The 50 Best Gifts Under $50 for Cooks and Food Lovers

Essential tools, fun gadgets, beautiful books, and more, all at prices friendly to your budget.

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more.

Kitchen gifts we recommend on a yellow grid background

Serious Eats / Amelia Manley

A great gift to delight the kitchen enthusiast in your life doesn’t have to break the bank. In fact, some of the very best gear is cheap—exceeding the performance of products that cost four, five, or six times as much (looking at you, cast iron skillets).

As a professional recipe developer, here are 50 tools, treats, and tomes under $50 that I would gladly gift (or receive).

Kitchen Essentials

The Goldilocks of Chef’s Knives

Victorinox 6-Inch Fibrox Pro Chef's Knife

Amazon Victorinox 6-Inch Fibrox Pro Chef's Knife

Amazon

A sharp chef’s knife is essential for a wide range of cooking tasks, and an 8-inch version is a classic choice to reach for. However, my secret favorite in my knife roll is a petty knife. In between the size of a standard chef’s knife and a paring knife, it’s light, versatile, and nimble, while still offering some oomph. Bonus: It’s a great size knife for older kids and teens who are getting started in the kitchen.

A Pan That Will Last a Lifetime

Lodge Cast Iron Skillet

Lodge Cast Iron Skillet

Amazon

A nearly indestructible pan that you can bake, shallow fry, sear, and roast in, all for $25, and you get to feel like a pioneer? Sign me up! We promise cast iron isn’t as fussy to maintain as you might think, and this kitchen workhorse will last forever with some simple TLC.

Searing short rib steaks in a cast iron skillet. Just about every skillet, when preheated throughly, managed to put a great sear on both sides of the meat.

Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

A Versatile Flat-Bottomed Wok

Joyce Chen Carbon Steel Wok

Joyce Chen Carbon Steel Wok

Amazon

A wok can do so much more than just stir-fry! A flat-bottomed, carbon-steel wok can run circles around your other pots and pans when seasoned and cared for properly. This budget pick from our testing is a steal at just over $40, and you can use it to its utmost with one of our cookbook picks, below.

A Pop-tacular Instant-Read Thermometer

ThermoWorks ThermoPop Thermometer

ThermoWorks ThermoPop Thermometer

ThermoWorks

Accurately reading the temperature of proteins, deep fry oil, or baked goods will level up any home cook’s time spent in the kitchen. The recently updated ThermoPop, about which we have raved for years, comes in an array of cheerful colors and is hands down our favorite budget-friendly instant-read thermometer for gifting.

thermopop with bowl of ice behind it

Serious Eats / Grace Kelly

For Precise Cooking (and Fewer Dishes!)

Escali Primo Digital Food Scale

Escali Primo Digital Food Scale

Amazon

Everyone needs a kitchen scale, and here are some excellent reasons why. My favorite of them? Fewer dishes! If I’m working from a recipe with weight measurements, I can tare the scale and add each ingredient to the bowl as I go, instead of dirtying lots of measuring cups, spoons, and prep bowls along the way. This winning budget scale from our testing is accurate and compact, or for a few dollars more (just a hair above our $50 limit), you can take home the winner by OXO.

Our Winning Tiny-but-Mighty Mini Whisk

Kuhn Rikon 6-Inch Balloon Wire Whisk

Amazon Kuhn Rikon 6-Inch Balloon Wire Whisk

Amazon

One of the best stocking stuffers I ever received was a mini whisk, and I use it just about every day for small tasks where a larger whisk feels awkward, like beating a single egg or mixing up a small bowl of sauce. This (adorable) 6-inch whisk bested its competitors in our testing, winning points for its maneuverability and power, all in a compact package.

