29 Editor-Approved and Tested Gifts for New Cooks

The Essentials

A Spice Drawer Starter Kit

Spicewalla Kitchen Essentials Collection

$65

$52 at Amazon View on Spicewallabrand.com

Founded by chef Meherwan Irani, Spicewalla was inspired by the way spices are treated in India: like produce, where fresh spices are ground and roasted daily for each new recipe. This essentials collection is just that—a collection of spices to help a cook build up their pantry and impart whatever they’re making with rich flavors like garlic, onion, and cumin powder. This collection includes some of the best basics you can find, and will be the spark that ignites their passion for imbuing dishes with flavor. 

A Forgiving First Skillet

OXO Non-Stick Pro 10-Inch Frypan

$60 at Amazon

There will come a time for mastering stainless steel. For now, a nonstick frying pan will do just fine. With this scratch-resistant and dishwasher-safe pan, your beginner cook can practice basics like scrambled eggs without the frustration of them sticking to the pan (and the crusted-on cleanup). It can also easily transition from the stovetop to the oven, making it a great choice for practicing searing proteins and finishing them in the oven until they’re perfectly cooked. 

No-Fuss Measuring Cups

OXO Stainless Steel Measuring Cups

$23 at Amazon

$44

$26 at Macy's $26 at Oxo

We tested numerous measuring cups for design, durability, and accuracy, and landed on the OXO Good Grips measuring cups as the best budget pick. The cups are magnetic, so they easily snap together and stay together, like little stainless steel nesting dolls. The measurements are also clearly marked, and the cups are easy and comfortable to use, making them ideal for a beginner. 

Thoughtfully-Designed Measuring Spoons

Sur La Table Spice Measuring Spoons

$40 at Amazon $40 at Sur La Table

We tested these measuring spoons and named them the best on the market. Our reasoning? Their rectangular design allows them to be dipped into spice jars, an often overlooked convenience that makes for less mess. Made with steel that’s difficult to bend and damage, these spoons will make things easier for a beginner—and last through a lifetime of cooking. 

An All-Purpose Knife Set

Misen 3-Piece Knife Set

View on Misen.com

All that really matters when looking for knives for a new chef is that they’re sharp and easy to handle. A $400 Japanese knife can always come later. This three-piece set comes with an eight-inch chef’s knife, a paring knife, and a serrated knife that’s good for more than bread, and we named it our favorite set after chopping over 20 pounds of produce. 

An Heirloom in the Making

Le Creuset Dutch Oven, 5.5 qt

$435

$405 at Amazon

$420

$270 at Williams Sonoma View on Sur La Table

A Le Creuset Dutch oven is two things: a workhorse for any kitchen and a coming-of-age gift for any burgeoning chef who’s looking for a pot that will last forever. It’s an investment, but it's also a way to tell your new cook that they can do this and their cooking is worthy of an heirloom piece. 

An Easy-to-Store Cutting Board

Material reBoard

View on Materialkitchen.com

Loved by senior editor Grace Kelly, this cutting board won’t slip on the counter or wreak havoc on knives. It’s dishwasher-safe, making it easy to take care of, and it can be hung up, which is ideal for smaller kitchens. We also love that it’s made from recycled plastic and renewable sugarcane. 

A Tool for More Control

OXO Good Grips 12 Inch Silicone Tongs

$20

$17 at Amazon View on Oxo

Tongs give you control over what’s in the pan, and these silicone-tipped ones won’t scratch nonstick or enamel coatings, helping cookware last longer. These best-on-the-market tongs are recommended by writer Ashlee Redger, who spent hours testing dozens of pairs of them. 

A Way to Protect From Burns

OXO Silicone Oven Mitt

$20 at Amazon $20 at Target

Part of supporting a budding chef is helping protect them from cuts, burns, and other mishaps. These silicone oven mitts will ensure they won’t burn their fingers (as long as they remember to put them on). After we tested 13 oven mitts for criteria like dexterity and heat protection, these mitts won out thanks to their snug fit and ability to keep hands cool. 

An Apron Experts Actually Use

Hedley & Bennett Smock

$110

$88 at Amazon View on Hedleyandbennett.com

This apron is a favorite among recipe developers and editors across the food world. Why? It’s meant to be thrown on and actually used. It’s thoughtfully designed with two deep pockets and a strap to hold a kitchen towel. It can be used by anyone, no matter their height, and isn't overly complicated (who needs a bunch of adjustable straps anyway?). 

An Indestructible Skillet

Lodge Cast Iron Skillet

$25 at Amazon $25 at Target View on Webstaurant Store

Cast iron skillets get a bad rap for being high-maintenance. But they’re virtually indestructible. Yes, a cast iron pan requires a bit of maintenance, but once you get used to it and build up its seasoning, it will become the go-to skillet for recipes like skillet cornbread or chicken pot pie.

A Spatula for Everthing

MIU France Large Stainless Steel Turner

$27 at Amazon

A fish spatula is the only turner you really need. Its nimble head deftly lifts and flips pancakes, fish fillets, heavy slabs of steak...you name it. Tie a bow around the handle of one, and you're done.

Tools That Make Everything Easier

The Be-All-End-All Grater

Microplane Classic Series Zester

$18

$16 at Amazon View on Williams Sonoma View on Target

Rasp-style graters, like the original Microplane, are useful for more than just zesting citrus. They’re handy for grating Pecorino Romano into a fluffy snow that melts perfectly into a cacio e pepe, or for fresh nutmeg over eggnog. Not to mention, they can turn a head of garlic into paste with little effort, drastically reducing prep time. 

The Confidence to Step Away From the Grill

ThermoWorks Smoke Thermometer

View on Thermoworks

For those starting their grilling journey, a good thermometer can mean the difference between a perfectly cooked steak and a discouraging waste of money. This thermometer takes all of the guesswork out of grilling, perfect for a new cook who could use some help building up their confidence on the grill. It comes with two probes: one to stick into the meat, and another to keep tabs on the grill’s temp, which connects remotely to a monitor. 

A Tried-and-True Rice Maker

Hamilton Beach Rice Cooker

$67 at Amazon $67 at Home Depot $80 at Walmart

After testing (and re-testing), this rice cooker maintained its spot as our number-one rice cooker on the market. It’s a whole $300 less than another famous rice cooker we tested, proving that you don’t need to spend a lot to get a fluffy, evenly cooked pot of rice. It’s one of the simplest cookers out there, with just two cooking settings compared to 21. But when you’re just getting started, a reliable, simple option is the best bet. 

A Time-Saving Appliance

Cuisinart Food Processor

$320

$213 at Amazon View on Williams Sonoma

$320

$270 at Target

Prep work can take all the fun out of cooking, especially if you’re new at it, and chopping an onion takes you half an hour. You’re allowed to give yourself a break! Your Bolognese will taste the same whether the mirepoix was lovingly hand-chopped or blitzed in this food processor. This Cuisinart processor was one of our favorite picks while testing, as it has simple, easy-to-understand controls and a 14-cup capacity. 

A Hack for Foolproof Baking

Escali Primo Digital Food Scale

$30

$27 at Amazon $33 at Sur La Table $27 at Home Depot

A kitchen scale is a must-have for any beginner baker. While it may seem like a professional tool, a scale can be the difference between perfectly fluffy pancakes and ones that are chewy and stiff. Set your new baker up for success and help them get their measurements right every time with this scale that’s intuitive to use and easy to clean. 

A Cheat Code for Silky Soups

All-Clad Immersion Blender

$150 at Amazon View on Williams Sonoma View on Perigold.com

What is the difference between a homestyle and a professional soup or sauce? Its consistency. An immersion blender is an if-you-know-you-know kitchen tool that can blend hot mixtures in an instant. This All-Clad immersion blender is a cheat code for perfectly smooth soups and sauces and doesn’t take up as much space (or cost as much) as a traditional blender.

The Stuff They Don’t Need (But Will Definitely Want)

A Cooking Master Class

Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat

$40

$25 at Amazon $25 at Target $26 at Walmart

Samin Nosrat’s New York Times bestseller is more than just a cookbook. It’s a way for beginner cooks to better understand the foundations of what makes a good dish and what can take any ‘ol recipe from everyday to extraordinary. It’s a master class in learning how salt, fat, acid, and heat work together to excite your palate and leave you wanting more. A must for learning about the building blocks of flavor, this cookbook is a solid foundation for any cookbook collection.

A Future Keepsake

Papier Recipe Journal

$38 at Papier.com

Inspire your favorite new cook to come up with their own recipes and get creative with this recipe journal. It can be super helpful to get things on paper when you’re first starting, and this way, all of their culinary ideas and creations will be catalogued in one place. 

A Counter-Worthy Tool

ChefSofi Mortar and Pestle Set

$85

$68 at Amazon

Useful for grinding fresh spices or creating anything from salsa to pesto, a mortar and pestle becomes an indispensable tool in the kitchen once you get the hang of using it. This is one of our favorite mortar and pestles due to the heft of the pestle (which aids in quick crushing) and the mortar’s wide bottom and steep sides, which means your spice blend won’t come tumbling out while grinding. It also doesn’t hurt that it looks great on the counter. 

It can be hard to find a product that excels in both craftsmanship and functionality, but this Boardsmith cutting board checks all our boxes and more. Made from maple by artisans in Texas, this board is durable and long-lasting, while being beautiful enough for a dinner party presentation or a charcuterie board. It’s crafted with the end-grain facing up, making it gentle on knives, and it emerged from our numerous knife tests unscathed. 

A Source of Freshly Cracked Pepper

Cole & Mason Derwent Pepper Grinder

$54 at Amazon $60 at Sur La Table $60 at Sur La Table

As peppercorns lose flavor and aroma the longer they’ve been ground, it’s best to grind them fresh. This grinder will help beginner cooks give any dish a little extra personality. It grinds quickly, and with multiple preset options, the grind can go from powder-fine to chunky. It’s easy to see when you’re running out, and also easy to refill as it doesn’t have any crossbars blocking the refilling opening. 

A Dishwasher-Safe Serving Dish

East Fork Oval Platter

View on Eastfork.com

Give your beginner cook something to present their dishes proudly: a ceramic serving platter from East Fork, an Asheville-based pottery studio. While this platter is beautiful, with a creamy, matte finish and colorways like Heron, Eggshell, and Morel, it isn’t fussy: it’s both dishwasher- and microwave-safe. For heftier dinner party fare like a whole roasted chicken, we recommend the Le Creuset Serving Platter. It has wide, easy to grip handles and raised edges, so you don’t have to worry about any slipping or dripping.

Storage for Salt

Zero Japan Salt Box

$42 at Amazon

One could just pour salt into a bowl, but a salt cellar is far better. This one has a lid that keeps moisture out, a wide opening for easy pinching and scooping, and an extra-large capacity.