As someone who loves to cook and bake, I can confidently say that I get excited at the thought of buying small appliances. I’m always on the hunt for cool kitchen accessories that I can use with my small appliances, too, like something that will work with my stand mixer or Instant Pot, or simply items that make cooking and baking easier, and that look great when set out on the table. When it comes to stocking stuffers or small gifts, there are lots of options for the family member who loves to cook, bake, and spend tons of time in the kitchen.
A knife set
Who couldn’t use more knives or, more important, a better set of knives? For someone who is just getting into cooking, or who lives in a small apartment or condo, a knife set would make a great gift. You can get something simple, like the Cuisinart Classic set I reviewed last year. It would be perfect for a first-time home owner. Or opt for a higher-end premium set like the Zwillings J.A. Henckels fine edge forged 14-piece knife block set, with an ultra sharp Chef’s knife, paring knife, and other essentials to tackle different jobs. After investing in a high-end knife set for my own kitchen, I realize the benefits and the difference spending a few extra bucks can make when it comes to prep time, ease of use, and longevity.
Stand mixer attachments
One Christmas, I used a gift card to buy the pasta roller attachments for my KitchenAid mixer. They are great for making homemade pasta noodles, from wide and flat pieces for lasagna or cutting into ravioli to thinner strips of spaghetti or linguine. My colleague Shelly Wutke recently reviewed the KitchenAid Professional bowl-life stand mixer with the pasta cutter attachment and absolutely loved it. While we still get store-bought pasta at home, from time to time, it’s nice to whip up fresh noodles, which makes all the difference in taste and texture. There are a variety of stand mixer attachments even beyond pasta cutters that you can choose from for someone who owns a KitchenAid mixer and might appreciate being able to do more with it. Check out some of the most exciting KitchenAid stand mixer attachments and learn about all they can do.
There are options to do everything from grind meat to make homemade ice cream or even spiralize vegetables to impress during the next dinner part. My next purchase for my KitchenAid mixer will probably be the food grinder, which can help extend a bulk purchase of meat, something we can all get behind given the rising cost of groceries. But I think one my son would appreciate is the ice shaver, which allows for making homemade slushies.
Immersion blender
The following Christmas, I received another gift card that I, once again, happily used to expand my selection of small kitchen accessories and bought an immersion blender. It has been super-handy for mixing smoothies, blending protein powder into drinks, and mixing up soups, pasta sauces, and homemade dips. Most of them come with a handy blending jar that is perfectly sized for making a couple smoothies, and has a cover so you can store leftovers in the fridge.
The latest trend includes cordless options like the KitchenAid cordless variable immersion blender that comes in my favourite finish, empire red. You can blend and mix anywhere you want, without having to be tethered to an outlet.
Soda maker
For a few years now, I have been on a sparkling water kick, going through bottles of San Pellegrino and Bubly like nobody’s business. A soda maker is a great way to make your own fizzy water, both flavoured and plain, right at home. There are ultra-slim models that can make sparkling water in mere seconds. Not only can using one result in money savings versus buying bottled or canned sparkling water, but you also help the environment since the reusable CO2 cylinder can last for up to three years. Anyone you know who loves flavoured sparkling water will appreciate this kitchen accessories gift.
The best known brand is, of course, SodaStream, and I own the Fizzi OneTouch model, which is a good option that provides different levels of carbonation at the touch of a button. But I also reviewed the Aarke Carbonator 3 sparkling water maker last year, and it’s a game-changer. Not only is it stunning, it also works super easily without being plugged into power and gives you varying levels of carbonation as desired.
Salt and pepper shakers and grinders
Salt and pepper is a must for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You’ll need it to sprinkle one or the other (or both) on everything from eggs to salad and pasta. A nice gift would be a stylish salt and pepper shaker or grinder set that’s perfect to put on the table for entertaining. There are manual and rechargeable battery-operated ones, and you can choose from classic and traditional designs, or something funkier and bolder for someone who might appreciate a stand-out piece.
Decanter
While I’m cooking, especially for big gatherings, I love to pour myself a nice glass of red wine to sip throughout the process. A decanter is a great gift to let the wine breathe so it’s in its perfect state for consumption once guests arrive. Along with other barware and wine accessories, a decanter is a great stocking stuffer gift. And there are plenty to choose from, including glass, crystal, aerating models, and ones that come with glasses, too.
Multi-cooker accessories
I have developed an addiction for buying accessories for my Instant Pot, like egg bite molds and mini cake pans. (Full disclosure: I even recently bought a back-up “spare” Instant Pot in case mine, which I have owned and been using for six years now, ever goes on the fritz.) But there are also cool kitchen accessories you can use on a stove, too, like steamer baskets.
I have egg bite molds that I use for both morning egg bites and to bake mini muffins for my son’s school lunches. My most recent purchase was the Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid, which is used almost daily to reheat lunch for my son in the mornings, my lunches during the day, or even for quick dinners at night.
A smart speaker or smart display
A smart speaker is actually a super useful device to have in the kitchen. Aside from being able to queue up your favourite music playlist or podcast by voice while you knead dough for homemade bread or chop vegetables for a stew, there’s so much else you can do with them. Set timers as you cook, whether it’s an hour timer while the bread dough proofs or a reminder to baste the turkey every half an hour.
Ask the smart assistant, like Alexa or Google Assistant to convert measurements while following a recipe. Go the extra step and grab a smart display like the Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) to follow along with recipe videos, too; or just watch some TV or the local news while cooking. It might take up a lot of room in the stocking, but it’s a step-up from the traditional smart speaker.
Electric coffee grinder
If you know someone who loves coffee and espresso, an electric coffee grinder they can use to make fresh grounds from aromatic beans will be an appreciated gift. Not only can these grounds be used for making coffee and coffee-based drinks, coffee is also an integral ingredient in cooking and baking. Whether it’s for a coffee rub for their smoked ribs or a delicious coffee cake for breakfast or a party, nothing beats freshly ground coffee from local beans. After using an espresso machine that grinds fresh beans for the last several months, as well as reviewing several models, I can’t imagine going back.
Bottom line
In addition to small and large appliances making great gifts, there are lots of small kitchen appliance accessories and other kitchen-related items that would make perfect stocking stuffers for someone who loves to cook, entertain, or even those who just moved into their first homes. If you know what the person particularly loves to do, like bake cakes and cookies, try out fun appetizers, or experiment with an Instant Pot, for example, you can find related stocking stuffers and all-season gifts that will enhance that experience for them, or help them do more.
Looking for more gift ideas? Check out plenty holiday gift ideas at Best Buy Online.
