixer complements the walnut wood bowl perfectly, making it kind of a show-stopper in any kitchen.
The mixer offers 10 speeds for nearly any task or recipe, so whipping cream is just as easy as slowly mixing together ingredients. It’s also compatible with 10 different attachments (sold separately) so you can make the most of your new favorite kitchen appliance.
Specs:
- Evergreen Mixer
- 5-Qt. Walnut Wood Bowl
- Stainless Steel Flat Beater
- Stainless Steel Dough Hook
- Stainless Steel Wire Whip
Price: $699.99
13. Made In’s Crystal Wine Glasses
Looking for some pretty wine glasses for your favorite vino? These are the ones you want. Up your dinner party game with these gorgeous glasses, available for red or white wine.
Skipping the alcohol for tonight? Even better — we find that using a fancy glass makes mocktails feel indulgent and special. We use ours to drink sparkling water with a few slices of blood oranges and cucumber.
Specs:
- Four 16-oz. Wine Glasses
Price: $99 for a 4-pack
Chances are, the badass chef in your life is probably already pretty cool without fancy tools. But it’s the holidays, and everyone could use an extra gadget or two to make their lives easier — hope these 13 kitchen gift ideas help!