Gifts for people who love to cook in the US

Start with what they cook most

Keen cooks own the basics, so the useful gift is an upgrade to something they reach for daily or an ingredient they would not buy themselves. Watch what they make. A pasta cook will use the cacio e pepe blend. A weekend bread or pizza baker will use the Baking Steel box and cutter. A cook who adds heat to everything will finish the Fly By Jing jars.

Look at the kitchen too. A small apartment kitchen suits the Always Pan and the Misen mini set. A backyard and a cook who has outgrown the grill suit the Ooni. Avoid single-use gadgets unless they asked for one.

Pantry gifts that get used

Food gifts work best as better versions of things they already use. Brightland and Graza both go straight into weeknight cooking, and olive oil tastes best within a few months of opening, so buy for someone who cooks often. Brightland ships within the US only. Rancho Gordo beans suit someone with a free Sunday, since dried beans need soaking.

Under $30 covers the cacio e pepe blend, the bean sampler, the dough cutter and the beeswax wraps. From $30 to $150 you get the oil sets, the Lodge dish and the Always Pan. Above that, the Misen set and the Ooni are for cooks whose habits you know.

Classes and timing

A Cozymeal card covers cooking classes, chef dinners and food tours in US cities and never expires, which makes it the last-minute pick here. A small card may not cover a class for two, so check prices in their city.

Order physical gifts by mid-November for the holidays. The Ooni ships heavy, and the family cookbook only works if someone sits down and fills it in, so give it with a first recipe already written.

Mistakes to avoid

The usual mistake is a gadget that does one job, bought for a cook who never asked for it. The second is a knife set for someone who already has a favourite knife. If you are unsure, buy something they will use up, like oil, beans or chili crisp, and let them keep their own tools.

Questions people ask

What do you buy a cook who has everything?

Buy an ingredient or a consumable they will use up, or an upgrade to a tool they use daily. A Fly By Jing chili crisp set, Brightland oil and vinegar or Ottolenghi spices get used and do not take cupboard space. A cooking class is another good choice for someone with a full kitchen, as long as it is in their city.

Is a knife a good gift for a cook?

Yes, if you know how they treat knives. A Japanese blade like the Ichigo Ichie gyuto rewards careful hand-washing and a wooden board, and chips if abused. Someone who uses a dishwasher or cuts through bone is better served by a sharpener like the HORL 3 Pro, which improves the knives they already own.

What is a good cooking gift under $50?

The Burlap & Barrel cacio e pepe blend, Rancho Gordo chili sampler, Baking Steel dough container, Lodge 13 x 9 baking dish and Sourdough Mate jar all come in under or near $50. In the UK, the Endo Shoji grater, Cole & Mason electric mill and Ottolenghi spice box fit the same budget.

Are cooking class gift cards worth it?

They are worth it for someone who lives near the school and has free evenings or a free day. Check the expiry and schedule first: School of Wok vouchers last 6 months, Otao Kitchen's last 3 years, and The Chef Upstairs runs weeknight classes only. Cozymeal cards never expire, but a small card may not cover a class for two.