a miniature whisks beats three eggs in a bowl

Serious Eats / Jesse Raub

A Quarter-Sheet Pan with a Bonus

Nordic Ware Naturals Quarter Sheet with Oven-Safe Nonstick Grid

Amazon Nordic Ware Naturals Quarter Sheet with Oven-Safe Nonstick Grid

Amazon

Continuing on the mini theme: You might be surprised by how useful a smaller quarter sheet pan can be. A space-saving sibling to the more common half-sheet pan that is a true kitchen essential, a quarter-sheet pan is perfect for toasting a handful of nuts, baking off a few balls of frozen cookie dough, or making a sheet-pan dinner for one or two. As a bonus, this one from the same brand as our half-sheet winner comes with a wire rack that fits right inside it, which is perfect for when you need to lift something off the pan to maximize airflow during roasting or broiling.

A Surprising Kitchen Workhorse

OXO Bench Scraper

Amazon OXO Bench Scraper

Amazon

Don’t let its simple design fool you: This tool is one of the most versatile in the kitchen arsenal. I use my bench scraper daily to portion cubes of butter, transfer piles of vegetables from a cutting board to a pan, and scrape my work surface clean after kneading sticky dough. I actually have two of these winning bench scrapers in my kitchen drawer so I always have one at the ready if the other is in the dishwasher.

Using the OXO bench scraper to scrape up gnocchi dough on a floured marble countertop

Serious Eats / Eric King

A Fish Spatula (for More Than Just Fish!)

Winco Fish Spatula

Winco Fish Spatula

Amazon

I had never seen a fish spatula before working in professional kitchens–I was more familiar with the kind of spatula with a blocky, square, offset head, apparently more accurately called a “turner”—but it was a wonderful discovery. Its thin blade is nimble and dextrous (perfect for maneuvering delicate fish fillets), but also wide and strong (great for burgers or pancakes), and is worthy of a spot in anyone’s utensil collection.

A Pro Peeler for Perfect Prep

Kuhn Rikon Original Swiss Peeler

Kuhn Rikon Original Swiss Peeler

Amazon

This vegetable peeler may not seem flashy, but it peels so smoothly and cleanly that it makes even the most arduous of peeling tasks (looking at you, butternut squash) an absolute breeze. These colorful peelers are so affordable that you can put one in everyone’s stocking (just make sure to keep the safety on the blade if you do!) and give them the gift of time and effort back in their lives.

A green y-peeler on a green cutting board surrounded by potato skins and a peeled potato to the side of it

Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

The World’s Best Storage Container

Cambro 2 Qt. Clear Square Polycarbonate Food Storage Container with Winter Rose Gradations

Cambro 2 Qt. Clear Square Polycarbonate Food Storage Container with Winter Rose Gradations

Webstaurant Store

My kingdom for a Cambro! For the giftee who wants to run a professional-grade kitchen outfit, this restaurant-supply brand of storage container is the gold standard. I use these utilitarian, virtually indestructible containers, which come in sizes from two to 22 quarts, to store everything from chicken stock in the fridge to flour in the pantry.

For Bakers

A Proofing Basket for Professional-Looking Boules

Bulka Banneton Bread Proofing Basket

Amazon Bulka Banneton Bread Proofing Basket

Amazon

For anyone who has hopped aboard the sourdough train, a proofing basket will take your loaves to the next level. Proofing baskets help boules bake up round and tall, with a professional-looking pattern on the exterior, such as the cross-hatched waffle pattern of our winning basket made from wood pulp. All you need now is a cool bread lame, like this round-handled one from Wire Monkey.

Our Winning Fine-Mesh Strainer

Rösle Stainless Steel Round Handle Kitchen Strainer

Amazon Rösle Stainless Steel Round Handle Kitchen Strainer, 7.9-Inch

Amazon

The day the handle broke on my (admittedly cheap) fine-mesh strainer was when I realized just how often I reach for this tool. Yes, you can strain things, of course (it’s great for draining and rinsing a can of beans, for example), but it’s also the key to making ultra-smooth pastry creams and sauces and covering baked goods with a perfectly even cloud of confectioners’ sugar or cocoa powder.

