The very best gifts for people who like to cook, from coasters to cookbooks

Ditch the Pam nonstick spray and reach for this Wagyu beef tallow spray when you need a bit of nonstick magic. South Chicago Packing has made wagyu beef tallow in a tub for a while, but this spray option is great for light application with big flavor results. Most reviewers use the spray for searing steaks, infusing briskets, frying eggs or roasting veggies. The brand itself recommends substituting Wagyu beef tallow in place of canola oil in brownies. Consider us intrigued. 

“I’ve used the Chicago meat company wagyu in a canister for a long time. But having it in a spray form? Wow. So awesome,” wrote one five-star reviewer. “It imparts just the right amount of flavor and of course provides a fantastic non stick surface. I use in pans and on grill grates.”

That’s right, The Barefoot Contessa herself took to Instagram earlier this year to dub these knives by German brand Wüsthof to be among her very favorites. In particular she’s a fan of the brand’s Classic range, and even demonstrated the knives cutting through bread and tomatoes. Of course, a knife is only as good as it’s maintained, so don’t forget to sharpen them from time to time to keep their durability.

Choose from five colors at Sur La Table.

Olive oil is the workhorse of the pantry. Think about it: You use it for roasting, sautéing, drizzling, dipping, dressing and serving. It’s probably one of the most-used ingredients in the kitchen, but also the least thought about. This fancy olive oil duo from Brightland is hoping to change that. This set include two of the brand’s best-selling cold-pressed olive oils, one for cooking and one for drizzling. 

The Awake Olive Oil has bold, robust flavor that pairs well with soups and stews, hearty pastas, warm bread, baked potatoes, roast chicken, roasted veggies, fried eggs and crispy potatoes. The Alive Olive Oil is a subtle, versatile flavor ideal for spinach and arugula salads, kale and greens, dressings and marinades, hummus, baked goods and drizzled on sorbet or chocolate. 

Both are made from olives grown in California

If they already have Ottolenghi, Ottolenghi Flavor and Ottolenghi Simple, then they’ll be thrilled to receive the newest publication from Yotam Ottolenghi — Ottolenghi Comfort. This latest cookbook from the restaurateur and chef is all about creative dishes that are just as comfortable to cook as they are to eat. From low-lift recipes to ones you can spend an afternoon on, this cookbook is a journey around the world, celebrating food, the memories they give us, and the connections they help us build.

Made of food-safe silicone with a stainless steel interior, this universal frying pan lid from Made In Cookware literally has everything covered — from woks to oversized frying pans up to 12 inches. Use it on nonstick, stainless steel, carbon steel and even cast iron frying pans, just as you would a glass lid. 

The inside of the lid has three rings that fit snugly onto 8-inch, 10-inch and 12-inch pans to ensure your food stays warm and in the pan — where it belongs. Plus, the lid itself is oven safe up to 400F and doubles a trivet to keep your counters and tabletops safe from scorching-hot pan bottoms.

To clean it, toss it in the dishwasher. It comes with a lifetime guarantee, should anything happen to it. 

For the art-loving-home-chef, this set of coaster with classic William Morris designs is a thoughtful gift they’re sure to use through the years. The set includes classic whimsical prints from the British artist such as Pomegranate, Jasmine, Strawberry Thief and Blackthorn.

For stylish barware that doesn’t break your budget, we recommend these smoked glasses wine glasses from Walmart’s own brand Thyme & Table. They’re both stylish and function, with a iridescent smokey finish and a utilitarian angled design that enhances the flavor of any type of wine that you’re drinking. Pair it with a set of wine stoppers and a cute wine bottle opener for a thoughtful hostess gift. 

Le Creuset — the ultimate hostess brand. This French brand is synonymous with longevity and quality, making it an excellent gift for anyone who loves to cook and host a feast for their friends and family. This three-piece set comes with everything they need for holiday cooking: 12.5-inch dish holds that holds 4 quarts; a 10-inch dish that holds 2.5 quarts; and a 7.5-inch dish that holds 1.1 quart.

If you’re looking for an excellent deal, the “peche” (peach) color is currently on sale for 30% off. 

Bachan’s barbecue sauces bring the flavors of Japanese yakitori and grilling to your own kitchen. In this three pack you’ll get the brand’s bestselling flavors: Original, Yuzu, and Hot & Spicy. It’s also Amazon’s No. 1 bestselling BBQ sauce — just saying. 

“My husband tried this at a restaurant and had to have it,” wrote one reviewer. “It is very good. It’s not thick like other barbecue sauces are. The honey version I feel is similar to a teriyaki barbecue sauce. The original has a soy sauce Ginger note to it. Both are very good and are now pantry essentials in my household.”

