9 Clever Kitchen Gifts for the Home Cook Who Has (Almost) Everything

We teamed up with LifeStraw to set you up for holiday success with a few of our favorite gift ideas for the kitchen. On the list: the LifeStraw Home, a sleek reusable water filter pitcher that also gives back—for every product purchased, a child in need receives safe water for a year.

---

The holidays are a stressful season in many ways, but one that tops my list every winter is figuring out what to buy all the people on my list. I tend to go with gifts for the kitchen—most of my friends and family are seasoned home cooks—but over the years I've exhausted my go-tos, like a classic set of kitchen knives or my favorite pair of nonstick skillets.

Whether you've run out of kitchen essentials to give or are shopping for someone who seems to have every cooking gadget you can think of already, here's a few clever gift ideas to consider—from the fanciest-ever sprinkles for baking projects to a charcoal grill you can take on the go.

1. Smithey Mini Cast Iron Skillet, $80

Sure, they might have a cast iron skillet, but do they have a mini cast iron skillet? This cute-as-can-be cookware is made from material that'll stand up to anything (from metal utensils to a piping-hot oven), and is just the right size for a single fried egg, toasting spices, or a personal skillet cookie.

2. LifeStraw Home, $54.95

The most stylish water filter pitcher you've ever met: the LifeStraw Home features a sleek, sustainable design with lots of tech inside—it protects against more than 30 contaminants (including bacteria, parasites, microplastics, lead, and PFAS), thanks to the powerful membrane microfilter and activated carbon + ion exchange filter. It makes tap taste great, of course, but it's also good to keep handy for recipes that call for filtered water, like homemade mozzarella.

3. Veritable Classic Indoor Garden Grower, $200

This smarty-pants growhouse needs no sunlight. Instead, it uses built-in, adjustable LEDs to nurture all sorts of herbs, baby veggies, and edible flowers (the perfect flourish or finishing touch to all sorts of home-cooked dishes) from anywhere in your home.

4. FinaMill Electric Spice Grinder With Interchangeable Pods, $39.99

This isn't your average pepper grinder—this battery-powered gadget lets you grind your favorite spices with just the click of a button. Even better, you can fill their interchangeable pods with almost any dried spice or herb, like peppercorns, dried rosemary, and more.

5. Fancy Sprinkles Subscription Set, Starting at $21

There's so much more to sprinkles than just rainbow or chocolate. Perfect for the friend (or family member!) who's a dessert pro, this Fancy Sprinkles subscription sends three limited-edition sprinkle blends each month. Use 'em to decorate cakes, cupcakes, cookies, you name it. They also sell Prism Powders for stirring into sparkly cocktails and a metallic Luster Powder for shining up glazes.

6. Food52 x Dansk Butter Warmer, $55

Even the most avid cookware collector could use a butter warmer in their life. This tiny enameled carbon steel saucepan goes from stovetop to table with ease, thanks to the lid's built-in trivet, and is great for warming up all sorts of sauces, from tomato to chocolate.

7. Farmhouse Pottery Silo Garlic Grater Dish, $48

A garlic grater might seem like an unnecessary kitchen tool, but this Vermont-made stoneware dish does more than just grating. Our favorite way to use it: Grate a clove or two in the dish, add some extra-virgin olive oil, plus a sprinkle of fresh herbs, and serve with toasty-warm bread.

8. Goldbelly Live Cooking Class, Prices Vary

Goldbelly's known for shipping some of the tastiest dishes from around the country (Magnolia Bakery banana pudding is always a top pick) straight to your doorstep, but they also offer live cooking classes with acclaimed chefs. Each class comes with everything you need to make the dish—offerings range from DIY pizza to spicy ramen—and makes a unique and interactive gift.

9. Everdure CUBE Portable Charcoal Grill, $199

A charcoal grill you can take just about anywhere? Yes, it's possible. It’s compact and made of lightweight durable steel, ready for taking on adventure—and wrapping in a bow for your favorite barbecue aficionado.

---

What are your top gift ideas for the cook who has everything? Tell us in the comments below!

In partnership with LifeStraw, we're kicking off the holiday season with a lineup of smart, useful gifts for every home cook on your list—including the LifeStraw Home water filter pitcher. It doesn't just help you cut single-use water bottles out of your routine: The pitcher removes more than 30 contaminants from water and makes it taste better, so it's an eco-friendly way to make every day more fresh.

Heads up: This post contains products selected by our editors—as an Amazon Associate and Skimlinks affiliate, we may earn a commission on qualifying purchases.