Last updated on November 30th, 2019
Need some gift-ideas for the cook in your life? Maybe I can help. Here are the culinary workhorses in my own kitchen, all saddled up for you:
Note: Most of these items can be purchased at quality kitchen-supply stores. I’ve included Amazon links for those of you who like to shop from the comfort of home.
Microplane zester. You’ve seen me use this gadget hundreds of times. It grates only the fragrant peel — not the bitter pith — of lemons, limes, and oranges. I also use it to grate ginger. Cost: $14.95 from Amazon.
Serrated Peeler. Use it to peel peaches, tomatoes, and other soft-skinned fruits. No blanching required! Cost: $7.95 from Amazon.
Offset spatula. You can’t frost a cake without this clever device. It’s also terrific for spreading the ricotta cheese on this pizza blanco, and the whipped cream on this elegant Victoria Cake. The 7.5-inch version is what you want. Order from Amazon, and you can have the spatula for just $7.00.
Lemon/Lime Juicer. Another kitchen must-have. I ordered this one for $14.00.
Electric Kettle. A major workhorse. I use mine multiple times each day, because it boils water faster than my stovetop or microwave can. My original kettle, pictured above, was purchased for about $25. I now have a slightly-fancier, programmable model, $34.99 from Amazon.
Digital Scale. I purchased this scale purely for the sake of clear recipe-writing. Now, instead of telling you to use “2 large sweet potatoes,” only to have you scratch your head and wonder if large to me is large to you, I can offer the approximate weight of the potatoes (or coffee, or flour). In any event, I use the Oneida scale regularly. It cost me $38.49 at Amazon. 
Electric Skillet. Sure, I love my cast-iron skillets. But for browning large quantities of beef for stew, or for frying pancakes or baking English muffins, I rely on a 16-inch non-stick electric skillet. I purchased this workhorse for about $29.99 from Amazon.
English Muffin Rings. Yes, you can make your own English muffins, just as I do. All you need is this recipe and these English muffin rings, which you can buy as a set of 12 at Amazon for $19.67.
The English muffins in question. Yum!
Egg Piercer. This might seem like a silly gadget to you, but it’s essential for easy-to-peel hard-boiled eggs. I I use the same piercer for perfectly poached eggs. My piercer came from a kitchen-supply store in Vermont. You can buy the same from Amazon for less than $6.00.
Heating Pad. Since I live in a drafty old house, in winter I use a common heating pad to encourage yeast breads to rise. The pad is also handy for yogurt-making. No link here, because every two-bit drugstore carries heating pads. Just be sure to buy the kind that doesn’t automatically shut itself off after a pre-determined time.
Removable-Bottom Tart Pan. Every serious baker needs this item. The removable base will turn any ordinary tart…
Into a fabulous work of art. My sturdy, French-made, 9-inch removable-bottom tart pan is available from Amazon for about 18 bucks.
Pastry Cloth and Frame. I described this item in an earlier post. The cloth/frame is the pastry-maker’s dream, because nothing sticks to it! It’s washable, too. Cost: $19.99 from you-know-who.
French Rolling Pin. Wanna make perfect circles of dough? Then do what I did several years ago, and toss out your huge, unweildy, 2-handled “American” pin. The sleek, tapered French version presses out pastry with the grace of Fred Astaire. Cost: about $10 from Amazon.
Javelin Instant-Read Digital Thermometer. For perfectly cooked turkey, chicken, beef (prime rib, anyone?) and even breads, I rely on this lightning-fast thermometer, $25.99 from Amazon.
Stick Blender. One of the best inventions ever. I use it to puree cooked veggies for elegant first-course soups. The blender is a cinch to clean. Cost: $34.94 at Amazon.
Julienne Peeler. I use this small gadget to make Yoodles and Zoodles — thin, noodle-like strips of zucchini and yellow squash (recipe here). You can find such a peeler at any kitchen supply store for less than $10. (I couldn’t find my trusty model at Amazon, so no link.)
Good Knives! High-quality knives ain’t cheap, but they are essential to almost every kitchen task. My collection includes a paring knife, a 6-inch utility knife, an 8-inch “cook’s” knife, a 10-inch slicing knife, and an 8-inch bread knife, all made in Germany by Wustof. The most versatile knife, if you can have (or give) only one, is the 8-inch cook’s subject, available from kitchen supply shops and Amazon for $149.