Whether you’re serving up a charcuterie board for book club or hosting a Super Bowl watch party for your family, a serving tray is essential. This one from Walmart is made of durable acacia wood and comes with stylish gold handles. The side lip ensures that spilled liquids stay where they belong — on the tray.

Gift them the gift of the rich colors of the desert with this Santa Fe-inspired napkin set from L.A.-based brand Atelier Saucier. All of the brand’s textiles are sustainably-sourced, rescued and repurposed — so you can feel good about the gift you’re giving, too.

These food storage containers make storing freshly washed fruits and veggies easier than ever. They come in a set of three — and include a large, medium and small container. The small container is the perfect size for storing a pint of blueberries, while the medium size is great for small produce like cherry tomatoes and radishes. The large container can hold carrots, broccoli, lettuce or other large produce.

What we like most about these food storage containers is that the inner liner of each one can be removed and used like a colander, so you can easily wash, dry and store produce in one gadget. The liner sits elevated from the rest of the storage container so you can be sure that moisture — the enemy of fresh produce — does not come in contact with your fruits and vegetables.

The containers also have lids with adjustable air vents and can be easily stacked. The vents can be used to regulate air flow and control humidity to keep your fruits and veggies fresh for up to two weeks.

Sure, you can probably pick up some flaky Maldon sea salt from the grocery store, but this smoked variety can be a bit trickier to find. The salt is gently smoked over oak to give it a robust, thick flavor that reminds one of good American barbeque. While it can be used to punch up pretty much any dish, it’s also delicious, simply sprinkled on a thick slice of sourdough with unsalted melted butter. 

These Bee’s Wrap beeswax wraps are a great alternative to single-use plastics and are just as effective at keeping leftovers fresh.

What we love most about these beeswax food wraps is that they’re just super practical for all of those leftovers you aren’t quite sure how to store but would like to save, like a hunk of cheese, a wedge of lemon or a few slices of bread. 

They’re easy to keep reusing, too. Just wash them with cool water and mild soap and let them dry. 

This cushioned kitchen mat by KitchenClouds is well-named because it is like walking on a cloud. Chopping vegetables, simmering a stew and even doing the dishes is made just a little bit better for your feet and joints when you’re standing on a mat made of thick, soft PVC foam that’s shock-absorbing. It protects your joints all the way up to your spine so you take some of the pressure off. 

A tin of almonds probably doesn’t sound like an exciting gift idea, but these aren’t just any almonds. These are spicy dill pickle-flavored almonds — that have nearly 38,000 reviews! They’re perfect for the person who has a salty, spicy tooth and who likes to snack while they cook. If dill pickle flavoring isn’t their thing, you can also pick up a tin of Elote Mexican street corn-flavored almonds.

You can still have fresh herbs even if you doesn’t have a back garden — or even a green thumb. The AeroGarden Harvest is a small countertop indoor hydroponic herb garden that even those with a brown thumb will find easy to use. 

This starter kit includes six seed pods and liquid plant food to set you up for success.

This vanilla paste is recommended by chefs and pastry cooks the world over. Bakers know that what they make is only as good as the ingredients they put into it. More flavorful than your run-of-the-mill vanilla extract, and easier to use than fresh vanilla beans, this paste is an excellent addition to any home baker’s pantry. One jar contains the equivalent of 12 vanilla beans. The texture is thick and syrupy — like a vanilla caviar — and has an almost creamy taste to it. If you’re lucky, your giftee will bake you something delicious with it as a thank you.

Whether he’s into making his own hot sauces or loves making homemade pasta, if he knows his way around the kitchen, he’ll appreciate a new set of nice cutting boards. This set of heavy-duty bamboo cutting boards comes in four useful sizes for chopping and serving. We especially love that they’re designed with a drip ledge for preventing messages and catching precious juices you might want for adding flavor. We recommend pairing it with some food-grade mineral oil to prevent stains and to keep the board looking its best over time.

When Ina Garten speaks, we listen. She is the Contessa of making life in the kitchen easy, breezy and joyful as she decodes French cooking for a new generation. So when she recommends a piece of kitchen kit, we’re all ears.

This skillet can be used anywhere — on the stove, on your grill or even over a campfire. It’s the ultimate multi-use tool, whether you’re perfectly searing a steak, dry-frying mushrooms or making the best scrambled eggs ever. It comes pre-seasoned, so you don’t have to fiddle around oiling it up. It’s ready to use right out of the box.

If they’re the type of person who adds cayenne to everything they cook, gift them a jar of Fly By Jing’s Sichuan chili oil. It’s delicious on dumplings and noodles, but can also be used to dress up scrambled eggs on toast and can even be paired with tacos, watermelon and vanilla ice cream. (Trust us on that one). 

Fresh herbs are notoriously hard to store and keep fresh. When you find yourself throwing out more fresh herbs than you use, it’s time to invest in one of these Cole & Mason herb keepers. 