Pastry cream being strained through a fine mesh strainer into a stainless steel bowl

Serious Eats / Eric King

A Beautiful Bundt Pan

Nordic Ware Platinum Collection Anniversary Bundt Pan

Nordic Ware Platinum Collection Anniversary Bundt Pan

Amazon

This baking pan will turn out beautiful cakes and molded desserts sure to be showstoppers at the next big gathering. It won our recent testing for its dramatic shape and clean release and is worthy of a spot in any cake baker’s collection.

For Your Next Pizza Party

Unicook Heavy Duty Ceramic Pizza Stone

Unicook Large Pizza Stone

Amazon

If your giftee has been getting by with making homemade pizzas on baking sheets, it’s time to level up with a baking stone. A preheated stone will give pizzas, artisanal loaves, and flatbreads a crispier crust and better oven spring. Our resident bread expert explains the science here, and you can also learn more about pricier baking steels as an upgrade choice.

A Set of Round Cutters

Ateco Graduated Round Cutters (Set of 11)

Amazon Ateco Graduated Round Cutters (Set of 11)

Amazon

This set of cutters is perfect for anyone who likes to make hand-held treats–cookies, of course, but they’re also ideal for stamping out round dough for hand pies, empanadas, or biscuits. For a fancy-looking edge, check out the fluted option

Our Winning Loaf Pan

Williams Sonoma Goldtouch Pro Nonstick Loaf Pan

Williams Sonoma Goldtouch Pro Nonstick Loaf Pan

Williams Sonoma

For the best quick breads and sandwich breads, a reliable loaf pan is key. This winning model bested the rest, producing neat, evenly-browned loaves time after time.

a loaf pan next to a tall wheat bread loaf

Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

A Casserole Dish

OXO Glass Baking Dish with Lid

OXO Glass Baking Dish with Lid

Amazon

For the casserole enthusiast, our favorite glass casserole dish features easy-to-grip handles for easy maneuverability, producing evenly cooked macaroni and cheese and perfect flan.

For Coffee & Tea Lovers

A Pourover Coffee Maker for a Crowd

Kalita Wave 185 Dripper

Kalita Wave 185 Dripper

Amazon

For households with more than one coffee drinker (and at least one pourover nerd), this pourover coffee maker can make up to five cups of coffee at a time. Pair it with a compatible carafe and some filters for the ultimate coffee-lovers gift bundle.

coffee being bloomed in a Kalita Wave 185

Serious Eats / Jesse Raub

For Luxurious Lattes

Miroco Stainless Steel Milk Steamer and Automatic Foam Maker

Miroco Stainless Steel Milk Steamer and Automatic Foam Maker

Walmart

While you’re thinking of your favorite coffee aficionado, consider upgrading them to the full barista experience. A milk frother can create the luxurious foam needed for the best lattes and cappuccinos, and this winning countertop model is a sleek and versatile addition to any coffee nook.

A Handsome Kettle for a Classic Cuppa

OXO Brew Classic Tea Kettle

Oxo Brew Classic Tea Kettle

Amazon

This classic stovetop kettle placed second in our 1.5-quart speed boil test in our review of tea kettles, and has a silicone grip on the handle to protect your hand.

A Charming Tea Infuser

Norpro 2-Inch Mesh Tea Infuser Ball

Norpro 2-Inch Mesh Tea Infuser Ball

Amazon

With a classic design and adorable teapot charm attached, this ball-style tea infuser won our recent testing and is perfect for loose-leaf tea drinkers.

a ball tea infuser steeping tea in a glass mug

Serious Eats / Abigail Clarkin

Fun Gadgets

For Foolproof Fermenting

E-Jen Vacuum Lid Fermentation Container

Amazon E-Jen Premium Kimchi, Sauerkraut Container Probiotic Fermentation with Inner Vacuum Lid

Amazon

This clever container has a built-in airlock that makes fermenting your own kimchi, sauerkraut, or pickles a snap. It creates the perfect environment for lacto-fermentation without guesswork or extra equipment.

