Father's Day this year is June 18th, which will come faster than you can say, "June 18th." So that means it's time for a gift guide: specifically, 20 kitchen-related gifts your dad or parental figure will (hopefully) love.
Below you'll find lots of fun tools and equipment that make futzing in the kitchen even more fun. And, since the way to most people's hearts will always be through their stomach, we included tasty treats, too.
Our Favorite French Press
Fellow Clara French Press
Sleek and with a weighted handle that makes for wonderfully smooth pouring, our favorite French press from Fellow is a fantastic sub-$100 gift. Plus, it even comes with a wooden spoon for agitating grounds mid-brew.
The Best Gas Grill
Weber Spirit II E-310 3-Burner Gas Grill
Our overall favorite gas grill is expensive, of course, but really not bad for a grill—which can cost thousands. It’s the gift that will keep giving all summer long: burgers, barbecued chicken, and grilled vegetables galore.
A Booze-Free Aperitif
Ghia Non-Alcoholic Apéritif
Ghia recently came out with a new, sharp-looking ribbed bottle and a more complex, concentrated formula that we’re big fans of. “I liked the old Ghia and really, really love the new one,” senior commerce editor Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm says. “It’s ideal for mixing with tonic water.” You could even pair the aperitif with some stemless wine glasses.
A Great Gooseneck Kettle
Fellow Stagg EKG Electric Pour-Over Kettle
If your parental person is into pourover coffee or tea, a variable temperature gooseneck kettle is a must-have. You can set the temperature…down to the degree! The precision! Our favorite from Fellow comes in some beautiful hues, too, which any aesthete can appreciate.
Really Great Cookies You Don't Have to Make Yourself
Levain Bakery Rocky Road
It can be really, really nice to eat cookies you didn't have to bake yourself. And Levain Bakery's are an editor favorite. Their limited edition Rocky Road cookies are packed with almonds, chocolate chips, and marshmallows. "These cookies are dense, rich, and all-around perfect," Riddley says. "When eating one, I even got a couple pulls of melted marshmallow. Incredible." (For serious cookie people, Levain Bakery also has a monthly cookie club.)
A Skillet That’ll Last Forever
Lodge Cast Iron Skillet
A cast iron skillet only gets better with time provided you care for it correctly. And our favorite from Lodge is just $20. It’s an excellent budget-friendly gift, however, you could pair it with a couple of steaks. Why not!
A Cleaver That’ll Make Them Feel Like a Butcher
Global 6.5-Inch Meat Cleaver
Thwack, thwack! Chop, chop! Behold the mighty meat cleaver! We loved this sharp, nimble one from Global and especially enjoyed its dotted, textured handle.
Beautiful Beer Glasses
Spiegelau Beer Tulip Glass Set
Beer enthusiasts know: the glass really does make a difference. We explained why here and you can’t really go wrong with a tulip glass—though we do have options if your parental person's more into IPAs, pilsners, etc.
A Really, Exceptionally Nice Espresso Machine
Breville Barista Express Impress
If you’re shopping for someone who’s been wanting to get into espresso, but is a little intimidated by it, look at this Breville machine. It automates some of the trickier parts of the shot pulling process with features like assisted tamping and a built-in grinder.
A Versatile Condiment
Fly By Jing Sichuan Chili Crisp
Crunchy, savory, and capable of lifting up fried eggs, grain bowls, noodles, and roasted meats: we love Fly By Jing’s chili crisp. A couple jars of it make an excellent gift.
An Electric Pizza Oven
Ooni Volt 12 Electric Pizza Oven
Ooni’s new indoor-outdoor electric pizza oven brings the heat. Literally! It gets up to 850°F in just 20 minutes and we loved churning out pies with it. Plus, the oven couldn’t be simpler to use: just set the temperature and get slinging.
A Sleek Way to Store Drinks
Yeti Rambler Beverage Bucket
For wine, cans of spiked seltzer, and beer, we really like this stainless steel, vacuum-insulated beverage bucket. It even has a non-slip base and a grippy handle. "Yeti gifted me this bucket and it's the kind of thing that gets an 'oh, that's sleek-looking' when you place it on the picnic table or bring it poolside," Riddley says. "I also really like their heavy, perforated ice scoop, which is sold separately. It allows any water to drip out before you place the ice in a glass of whatnot."
The Best Steak Knives
Messermeister Avanta 5” Fine Edge 4-Piece Steak Knife Set
Our favorite steak knives are reasonably priced and deliver stand-out performance. We described them in our review as “remarkably sharp” and “very handsome.”
One Pretty Platter
Open Kitchen by Williams Sonoma Serving Platter
If your parental person’s always cooking for others, then they need pretty serveware. It’s a fact! Inspire this by giving them one of our favorite platters. If white’s too simple for them, opt for this colorful option from Le Creuest.
A Stellar Saucier
Made In Stainless Clad Saucier
We're Team Saucier at Serious Eats (you can read why we prefer a saucier over a saucepan here). This saucier from direct-to-consumer (DTC) company Made In is well-balanced, performs well, has a broad surface for stirring, and isn't overly expensive. We recommend going with the 3-quart model.
Pasta! A Ton of It!
Pasta Faella Mezzi Paccheri in Bulk
When it comes to food gifts, we turn to Gustiamo, an online marketplace for good-quality Italian ingredients—including 5-pound bags of pasta. Gifting one will work double-duty, allowing them to avoid the crowded grocery store and explore our many Italian pasta sauce recipes.
A Shiny New Waffle Maker
All-Clad Belgian-Style Waffle Maker
If your parent’s a breakfast person, there's no better way to upgrade their mornings than with a good-quality waffle maker. Trust us: a good waffle iron is the difference between soggy, sad waffles and crisp-on-the-outside, fluffy-on-the-inside ones just begging for maple syrup. Speaking of maple syrup, make sure they have the good stuff at home. No one wants perfect waffles paired with brown corn syrup. No one!
A Really Special Torte
Andre's Engadiner Nut Torte
With roasted pecans, caramel, and sugar dough: this torte is something special. “My dad tried this and immediately fell in love,” Riddley says. Inspiring!
Keep it Cool with, Uh, a Cooler
YETI Roadie 24 Cooler
A good cooler can be remarkably useful. You can use it to store drinks that otherwise take up a lot of space in the fridge. You can take it with you, filled with all the drinks and meats and cheeses you could want for a backyard party of one. The options!
Incredible Chili Flakes
Burlap and Barrel Silk Chili Flakes
If your parental person is working on their spice cabinet, we suggest picking up a jar of silk chili from Burlap & Barrel. This particular chili comes from Kahramanmaras, Turkey, and is botanically identical to the Aleppo pepper. It's not too hot—just warm enough with some roasty tomato flavor. It’s great in all sorts of dishes, from Kenji's crispy kale hash to Daniel's vodka sauce.
Bakeware for the Bread Enthusiast
Challenger Breadware The Challenger Bread Pan
Bread bakers know that baking in cast iron yields crisp crusts and beautiful loaves. But if they’re serious about bread, they also know that investing in a dedicated bread baker instead of continuing to use a Dutch oven can be worthwhile. It’s easier to load bread! It can accommodate different sized loaves! We like the Challenger, and have some other picks here.
A Delightful Decanter
Made In Decanter
A super easy gift that’s sure to please, is a decanter (and maybe a bottle of wine…mayyyybee?). Our favorite comes from Made In and it’s actually easy to store, unlike some swan decanters we know.
FAQs
When is Father’s Day?
Father’s Day this year is June 18th, 2023.