'Tis the season for tasty treats and festive feasts! With Christmas just around the corner, it's time to start thinking about the perfect gift for the foodies and cooks in your life. Whether they're a seasoned chef or just starting out, there are plenty of gifts that will make their taste buds tingle and their kitchen creations shine.
And we’ve got some great ideas! From a must-have kitchen gadget like an air fryer or a frosty ice cream maker to some reliable new cookware. And for the baker in your life, a smartphone compatible kitchen scale is a gift worth weighing up.
So, put on your chef’s hat and add these gifts to the menu…
Smart kitchen appliances
Any Foodie worth their salt needs the right kitchen tech. Once upon a time, budding chefs would limit themselves to a sturdy pan and a gas burner, but nowadays even the pros are leaning on kitchen tech to make meals easier. Both Jamie Oliver and food writer Jack Monroe love their air fryers!
So, if you’ve got a foodie in your life who loves whipping up midweek masterpieces, treat them to some new kitchen tech - and we’ve got two fab fryers on the menu. Both use less energy than conventional ovens and far less oil - so they can kick off New Year in the right way too.
Breville Dual Airfryer
The Breville Halo Flexi dual air fryer is a great gift idea. With its 11-litre capacity, this dual-zone air fryer lets you cook a couple of dishes at once. And its 10 digital presets takes the guesswork out of cooking. From veggies to the perfect steak, just tap a button and let it do the rest. And it’s not just for main courses. You can roast, bake or even reheat leftovers. That’s Christmas dinner sorted!
Philips Air Fryer Dual Basket
This Phillips 3000 Series air fryer is another great multitasker. You get great even cooking thanks to Rapid Air Technology, which blows hot air through food, not just around it. So, you get a juicy cooked centre and a crunchy exterior to breaded fish and fried snacks. Dual drawers are like having two air fryers in one. Pop your chicken in the large drawer and your veggies in the smaller one, set the timer so everything’s ready at the same time and you’ve got a complete meal ready to serve. Bon appetit!
High-tech cooking tools
Here are some foodie gift ideas sure to be a hit in the kitchen…
Digital kitchen scales
Not only do kitchen scales make measuring ingredients way more accurate, they also mean a lot less guesstimating when following recipes (especially baking) - meaning much more consistent results. Weigh everything from flour to batter in metric and imperial. Some digital scales are compatible with smart phone apps too - super helpful if you’re following a diet.
Digital thermometers
If you’re looking for gifts for meat lovers, look no further. With a meat thermometer, you can ensure that your meat, fish or poultry is cooked to the perfect temperature. Delicious and juicy! Plus, digital thermometers are incredibly easy to use and clean. They’re also compatible with apps, so you get all the cooking info you need.
Ice cream makers
Perfect for home made ice cream, they can whip up everything from fruity sorbets to deliciously creamy gelatos, using fresh and natural ingredients. Whether it's for birthday parties, family gatherings, or dinner parties with friends, an ice cream maker makes dessert a cinch.
Smart kitchen helpers
When you think of best gifts for cooks, you might just think of food processors or a new set of kitchen knives, but you can get creative too. For example, if you know someone who spends a lot of time in the kitchen, there’s some great tech that can really help them out. Like smart speakers or smart displays. Not only can the right smart device remind them of how long the cake has been in the oven, but having a hands-free virtual assistant can be a game changer. Want an example?
Amazon Echo Show 8
Got your hands in a mixing bowl and don’t want to get sticky fingers on the recipe book? With the Amazon Echo Show 8, you could have a recipe on screen and then ask Alexa to turn to show you what to do next. Or ask it to convert cups into grams. Or just follow along to a cooking video.
You could also ask it to order you more of a certain ingredient, call mum for baking advice and so much more. This 3rd gen speaker has spatial audio, so will fine-tune its acoustics to fit you kitchen. You can even catch up on Netflix while peeling potatoes. Hook it up to your smart phone and you can ask to turn on the coffee machine, answer your front door and just about anything you can imagine. No kitchen’s complete without one!
Cookware
If you’re buying for someone just setting up home or just getting started with their new passion, you can’t go wrong with some classic cookware. Cooking can be such a joy, but it's not always easy to stay enthusiastic with old and worn cookware. That’s why investing in new non-stick pots and pans is a fantastic gift idea for any home cook. It's like getting a brand-new kitchen in a box!
Non-stick cookware is designed to make everyday cooking a breeze. It warms up quickly and distributes heat evenly for perfectly cooked meals. With its slick coating, food won't stick and cleaning up is easy, even after cooking the most stubborn foods like eggs and sautéed veggies. And a lot of new cookware and oven dishes are even dishwasher safe. No more sinks full of dirty pans!
We’ve got more on the menu!
Get great Christmas gifts for foodies with our Cooking and baking buying guide.