Food Processor. Every kitchen needs a good-quality, large-capacity food processor. I have two models made by Cuisinart. The better one is the 12-cup “Elite” model, which currently sells for $164.99 from Amazon.
Heavy Duty (Standing) Mixer. Standing mixers are as essential as food processors. The machine whips cream, beats egg whites, kneads bread dough, and blends batters. I absolutely love my KitchenAid “Artisan” mixer ($259. from Amazon). It’s not only built to last, but it comes in lots of fab colors.
Need more gift-ideas? Consider whisks, mixing bowls, colorful silicone spatulas, wire-mesh strainers, and attractive kitchen towels. And if I’ve left something out, then by all means speak up in the comments section below!
Enjoy this feature? Get my email updates, and subscribe to my YouTube channel.
Gina says
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS BLOG. you really make my Sunday mornings, Kevin! ❤️
Susie Rigsby says
Thank you for this! Great ideas (and in budget) for my hubby.
Peggy says
Have you had any more thoughts on the Instapot? Have not seen anymore comments from you since you got yours awhile back. Love your newsletter.
anita says
Hi Kevin, can the muffin rings be used for making crumpets? And could you please, please post a recipe/make a video for crumpets? Thanks.
Susan says
Have you tried a silicone pastry mat? After over 40 years of use and laundry, I wore out the pastry cloth and frame shown above. I need one or the other on my wish list. I wish I had known that the cloth mat can be folded up and frozen after use, instead of so much washing, and it works perfectly.
Debbie - MountainMama says
Great roundup!! I did a similar post last year, and linked to it in my most recent post if you’d like to take a peek! I never heard of the pastry cloth and frame, so thanks for that tip – I’m off to check it out! Does it take the place of flouring the counter?
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Peggy – I’m a hands-on cook. Consequently I rarely use my Instant Pot!
Hi Anita – The English Muffin rings can definitely be used for crumpets. Crumpet recipe coming soon!
Hi Susan – I’m not familiar with the silicone pastry mat. Love my cloth subject!
Hi Debbie – You are correct. No need to toss flour on the counter when you have a pastry cloth!
Michelle Wilhelms says
Nice list and thanks for the links. A cute idea for wrapping a gift for a baker is to tie one or two cute cookie cutters to the top of the present!
Carla says
Fabulous post. although I have a few of these items, I always love to know which items the Professionals use. Didn’t know about the pastry cloth. Absolutely will be buying one of those.
Danella on the Canadian west coast says
Great ideas Kevin. I’ve added a few to my Christmas list. Love your blog and your humorous presentation of recipes. Have a great day!
John says
Great list, Kevin. I think I want the pastry cloth and that French roller. My neighbor gave me a marble pastry roller and you can imagine how unwieldy the thing is.
We got an Instantpot last year, and only use it to cook iffy cuts of beef. It does turn out perfect and under an hour.
I would recommend a mini food processor to your list. Great for everyday chopping and I use it for one crust pies. (It’s so quick I can make the second crust separately in a snap). It’s much easier to clean, too.
Merry Christmas!
Linda says
Thank you for the list, Kevin. I have purchased several of these items, on your recommendation, and have been very pleased. The juicer is fantastic as is the microplane. Saving for the Wustoff knife which is on my Amazon wish list. Question, how do you sharpen it and how often? Have a wonderful holiday!
Lainey says
Sorry to hear your Instant Pot is languishing.
The good news is – if you send it to me, I can make it useful and happy again!
kt m says
This is an awesome list, Kevin. A few years ago, I received one of my favorite gifts, the pastry cloth & frame. I never knew it existed until I saw it in one of your blogs. I will never roll out dough without it!
Sunni says
Thanks Kevin. I look forward to your kitchen list. There is always a timely recommendation and if you have a “go to” item I feel secure in knowing cooks will find it a necessary tool as well.
