25 affordable kitchen gifts for people who love to cook
I have a few weaknesses when it comes to splurging on items. Who doesn’t, right? Books and kitchen gadget are at the top of that list for me 🙂
However, when looking at kitchen gadgets, you can find a huge variety! It’s hard to know which ones are useful and which ones are a waste of money. And when I find a good one, I love to give it as a gift to a friend or loved one to help them!
My goal in kitchen gifts is to give something that:
- is useful & practical
- saves time
- is affordable
- saves money or effort
That way, whether you are gifting to someone new to cooking or looking to expand on their skill or branch into healthier cooking, by following these simple guidelines, you’ll be sure to get them something that helps them (and they love).
Find the Perfect Kitchen Gadget Gifts to Fit Your Budget
I firmly believe that anything I make at home will be healthier than anything I can buy already made. When I make food at home, I know exactly what is in it, and I use healthier, fresher ingredients!
Also, by cooking at home, I help reduce waste because I’m not buying fast food or heavily processed food from the grocery store. Here’s a great way to save on eco-friendly products you can use at home to help reduce waste even more!
I love giving gifts to help people do more cooking at home, especially when that gift adds convenience. Those gifts will help the people I care about live healthier and save money at the same time – perfect!
Even though I love giving gifts that are helpful, some kitchen gadgets can cost an arm and a leg. While I am known to splurge on kitchen gadgets to a degree, few people have the money to spend lots of money on kitchen tools (whether they are helpful or not).
Generally speaking, I try not to spend more than $100 for a kitchen gadget. If I can, I stick to under $50 – and honestly, that’s most of the time. But occasionally there are purchases that are totally worth the $100 because they will last a long time, are super useful, and possibly take the place of multiple kitchen gadgets (which saves money in the long run).
Here is my list of the top (affordable) kitchen gifts for people who love to cook! These items are also perfect for the new cook.
Kitchen Gifts for Any Cook!
Knife Set
I’m just going to say it. Everyone needs a set of good knives for cooking.
And honestly, a good knife set makes a perfect gift for many occasions:
- a housewarming gift
- wedding gift
- holiday gift
- birthday gift
The great thing is there are so many different styles and price ranges, that no matter what budget you have, you can find a great set. For example, for less than $50, you can get this highly rated, beautiful Cuisinart set that comes with a lifetime warranty. While you can get sets that are much more expensive, for the average cook, I don’t think it’s necessary.
Pasta Pot and Strainer Combo
This Bialetti pasta pot has a strainer built into the lid. Just lock the top onto the pot, and you can easily dump the water straight into the sink.
So not only does it save space, but it also saves time because the cook only needs to clean one dish! Beautiful and functional…the perfect gift!
Waterproof Timer for Boiling Eggs
Deciding when to remove your eggs from boiling water always involves a guessing game. But the ColorShift Egg Timer measures temperature and changes color when the eggs turn soft, medium, or hard. That way, the eggs are perfect every time!
Fresh Herb Keeper
Nothing amps up the taste of a meal like fresh herbs, but popular varieties like rosemary, thyme, and basil often go bad before the whole lot can be used up.
Thankfully there’s an easy way to stop wasting your money on herbs. An Herb Keeper can extend the life of your fresh herbs by about 2 weeks (sometimes longer).
The small price tag (about $25) is worth it for the addition of fresh herbs in your meals.
5 Blade Herb Scissors
One of the coolest gadgets in my kitchen – I love using these when I’m using fresh herbs. They make chopping herbs so fast and easy.
The scissors are solid and make very quick work of my fresh herbs. Best of all, clean-up was super quick and easy.
I love giving them as gifts because they are a perfect inexpensive gift idea for gardeners and cooks.
Electric Kettle
This electric kettle is more energy efficient than a microwave or electric stove-top. It saves time, since it needs very short time to boil water, saving money.
As soon as the water reaches its boiling point the kettle will shut off automatically. You can also stop it manually, whenever you want.
This is a perfect gift for tea lovers and entertainers!
Vegetable Spiralizer
As more people work to cut back on carbs, the gift of a spiralizer is a great idea. These are becoming popular among low-carb and keto followers, vegetarians, and vegans. Instead of eating regular pasta, people can create pasta from zucchini or squash with the spiralizer.
There are different types of spiralizers, some that perform functions, and others that perform multiple functions. I have the Brieftons 7-blade spiralizer, and it’s wonderful (especially for under $30)!
This must-have kitchen gadget will change up your menu — and your waistline. Now you can perfectly spiralize veggies like zucchini and carrots for an über-healthy bowl of “pasta” that will impress even the pickiest eater. Plus, you can make curly fries, salad toppings, and fun-shaped fruit for kiddies with the turn of a handle.
Automatic Yogurt Maker
For under $50, this device by Euro Cuisine automatically makes of healthy and delicious frozen yogurt at home. You can even make dairy-free frozen yogurt with this little baby!
Plus, Euro Cuisine’s customer service is super helpful, should you run into any questions. Save money and know exactly what you are eating by making your own frozen yogurt – now that’s a great kitchen gift!
Electric Wine Bottle Opener
The Secura cordless electric wine bottle opener removes the foil and cork in seconds. On a single charge, it can open up to 30 bottles. Useful and affordable (under $20), this is a wonderful gift idea for your favorite wine-lover!
Tray that Makes Ice Cubes for Water Bottles
Most ice cube trays make thick cubes, which don’t fit inside a narrow-mouthed water bottle. Solve that problem by making ice rolls!
The perfect gift for that ice-lover who is always on the go…I know we have one in our house! These trays from Click Home Design make slender ice sticks, so you can put them in a bottle and enjoy chilled water on the go.
Scandinavian Dish Cloths
These dish cloths come in adorable patterns, and they are great for cleaning up the kitchen because they’re part cloth and part sponge—making them really great for scrubbing. They also dry flat for easy storage! Skip using paper towels and stock up on these instead.
Bag Sealer
Is someone you love sick of keeping track of bag clips? With this Bag Sealer (delightfully top rated and under $10), bags of chips will stay fresher longer while also staying less messy in the pantry. I love the creativity of this gift idea!
Sushi Roller
Just pack your rice, fish, and seaweed into the Moxie & Co Sushi Kit, and your rolls will turnout out perfect every time. This highly rated and super affordable kit (under $13) will be a hit with anyone who wants to learn how to make sushi at home!
Stasher bags
I love products that help me continue to reduce the amount of plastic that my family uses. These reusable Stasher silicone food bags are perfect! With a variety of colors and sizes, it’s easy to ditch the plastic bags and use these instead.
I also love that they don’t leak and are easy to clean 🙂
Bee’s Wrap
Make with eco-friendly ingredients, Bee’s Wrap is a sustainable, natural alternative to plastic wrap. Also makes an amazing zero waste kitchen gift idea!
Wrap up cheese, fruit, vegetables, and bread. Cover a bowl or pack a snack for your next adventure. Pack school lunches with it.
Silicone Food Storage
These top-rated Collapse-it storage containers replace all the storage containers in the kitchen with a single DURABLE, freezer-safe, oven-safe, microwave-safe, air-tight storage system. They will not crack or break like conventional plastic/or glass food storage containers and provide easy, compact storage.
I have one and love it – my wishlist has more of these babies on it 🙂
Immersion Blender
Truly, a must-have kitchen gadget for any cook. I don’t want to work in a kitchen without my immersion blender! It makes pureeing soups and sauces super quick and easy, and it’s absolutely the best tool for making your own mayo.
It’s also great for a healthy kitchen because it can help you get that smooth and creamy texture in foods without adding cream or butter.
Rice Cooker
While there are many more expensive models on the market, I love the simplicity (and price) of my Aroma rice cooker. I use it all the time, and for under $30, it’s a perfect kitchen gadget gift! The 8-cup version will make enough rice for most family meals. Find a larger model and let it double as a slow cooker.
Popcorn Air Popper
Super simple to use, the Presto Air Popper makes healthy popcorn in just minutes without the use of oil. We pull ours out and use it on Family Movie Nights!
Help your loved one form healthier lifestyle habits by gifting this affordable (under $30) healthy snack maker!
Programmable Air Fryer
This tool allows you to enjoy your favorite fried snacks and food without the added calories.
Rapid Air Circulation Technology cooks food by circulating hot air in all directions, ensuring fast and even cooking. With a temperature range of 170°F – 400°F, the fryer allows you to prepare a variety of dishes from crispy fries to juicy wings with little to no oil, and in 30 minutes or less.
Relieve fried food of its bad rap with this super simple tool that cooks meat and fish, makes chips, and bakes a cake with the push of a button.
Pressure Cooker
The Instant Pot is the hottest kitchen gift right now! It speeds up cooking by 2~6 times, uses up to 70% less energy and produces nutritious healthy food in a convenient and consistent manner.
While it is one of the more expensive items on this list, the nice thing about the Instant Pot is that it can replace some of your other small kitchen appliances, such as the slow cooker and the rice cooker.
Best-selling and highly rated Instant Pot has 14 built-in smart programs to cook your favorite dishes with the press of a button. Plus, it costs less than $90.
Food Processor
My Cuisinart Food Processor is seriously one of my favorite small kitchen appliances! I can’t even tell you how much time it saves me when I need to chop veggies…and that’s just how I normally use it!
I made pickles this Fall, and my food processor cut my slicing time to a fraction (about 1/10 or so) of what it would have taken me to manually do it. Plus, you can grate cheese and mix dough and make hummus…the list goes on and on!
While this is the most pricey item on this list, it is well worth the expense. Plus, look for Black Friday deals and coupons online to save on this essential tool. The cook in your life will hug you 🙂
Doughnut Pan or Doughnut Maker
Yes, it’s a little doughnut factory for your counter! It can work with any store-bought mix (just pour it in), and makes 12 round, holed sugary treats in mere minutes. Oh yeah, it bakes donuts rather than frying (which is the method by which most store-bought donuts are made.)
A healthier option without skimping on enjoyment! For under $40, surely this is the next ‘waffle-maker’!
If you’re looking for something slightly cheaper, skip the electric version and buy a Doughnut Pan (for about $15)
Fondue Set
Whether you serve it sweet or savory, fondue is always a festive dish. Gather your peeps around this fondue set to enjoy some shared cheesy delights. Or fire it up for a little after-dinner dessert with warm, melted chocolate.
Triple Timer
There are timers…and then there are timers. This digital beauty lets your multitasking chef set up to three different cooking times at once.
