Gifts for people who love cooking (that they don’t already own)
Tools that make a real difference in the kitchen, and what keen cooks probably already have.
Keen cooks are both easy and tricky to buy for. Easy because there’s always another tool; tricky because they probably own the obvious ones, and they have strong opinions. The best bet is either a quality upgrade of something they use daily, or a tool they’d never think to buy but will use every week.
Skip the one-job gadgets that take up drawer space. Everything here earns its place.
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A digital probe thermometer
£ Budget
The single cheapest way to cook meat perfectly every time. Chefs use them constantly; home cooks often don’t own one.
See options on AmazonA fine grater and zester
£ Budget
For citrus zest, parmesan, garlic, ginger and nutmeg. Once they’ve used a really sharp one, they’ll use it daily.
See options on AmazonAn enamelled cast iron casserole
£££ Treat
Goes from hob to oven to table, and lasts a lifetime. Perfect for stews, braises, bread and slow-cooked winter food.
Worth knowing: Around 24cm (roughly 4 litres) suits most households.
See options on AmazonA quality chef’s knife
£££ Treat
The one tool every cook uses the most. A properly sharp, well-balanced knife transforms prep.
Worth knowing: A 20cm blade suits most people. UK law means knives can’t be sold to under-18s, so expect an age check on delivery.
See options on AmazonA whetstone knife sharpener
££ Mid-range
Keeps their existing knives razor sharp. Many keen cooks find sharpening surprisingly satisfying.
Worth knowing: A combination stone (such as 1000/6000 grit) covers most needs.
See options on AmazonA granite pestle and mortar
££ Mid-range
Better than a grinder for curry pastes, pesto, spice blends and dressings. Heavy granite ones grip ingredients well.
See options on AmazonA world spice collection
££ Mid-range
A way to try spices they wouldn’t normally buy: sumac, za’atar, smoked paprika, garam masala blends and more.
See options on AmazonA linen apron
££ Mid-range
Looks good, washes well and has pockets for a tea towel and thermometer. A nice upgrade from a freebie apron.
See options on AmazonDigital kitchen scales
£ Budget
Essential for baking and bread. A slim, accurate set that weighs in 1g steps is a quiet upgrade.
See options on AmazonA pasta machine
££ Mid-range
Fresh pasta at home is a fun weekend project and a great thing to cook together.
See options on AmazonA good olive oil gift set
££ Mid-range
A treat they’ll taste the difference in, for dressings and finishing dishes rather than frying.
See options on AmazonThe Flavour Thesaurus
££ Mid-range
A much-loved book about which flavours go together and why. Inspiring for anyone who likes to cook without recipes.
See options on AmazonBuying for a keen cook
- Quietly check what they already own. Many keen cooks have a good knife but no thermometer.
- One quality tool beats a boxed set of mediocre ones.
- Avoid big single-use gadgets unless you know they want one; kitchen space is precious.
Budget guide: £ roughly under £15 · ££ roughly £15–£40 · £££ over £40. Prices vary between retailers and over time.