For Going Plastic-Free

GIR Stretch Covers Set

Amazon GIR Stretch Covers Set

Amazon

For those who feel a pang of guilt every time they tear off a sheet of single-use plastic wrap, these silicone bowl covers have got you, er, covered! They turn any vessel into a storage container with a stretchy, durable, dishwasher-safe lid. 

To Level Up Your Tacos

IMUSA USA Cast Iron Tortilla Press 8-Inch

Amazon IMUSA USA Cast Iron Tortilla Press 8-Inch

Amazon

Once you’ve made your own fresh tortillas, you’ll never want to go back to store-bought. This budget pick from our tortilla press testing is a no-frills option that will consistently create even, round tortillas with a press of its handle. 

tortilla presses next to a sheet tray with freshly pressed pink corn tortillas
Serious Eats / Grace Kelly.

Grill Gloves to Beat the Heat

Grill Armor Gloves Extreme Heat-Resistant Oven Gloves

Grill Armor Gloves

Amazon

Safety first! When grilling outdoors, cooking over a campfire, or reaching into a hot oven, protecting your hands is essential. Tell your favorite grillmaster that you care with heat-resistant gloves.

For Knockout Gnocchi

Eppicotispai Garganelli and Gnocchi Stripper with Paddle

Eppicotispai Garganelli and Gnocchi Stripper with Paddle

Amazon

If your giftee is getting into making fresh pasta by hand (or you’d like them to, hint hint), a gnocchi stripper is an affordable and attractive gift. This grooved wooden board and accompanying dowel transform dough into grooved gnocchi, cavatelli, garganelli, rigatoni, and more.

For Costco Members

Mueller Austria Vacuum Sealer Machine

Mueller Austria Vacuum Sealer Machine

Amazon

Whether you're buying in bulk, marinating meats, or cooking sous vide (or all of the above!), a reliable vacuum sealer is a helpful gadget to have on hand.

The Mueller vacuum sealer vacuum sealing a bag of Chex

Serious Eats / Taylor Murray

For a Marvelous Movie Night

Whirley Pop Popper Kit

Amazon Whirley Pop Popper Kit

Amazon

With its thin aluminum walls for heat conduction, steam-venting hinged doors, and super-fun hand crank, Kenji’s pick for making the best popcorn at home is the classic stovetop Whirley Pop.

A Spacious Bento Box for Lunch On-The-Go

Bentgo Microsteel Lunch Box

Bentgo Microsteel Lunch Box

Bentgo

For those spending time on campus or back at the office, a bento box makes packing lunch fun and functional. In our testing of bento boxes, this model from Bentgo was the most spacious option with an excellent leakproof seal.

overhead shot of a few bento boxes on a marble countertop

Serious Eats / Grace Kelly

Bar & Tableware

For Beginner Mixologists

Cocktail Kingdom Usagi Cobbler Shaker

Cocktail Kingdom Usagi Cobbler Shaker

Amazon

For those just getting started with mixing cocktails, a cobbler-style shaker with a built-in strainer is a great all-in-one tool. This model from Usagi was the winner of our testing for its sleek design and large capacity.

A Jigger for Precision

OXO Mini Angled Measuring Cup

OXO Good Grips Mini Angled Measuring Cup

Amazon

While trying your hand as a bartender, it helps to measure your liquor precisely. This mini measuring cup by OXO was a favorite from of our jigger testing, featuring clear readability and an angled spout for easy pouring.

Juice being squeeze from a lemon into a small metal measuring cup.

Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

For More Refined Beer Drinking

Spiegelau Beer Tulip Glass Set

Spiegelau Beer Tulip Glass Set

Amazon

For the beer enthusiast who is ready to retire the red Solo cup (or even, surprisingly, a classic pint glass) and truly savor their craft beer, try a tulip glass. Their distinctive shape channels the aromas of complex beers into your nose and mouth as you drink, allowing you to experience a wider range of flavors. 