Marlyn Anderson says
I’ve been keeping my pastry cloth and cloth cover for my American rolling pin in the freezer, in a gallon zip lock bag, for years. When the cloth gets stiff from too much flour or stained from gingerbread cookie making, I soak it in cold water then wash in the washing machine. My cloth was originally made for rolling out lefse and fits over a round formica board on short rubber feet. I have a couple cloths that have a elastic in a casing to help pull the cloth over and around the board. I also have a drawstring one, but rarely use that one. This round works great for pizza crusts, roll out cookies, pastry crusts and lefse too, of course. I have microplanes in many sizes. Some work best for hard cheeses or zesting citrus. Some produce the thinnest of thin slices for cheese, so don’t need to only have grated as an option. I also have several short handled, plastic spreaders for butter, margarine, mayo, etc. They go right into the dishwasher. They are easier to spread butter on a bagel or bread, since the width of the blade is wider than a table knife. Mine gets used everyday. I think a covered aluminum 9″ X 13″ pan is an essential pan to have in every kitchen. I use the covers for a smaller cookie sheet, to place a rack on and broil fish, bake chicken and pork chops on too.
Shirley says
The discussion about pastry cloths could be very helpful for many cooks. Probably ‘fighting’ with pie dough is the reason so many cooks buy the commercial -ready to use pie crusts. About 50 years ago I purchased several clean, heavy duck cloth shower curtains at a rummage sale for 10 cents apiece, and I have been making pastry cloths from them ever since, even giving some away. They are cut to whatever size I want, easily hemmed–could even just zig-zag them if I wished, and wear like iron. For a few cents and a short stent at the sewing machine-voila! –a wonderful gift.
I checked on line and found this: https://makeit-loveit.com/how-to-make-a-pastry-cloth-and-why-you-need-one. It may interest those of you who are handy and frugal.
Over 62 years I have worn out quite a few of these things! They actually get thin and wear holes in them. You will find that if you shake them well outside after using, first scraping off excess flour and ‘chum-mins’, and then soaking and rinsing in cold water to remove the starch from the ground-in flour, squeezing out excess water, and then drizzling the liquid washing detergent you will use in the machine over the areas that are possibly saturated with oil, toss in the machine in hot water and wash with white socks or whatever, the cloth will come clean as a whistle. I DO NOT dry in the drier. Rather, I shake out the wrinkles as much as possible, and hang it over the handle of my built-in ovens, stretching and pulling it taunt thereby eliminating most wrinkles. When it is dry, I roll it up and store it in my pastry drawer. Freezing it after use is a good idea for some cooks, but mine are too saturated with oil, flour, etc. because I bake ‘big time’ and don’t mess around with little jobs.
Meg says
Hi Kevin, Merry Christmas. These are great gift ideas for cooks and bakers, but how about us gardeners? Surely you have some trusty tools, online plant, seed and bulb vendors or other gift ideas for gardeners you would recommend. Would love to see what works for you.
Diane says
I’m looking for new cookware: pots, frying pans, etc. Do you have a recommendation?
Julie R says
Kevin, thanks for inspiring us all to get in the kitchen and cook up something yummy, with all of your kitchen gadget ideas. I would like to add one idea. I recently got a Squish Collapsible Over-The-Sink Colander from Bed Bath and Beyond that they have for $ 19.99. I got mine for a little less because I had a store coupon = ) I used to use the round kind of colander that sat directly on the bottom of the sink. This new colander that I got is so nice because your food sits up nice and high above the sink, which allows you to wash veggies fruits, herbs or strain pasta much easier than if it were sitting down low in the sink. Great for washing off things like Asparagus, green onions and carrots, since the colander is an oblong shape. And the sides of the colander can expand to fit most sinks. Also it as the name of says, it is collapsible, so you could put it away in a slim area, if you are tight on space. I highly recommend it.
Julie Culshaw says
Love the list, now I want to buy myself quite a few of these items.
Kevin, what are your thoughts on bread makers? or do you make your bread from scratch?
Cathie Wagner says
I like my pig tail food flipper. Used instead of tongs or meat forks. Makes transferring meat from pot to cutting board easy. Also great for turning meat pieces ( large or small) when sautéing or searing. Curved hook is tiny and very sharp so it avoids loss of juices. But somehow holds The meat firmly during repositioning.
Available on Amazon for about $9.00
Teresa M says
Kevin – always appreciate seeing your emails come in. After reading your emails and watching those “great” baking shows, really appreciate the Gifts for Cooks list. Saw items on there that I recognized from the shows. Will be very helpful with your videos to make delicious goods. Thank you
Kelly A Sabini says
Great gift ideas for friends, family… And me!
Marie says
Merry Christmas, Kevin! Thank you for your creative tips all year long! Your suggestions are spot-on! My question about your knives – where is your Santoku knife??? I hope you have one…. I have two, and they are my go-to knives for nearly everything!