Gift guide · Gifts · November

Gifts for the person who cooks

Six kitchen gifts a good cook will actually use: a fast thermometer, a cast-iron skillet, a Dutch oven and more. Nothing that ends up in a drawer.

By Almanac Kit EditorsUpdated Oct 14, 20266 picks

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People who cook a lot already own a drawer full of gadgets they never use. The best gifts for them are the opposite: a few sturdy tools that do one job well and get used every week.

What makes a good kitchen gift

  • It replaces something worn out, not something they already have.
  • It lasts. Cast iron, enameled cast iron and stoneware outlive their owners.
  • It solves a problem they mention: the turkey that came out dry, the soup that splashed out of the blender.

What to skip

Single-purpose gadgets (avocado slicers, egg cubers), big appliances that need counter space they don’t have, and anything with “as seen on” in the name. Knives are personal; unless you know exactly which one they want, skip those too.

A good pairing

Give the thermometer with our dry-brined turkey recipe printed out. The gift and the reason to use it, in one envelope.