10 great gift ideas for the home chef in your life

Ask any home chef and they’ll tell you: cooking at home can be so much better than eating out. Cooking can be an amazing hobby that has the added bonus of putting great food on the table for friends and family. If you’re lucky enough to have a cooking enthusiast in your life, you’ll want to check out these gifts ideas for the home chef. Each item is something they’ll use over and over again.

Gift ideas for the home chef: cast iron pans

If your favourite home chef doesn’t have a cast iron pan, this is the year you need to gift them one. Cast iron pans aren’t just for the stove top; you can use them to go from over to table too.

I use my deep cast iron pan for everything from home-baked mac and cheese to smores in the middle of the winter. They sear steak and fry eggs, and if you choose a cool enamel finish, they look great on the table too.

A cookware set for every occasion

One of the best gifts ideas for the home chef is the gift that keeps on giving every day of the year. A set of high quality cookware is something any chef or cooking will really appreciate.

I just did a review of the Cuisinart Cookware set and I absolutely loved this set of pots and pans. They retain heat, work for oven to table, and look spectacular while they’re working on your stove or in your oven.

Sharp knives for every kitchen task

There’s nothing worse than a dull knife. If you want your favourite chef to share their latest culinary creation, you should make it easier for them to slice, dice, and chop their ingredients. An excellent quality knife set will be appreciated in any kitchen, and you can choose from sets that include professional German forged knives to trendy, sharp Cuisinart colours.

Create artisan loaves with a bread maker

A bread maker is the perfect gift for the hobby chef. They offer versatility in that you can bake your loaf right in the bread maker, or you can opt to just use it for mixing and rising your dough.

Bread makers have come a long way over the past few years, and you can now choose models with multiple settings, different crust options, and a fruit and nut dispenser right inside.

Instant Pot means dinner is on the table instantly

Want to make a new best friend? Gift someone the Instant Pot pressure cooker this year. This all-in-one wonder device can cook rice, stew, yogurt, slow cook, and use pressure to whip up meals in half the time. There’s a large Instant Pot community online for you to source out recipes, and there’s virtually no limit to what you can make and bake in this handy small appliance.

Serve it up in style

Home chefs usually focus on cooking, and they don’t always have time to worry about what type of plate or bowl they’re serving it in. You can help them add a touch of style to their meals by giving them the gift of dinnerware.

There’s so many different kinds of dinnerware, you’ll be able to choose the perfect style just for them.

Whip up anything in stainless steel bowls

I know from experience: stainless steel mixing bowls are a great addition to any kitchen. Not only are they the best for whipping up a cream, but they also work for making large bowls of stuffing, dough, or a big batch of cookies.

Welcome every weekend with a waffle maker

Waffles aren’t just for breakfast anymore. One of the most popular dishes in restaurants these days is chicken and waffles, and you can ask the chef in your life to create that same dinner at home with a waffle maker.

The latest waffle makers make crisp, delicious Belgian waffles and offer up different settings so they come out perfect every time.

Air fryers let you make pub style food at home

Want to make a huge batch of french fries with as little as a tablespoon of oil? Air fryers are a great gift for any cook because they let you fry food without all the added calories. Some models can even make two different meals at one time, and with programmable settings you’ll be able to just tap to create a dish.

Pizza anyone?

One of my dreams is to have my own pizza oven built onto my deck. My entire family loves woodfire pizza, and so far there’s been no way to replicate that flame grilled taste at home. My crust comes out cooked, but it’s often softer than I would like.

If you have a pizza fan in your life, one of the great gift ideas for the home chef is the Breville crispy crust pizza maker. Anyone who loves to make pizza can create the perfect pie every time. You can choose thin or thick crust, and it cooks up a 12 inch pizza in six minutes.

Chop your veggies with ease

It can be fun to chop up vegetables, but if someone is cooking for a crowd, a food processor is the best kitchen tool you can have. The latest food processors are 7 cups large, come in a variety of hot colours to match any kitchen, and can chop, puree, shred, or slice anything you put inside.

Blend with an immersion blender

How do you get the lumps out of your favourite sauce? You can use an immersion blender right in the pot and smooth out your Alfredo or soups before serving. Immersion blenders are one of the great gifts for the home chef because they are so versatile and easy to use. You can whip your cream right on the table in front of your guests or blend up a smoothie on the go.

These are 10 of the best gift ideas for the home chef, but even if you just choose one, you’ll make someone a happy cook. Check out all of the great gifts you can find for the home chef on Best Buy.