An Opener Kit for Wine Enthusiasts

Oster Electric Wine Opener

Amazon Oster Electric Wine Opener

Amazon

Let the robots do the work with this winning budget electric corkscrew. The accompanying kit includes two cork stoppers, a foil cutter, and a wine spout for smooth pours—a lot of bang for your buck.

An Affordable Set of Universal Wine Glasses

Libbey Signature Kentfield Estate All-Purpose Wine Glasses

Libbey Signature Kentfield Estate All-Purpose Wine Glasses

Amazon

Featuring glasses with a classic design and bowls large enough for red wines but sleek enough for white and sparkling wines, this set took the top spot for an affordable option in our testing of universal wine glasses.

A Wine Tumbler with Ultimate Chill

Stanley Everyday Go Wine Tumbler

Stanley Everyday Go Wine Tumbler

Amazon

Prefer your wine in the great outdoors on a hot summer’s day? For ice-cold sips with staying power, reach for our winning wine tumbler by Stanley, which kept wine the coldest, the longest. For a lidded option to protect against spills (or bugs when outdoors), this lidded model by Camelbak is another great pick.

pouring wine into a wine tumbler that's set on a kitchen scale

Serious Eats / Eric King

For a Cozy Pasta Night In

Star Moon Stoneware Pasta Bowls

Star Moon Stoneware Pasta Bowls

Amazon

A deep, wide bowl is my favorite vessel to reach for at dinnertime, especially for pasta. I love the look of these speckled stoneware bowls (and a set of two is perfect for a romantic date night in).

A Perfect Platter

Open Kitchen by Williams Sonoma Serving Platter

Open Kitchen by Williams Sonoma Serving Platter

Williams Sonoma

A lovingly prepared meal deserves to be showcased on a beautiful piece of servingware. This classic white platter that matches any decor comes in 3 sizes; we particularly liked the medium size in our testing.

Carving a chicken on a white platter

Serious Eats / Grace Kelly

To Show Off Your Baked Goods

Libbey Selene Glass Cake Stand with Dome

Amazon Libbey Selene Glass Cake Stand

Amazon

This elegant glass cake stand with a generous domed lid is perfect for star bakers to display everything from cakes to donuts to petit fours, all while keeping them fresh.

Gourmet Treats

A Sicilian Delicacy

Vincente Sicilian Cream of Pistachio Nut Spread

Amazon Vincente Sicilian Cream of Pistachio Nut Spread

Amazon

Pistachios reign supreme on the island of Sicily, and one of the best ways to taste them is in a decadent imported pistachio cream spread. Think Nutella, but with an ultra-luxurious texture, beautifully green color, and premium pistachio flavor that’s perfect for slathering on baked goods, crêpes, and more.

A Giant Bucket of Flaky Salt

Maldon 3.1 lb Sea Salt Flakes

Maldon 3.1 lb Sea Salt Flakes

Amazon

What could be better than our favorite finishing salt? A lifetime supply of it in a beach pail-sized bucket, of course.

Barista-Worthy Coffee Syrups

Monin Gourmet Flavorings Premium Coffee Collection

Amazon Monin Gourmet Flavorings Premium Coffee Collection

Amazon

I learned to appreciate a homemade latte during Covid, and a flavored syrup takes it up and over the top as a decadent treat. This gift pack from Monin of cute little bottles allows your giftee to sample some of the brand’s most popular flavors: Caramel, Amaretto, Hazelnut, Irish Cream, and Vanilla. Or, go for a big bottle of my personal favorite flavor: Toasted Marshmallow.

Next-Level Tinned Fish

Fishwife Tinned Seafood Co. The Classic Smoky Trio

Fishwife Tinned Seafood Co. The Classic Smoky Trio

Fishwife Tinned Seafood Co.