The “hydro pad” turns this tiny gadget into a type of “self watering” storage container that allows herbs to draw up moisture as needed. When you’re ready to cook with the herbs, the nifty flip and slide lid allows you to easily trim the amount you need. 

It comes with three removable dividers so you can store a variety of different herbs at the same time, too.

It’s the chocolate that ruined all other chocolate for me. Venchi’s Pistachio Cremino bar is made with alternating layers of that creamy gianduja (an Italian creation of chocolate with about 30% hazelnut paste) and delicate, lightly salted pistachio cream spread — a truly Italian flavor. The result is a decadent, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate that has a silky, soft texture and isn’t overwhelmingly sweet. It’s an intoxicating treat for those who know they love the flavors of chocolate, pistachio and hazelnut.

We tested and reviewed the Nespresso Vertuo and dubbed it our very best affordable espresso machine for those who want to be able to make quick, easy and — most importantly — superior-tasting espresso drinks at home. Not only does it have the ability to make a mug of coffee, but it can brew up espressos and double espressos in seconds. In fact, you can buy pods in six brewing sizes in all types of flavors, recipes and intensities so chances are you’ll find something to suit your tastes.

The main difference between the Nespresso Vertuo and the original Nespresso machines is that only the Vertuo can make both regular coffee and espresso shots. Original Nespresso machines only produce shots of espresso. Unfortunately the Vertuo cannot use original Nespresso pods, and vice versa. You can only use Vertuo-specific pods in the Vertuo.

This tablet stand holder is a useful gadget that’ll get used time and time again, especially for the home chef. With it they can follow their recipe or watch their favorite show while cooking away — without needing to use both hands. 

Over 14,000 Amazon reviewers have found it useful, too. “I read every night on my iPad as part of my bedtime ritual. Only problem being that I was getting tired of holding the iPad up,” said one five-star reviewer. “So I was looking for something to attach to my headboard and hold the iPad for me. The MAGIPEA Tablet Stand Holder thus far has worked perfectly. My hands are now free.”

Make sure they’re not a member of the sad desk salad club with one of these electric portable Crock-Pot lunch boxes that’ll ensure they have a hot lunch every day. Reviewers say they “love this little” machine, and that because of its leak proof design it keeps food “nice and hot.” The food storage container and inner liner are dishwasher safe, too.

For lovers of bright colors and bold patterns, look no further than Printfresh’s giftaable PJs. They’re made of 100% organic cotton, and have a widest range of prints, patterns and sizes. Because they’re made entirely of cotton, they’re naturally breathable and durable, getting softer with each and every wash. 

In fact, nearly 2,500 reviewers rave about these PJs for their comfort and style. “I bought this PJ for a friend as a birthday present,” said one reviewer. “She absolutely loved it. She loved the print, the feel and how elegant she looks when she goes to sleep, it was a wonderful surprise!”

If you find yourself frequently needing to store half-sliced fruits and vegetables, these silicone food huggers are a smart storage solution that’ll make your life easier. Keep halves of lemons, onions, tomatoes and more fresh and from drying out with these genius little stretchy huggers. 

They come in large, medium and small sizes to fit all of your produce needs. They’re dishwasher safe and reusable so you can also stop spending money on plastic wraps and plastic bags for leftovers. 

This award-winning vegan caviar is a pantry staple that’ll delight and surprise during your next dinner party. Made of sustainably sourced black seaweed pearls, this vegan alternative to black capelin caviar — sans the allergens, animal cruelty and high price tag.

The seaweed pearls mimic traditional caviar with a smooth texture and a clean, briny, oceany taste that’s best enjoyed on canapés and appetizers.

Reviewers say it’s a delicious treat for those who like the taste of seaweed snacks.

“If you like seaweed snacks, this is delicious! Love to add this on my charcuterie boards,” said one happy reviewer.

“I have never had real caviar. It has always struck me as cruel and gross,” said another reviewer. “But this caviar doesn’t repulse me in the least. It has a mellow flavor with a snap of brine and maybe a bit of olive flavor? I’m certainly no chef so it’s hard for me to pinpoint why I find this so delicious.”

Some people don’t want more stuff and things. For those folks, give them the gift of an experience they can do together. With a $15 annual subscription to Masterclass, they can take over 200 digital classes with some of the greatest minds across 11 different categories. 

Learn modern middle eastern cooking with Yotam Ottolenghi, or master the art of scientific thinking and communication with Neil deGrasse Tyson. Take a photography lesson with Annie Leibovitz or learn about filmmaking from Martin Scorsese. The lessons are truly endless. 

With a $15 annual subscription, they can get access to Masterclass lessons on two devices at a time — and download them for offline viewing.