11 Brilliant Gifts for the Cook in Your Life

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Cooking up the perfect present for the chef in your life? These kitchen offerings will help them grill, sauté, and season their way into 2016 in style.

1. BELKIN KITCHEN STAND AND STYLUS FOR TABLETS; $50

Amazon

Support your favorite chef's talents with this stand by Belkin. By propping up their tablet, the stand allows users to transform their device into a digital cookbook. It also features a magnetic-tipped stylus so your loved one can operate the touch screen without worrying about stains.

Find it: Amazon

2. BAKE NO BONES ABOUT IT OVEN MITT; $15

ModCloth 

Quirky oven mitts, like these X-ray inspired ones, work as great stocking stuffers for cooks. They’re inexpensive, plus they protect hands from hot surfaces and add a touch of whimsy to all kitchen endeavors.

Find it: ModCloth

3. THE FOOD LAB: BETTER HOME COOKING THROUGH SCIENCE; $28

Amazon

The kitchen can also be a laboratory, according to J. Kenji López-Alt. The cook-turned-author once studied at MIT. Now, he channels his scientific savvy into "The Food Lab,” a column for Serious Eats that explains the basic chemistry and physics behind delicious meals. His The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science is equal parts textbook and cookbook—and a must-have purchase for the nerdy gourmand in your life.

Find it: Amazon

4. LODGE CAST IRON SKILLET; $27

Amazon

A cast-iron pan is simple, trusted, and timeless. The sturdy kitchen tool is great at retaining heat, making it perfect for searing a juicy steak, but it can also be use to fry anything from chicken to vegetables or to make desserts like cobblers, pies, and cakes. While these pans can vary in price, lower-cost brands like Lodge offer all the benefits of more expensive cast-irons without breaking the bank.

Find it: Amazon

5. ARTISAN SALT SAMPLER; $123


Amazon

This collection of 24 gourmet sea salts offers hard-to-find flavors like Espresso Brava, Lime Fresco, and Sun Ripened Tomato. Your giftee will be able to add sweet salts to desserts, or use the spicy, tart, and smoky samplers in savory dishes.

Find it: Amazon

5. QUIRKY EGG MINDER; $13

Amazon

Your favorite kitchen whiz will never have to worry about cracking open a bad egg again, thanks to Egg Minder. The smart egg tray wirelessly connects to the user's phone, and alerts them when expiration dates are approaching or the supply is running low.

Find it: Amazon

6. VITAMIX 7500 BLENDER; $529

Amazon

A Vitamix blender has enough horsepower to mix dough, whole fruits and veggies, or nuts. It can also be used to make hot soups; the rapidly spinning blades provide enough friction to warm up liquids. Sure, the durable kitchen powerhouse is a splurge, but durability makes up for the cost. It features a 7-year full warranty.

Find it: Amazon

7. THE SELFIE TOASTER; $69

Amazon

Know any Instagram-obsessed chefs? With the Selfie Toaster, they can decorate their breakfast with one of their favorite images—their own face. Simply send a high-resolution picture to Vermont-based Burnt Impressions. The company will use that photo to build a custom toaster.

Find it: Amazon

8. TRIBY; $199

Invoxia

Help your giftee stay connected to family members while they whip up their masterpieces. The magnetic tool can be attached to the fridge and acts as a hands-free speaker and digital message board. Using iOS devices, friends and family members can make calls to the device and even send over doodles. Users can also stream music over the device, including radio presets and Spotify playlists.

Find it: Amazon

9. DOCTOR WHO TARDIS APRON; $25

ThinkGeek

Offbeat apron designs like ThinkGeek’s Doctor Who TARDIS Apron allow chefs to combine their favorite hobby with their other interests in a practical way.

Find it: ThinkGeek

10. NORPRO STAINLESS STEEL SPRAYER MISTER; $11

Amazon

Dousing food with oil is unhealthy and also wasteful. An oil mister allows chefs to save money—and calories. They simply fill it with their oil of choice, and use it to coat food, pans, and skillets. They can also toss in herbs, spices, or other ingredients to add extra flavor to their creations.

Find it: Amazon

11. CHEESE AND CRACKERS SERVING BOARD; $48

Uncommon Goods

Any cooking pro (and seasoned host) knows that presentation is almost as important as taste. This handmade cheeseboard, made from maple with teak oil, features a unique design and enough space to showcase a feast of cheese and crackers.

Find it: Uncommon Goods