Kevin’s Gift Guide for Cooks and Bakers

Need some gift-ideas for the cook in your life? Maybe I can help. Here are the culinary workhorses of my own kitchen, all priced and saddled up for you:

Kevin’s Gift Guide for Cooks and Bakers

Note: Most of these items can be purchased from local kitchen-supply stores. I’ve included Amazon links for those of you who prefer to shop from home.

Digital Scale. Have you noticed that modern recipes (especially those developed by European chefs) list ingredient measurements by weight not volume? That’s because accuracy matters, particularly for baked goods. There are tons of kitchen scales on the market. Pictured above is the Enevifit Digital Scale that costs $25.99 on Amazon. (My Oneida scale, which I use and love, is no longer available.)

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: $15.95 from Amazon.

Offset spatula. You can’t frost a cake without this clever device. It’s also terrific for spreading ricotta cheese on this pizza blanco, and whipped cream on this elegant Victoria Cake. The 7.75-inch version is what you want. Order from Amazon, and you can have the spatula for just $9.39.

Lemon/Lime Juicer. Another kitchen must-have.  I ordered this one for $14.00.

6-Cup Souffle Dish.  The perfect-size baking dish for soufflés of all kinds, including this Pumpkin Soufflé and this Strawberry Soufflé. I use the same dish for small casseroles and for serving mashed potatoes. Freezer/oven/microwave safe. $18.45 from Amazon.

Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons. If you like to bake (I certainly do), then you know that can never have too many measuring spoons on hand! I like the deep, elongated spoons that easily fit into the narrow openings of spice jars. A set of 8 costs $20.99 at Amazon.

Pullman Pan. You’ve seen me make perfectly rectangular bread loaves in this pan. The pan has a nifty lid that stops the loaf from forming a crown as it bakes. A must-have for every serious bread baker. The 13x4x4 model — the size that I use —  costs $25.99 on Amazon.

Electric Skillet. 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 $16.75.

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 use the same piercer to make perfectly poached eggs. My piercer came from a kitchen-supply store in Vermont. You can buy the same one from Amazon for about $9.00.

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 currently costs $19.00 on Amazon.

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 on Amazon.

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 $30 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, $26.99 from Amazon. 

Bench Scraper. If you’ve watched my bread-making videos, then you’ve seen me use this scraper/cutter/chopper myriad times. It’s great for lifting up sticky yeast dough so you can keep one hand clean while kneading. A true baking essential. Cost is just $6.99 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: $49.99 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 chef’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) but one, is the 8-inch “chef’s knife,” available from kitchen supply shops and from Amazon for $150.

Instant Pot. I don’t use this multi-function cooker as much as some of my friends do. Still, I absolutely LOVE it for pressure-cooking roasts. (My Chuck Roast in the Instant Pot recipe has been viewed more than 37,000 times on YouTube.) The pot comes in all kinds of sizes and models. My 8-quart “Duo” (pictured above) is now available with extra features. It sells for  $79.99 on Amazon.

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 $349.00 on Amazon.

Inexpensive Food Processor. You can find any number of small, low-cost food processors at big box stores, and, of course, over on Amazon. I purchased the above Black and Decker processor for about $30. The machine works surprisingly well.

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. Sadly, my beloved 5-quart KitchenAid Artisan mixer now costs nearly $600! Pictured above is Cuisinart’s 5.5-quart mixer that currently sells for $249.00 on Amazon. The machine has received good reviews from verified purchasers.

VitaMix Blender. This is a powerful gadget! I use my VitaMix to turn granulated sugar into powdered sugar, to make and cook soup, to grind coffee beans, and to blitz fruits and greens for smoothies. The machine’s magnificence is reflected in its price: $479. from Amazon.

Dutch Oven. These come in various colors and sizes. My 5-quart oven is great for soups and stews. I use a 7-quart dutch oven for turning rustic bread into super-crusty rustic bread. Dutch ovens made in France by Le Creuset are pricey indeed, but with minimal care they last forever. Click here prices, sizes, and reviews at Amazon. 

Need more gift-ideas? Consider whisks, mixing bowls, pastry brushes, 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!

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