Gifts for the Home Cook at Every Price from Amazon.com

Shopping for gifts can be overwhelming. Deciding what to get and how much to spend is difficult enough but now that we do so much shopping online it can be even more complicated. But I’m here to help you find the perfect gift for the home cook in your life.

If the gift isn’t something you’ve purchased in the past, and you’re like me, you’ll probably spend a good amount of time wondering what the gift will actually be like when it arrives. Is it what you hoped for? How’s the quality? Are you proud to give it?

I’ve put together a list of some of my favorite kitchen items to help you with your shopping this year (or maybe with your own wish list ?.) These are all things that I use in my kitchen and just like advice from any good friend, can recommend and vouch for.

Now Let’s Talk About Gifts for the Home Cook!

Eva Solo Oil Dispenser – $65 ? I know $65 seems expensive for an oil dispenser. You can pour it straight from the bottle or choose from a million less expensive options that will all get the job done. But this Eva Solo dispenser is worth the extra expense. Anyone who’s drizzled oil knows that all pour spouts are not created equal. This one has the right speed, no shaking required, and no accidental flooding. I love that it’s clear so you know when it needs a refill and the size and shape is comfortable and easy to grip when you’re working fast. The old saying “you get what you pay for” is spot on for this dispenser. It took me weeks of deciding to purchase this and now there’s no going back for me.

Eva Solo oil dispensers shown with oil and herbs.

KitchenAid Classic Prep Bowls with Lids – $15 ? These bowls come as a set of 4 (1, 2, 3, and 4 cup sizes included) and are great for prepping food and storing small portions of ingredients. I love knowing the exact size of the bowls because I don’t run into the classic problem of guessing the wrong Tupperware size (we’ve all been there before.) I use these bowls for things like left over diced onion, extra cucumber slices when prepping a salad, or a small portion of quinoa separated out from dinner and saved for lunch the next day. I also use them as small mixing bowls for things like preparing dips and whisking up eggs. Added bonus – the bowls and lids are dishwasher safe!

4 KitchenAid prep bowls in pistachio color, various sizes with lids.

KOOV Bakeware Set of 3 – $53 ? These blue ceramic casserole dishes by KOOV make me think of southern comfort baked dinners and when food looks good, it just tastes better. I use the large size dish for everything from lasagnas and the smaller sizes for side portions of recipes like baked macaroni and cheese, au gratin vegetables and egg casseroles in the morning.

3 various size ceramic bakeware dishes in blue stone color.

Stainless Steel Spider Strainer – $15 ? Spider strainers are great for scooping noodles from boiling water and transferring them to a pan of sauce, flipping and removing food from fry oil without ruining the batter coating, and straining blanched vegetables from a steaming pot. I used to use tongs for a lot of the things I should have been using a spider for and my food is thankful I made the switch.

Stainless steel spider strainer with bamboo handle being used to lift noodles from a stainless steel pot.

OXO Mandoline Slicer – $19 ? There’s hardly a meal where the recipe doesn’t call for slicing a vegetable. A mandoline makes veggie prep quicker and easier and you and end up with uniform slices that cook evenly. It’s easy to use, easy to clean (dishwasher safe!) and safe thanks to the finger guard. A mandoline is a virtual must for recipes like Cucumber Salad.

OXO mandoline slicer with finger guard on a cutting board with various vegetables.

Le Creuset Skillet – $249 ? If you’re going to splurge this holiday season, this skillet should be it. Get the perfect sear on red meat, golden crust on poultry, and creamy softness on vegetables all from the pan’s ability to hold a hight heat. Then transfer foods straight to the oven in this skillet to finish them off without needing an additional pan. Read more about the great features of this skillet in my post about it The Perfect Cast Iron Skillet Pan.

Le Creuset 12 inch cast iron skillet in Caribbean Blue on the countertop.

Linen Dish Towels – $22 ? Dish towels are not all made equal. If they’re too thick they never dry. If they’re too big they’re heavy and fall on the floor every time you hang them up. I’m picky about my kitchen towels; can you tell? These towels are a great weight and size. The fabric absorbs a lot and is thin enough to dry quickly too. I wash them twice a week and after 2 years they have held up great.

2 linen hand towels with blue stripes and braided fringe trim.

BOOS Cutting Board Block – $60 ? Maple wood cutting boards are the ideal cutting and chopping surface. They don’t get those deep grooves from extended use where food and stains get stuck. BOOS blocks are sturdy and last forever without ever warping, wobbling or cracking. They even look nice enough to leave on your counter all the time.

Maple wood BOOS Block cutting board with feet. 12 x 12 inch square. Shown with strawberries and a knife.

Silicone Muffin Liners – $12 ? Scrubbing a muffin pan is arguably the worst clean up job in the kitchen. Getting the baked on flecks from each individual well is time consuming and gritty. These liners keep your pans clean and all of the muffin and cupcake goodness from getting baked on without the greasiness from cooking spray. And when you’re done enjoying you sweet treat, put the liners in the dishwasher for easy cleaning so they are ready to use again. Try these liners when making Pumpkin Muffins or Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins.