This Under $30 Buy from Le Creuset Nearly Caused a Fight at My Holiday Gift Swap

I host a Yankee swap every year with my friends; it’s a great way to exchange gifts without the pressure of spending a lot (I cap gifts at around $30) or trying to figure out what to get the person who already has everything. Last year I bought these adorable (and practical) Le Creuset pinch bowls and, let me tell you, people were near fighting to get ‘em. 

Why The Le Creuset Pinch Bowls Make a Great Gift 

Le Creuset Pinch Bowls

$30 at Amazon View on Lecreuset.com

If you ever measure spices or sauces, or mince a few cloves of garlic to add to a dish, then a pinch bowl can come in handy. These teensy bowls help make food prep easy, letting you measure out ingredients and have a place to put them—i.e., mise en place. No more hurriedly scooping out of the spice jar or dashing to the pantry to find the soy sauce. 

Having ingredients doled out into a pinch bowl makes it easy to add them and reduces cooking stress. I also like to use them for holding soy sauce for dipping sushi—yes, I wound up buying myself a set after someone else took home the ones I bought for my Yankee swap. They were just too cute, and I’m always trying to find ways to make my cooking more efficient.

I’m of the mindset that a great gift should be practical AND cute—and it doesn’t need to break the bank. These little Le Creuset pinch pots have all these traits down pat: They’ll keep your food prep organized, come in a bunch of colors (including a very pretty pastel set), and they’re under $30. Win, win, win!

Other Gifts That Might Cause a Brawl

• An adorable stack of colorful wool coasters (they're machine-washable, so no need to fear clumsy sippers).
• A jar of Me's Way Vietnamese chili crisp. It's got a hint of fish sauce for depth and is mildly sweet too. It's so good on noodles.
• Lean into Le Creuset and gift these espresso mugs, which are also great for serving a spot of hot cocoa.
• A travel mug from Fellow for toting hot cocoa, coffee, or tea—just look at that pretty, sage green color!
• Piña Barware Shaker Tins for the friend whose liquor cabinet is stocked with all kinds of tinctures, tonics, and aperitifs.

Why We’re the Experts

• Grace Kelly is a senior editor at Serious Eats.
• She bought the Le Creuset Pinch Bowls for a Yankee swap and wound up buying a set for herself.