If the only tinned fish you’ve ever had is chunk light tuna in water, you’re missing out on a huge and delicious swath of oily, salty, European-style tinned fish delights. If your giftee loves smoked salmon and is tinned-fish-curious, this beautifully-designed gift pack of tins from Fishwife Tinned Seafood is a perfect place to begin. Pro tip: enjoy your tinned fish on potato chips (alongside a crisp and refreshing glass of wine) for the ultimate no-cook meal.

fishwife tinned fish open can of smoked salmon with lemon wedge and bread

Serious Eats / Grace Kelly

For the Autumn-Obsessed

Carr’s Cider Syrup

Carr’s Cider Syrup

Carr’s

Cider syrup (aka boiled cider) is made by slowly cooking down fresh apple cider until it’s a thick, ultra-concentrated syrup. Use it anywhere you would use maple syrup or molasses to lend a big boost of deep apple flavor. I love this small-batch syrup made nearby me by Carr’s Ciderhouse, but King Arthur makes a lovely Vermont Boiled Cider as well.

Beautifully Blended and Ethically-Sourced Spices

Curio Spice 3-Tin Gift Set

Curio Spice 3-Tin Gift Set

Curio Spice Co

The mission of Curio Spice, a woman-owned Certified B-Corporation, is to directly source the finest spices from around the world, paying above Fair Trade rates to support smallholder spice farms. Founder Claire Cheney has created a variety of beautiful blends to showcase Curio’s spices, herbs, and salts, and this 3-tin set is perfect for gifting. My personal favorite is the World of Herbs & Flowers set above, but it also comes in Salt & Spice Traveler and Explorer Edition collections, too.

For Cookbook Collectors

Learn to make the most of your new wok (see above) with Kenji’s guide to this versatile piece of cookware.

Juke Joints, Jazz Clubs, and Juice: Cocktails from Two Centuries of African American Cookbooks

Amazon Juke Joints, Jazz Clubs, and Juice: Cocktails from Two Centuries of African American Cookbooks

Amazon

I cannot wait to peruse this new cookbook from culinary historian Toni Tipton-Martin. Toni’s James Beard Award-winning Jubilee is alread a treasured book in my collection.

Flour Power: The Practice and Pursuit of Baking Sourdough Bread

flour-power-the-practice-and-pursuit-of-baking-sourdough-bread

Amazon

For the person whose sourdough starter is going strong, this step-by-step guide contains over 80 recipes for naturally-leavened loaves. Tara is a consummate instructor for bread bakers of all levels and a wonderful companion for anyone’s sourdough journey.

Mastering Pasta: The Art and Practice of Handmade Pasta, Gnocchi, and Risotto

Amazon Mastering Pasta: The Art and Practice of Handmade Pasta, Gnocchi, and Risotto

Amazon

As former editor-in-chief at Serious Eats Niki Achitoff-Gray writes in her roundup of the best pasta-making cookbooks, “If you're looking for one definitive primer on pasta-making in its myriad forms, this is it.” With an emphasis on well-illustrated step-by-step techniques, you’re sure to become a pasta pro in no time with this book in hand.

After road-testing all of your lovely new kitchen toys from the list above, you’re bound to have some leftovers lurking in the fridge. With this cookbook, Tamar Adler will help you transform those inevitable bits and bobs into new and exciting dishes.

FAQs

What's the best gift for a chef?

The answer to this is highly subjective! Might we suggest something super useful and practical (because they likely have their basic kitchen gear covered), like a pack of Swedish dishcloths, or something ingredient-focused like a bucket of flakey salt?

Where should I shop for kitchen gifts?

Well, we think (for gifts under $50) this guide is a nice place to start! The majority of the products on this page can be purchased from Amazon.

Why We're the Experts

  • Afton Cyrus is a freelance food editor and recipe developer and previously worked at America's Test Kitchen.
  • Serious Eats has been testing kitchen gear for more than a decade, so we know a thing or two about what to look for.