
Let’s face it we all know and love) someone who enjoys cooking. And with the gift season fast approaching, what better way to select thoughtful gifts for all the culinary fanatics in your life than to use their favorite pastime for a little inspiration?
If you’re shopping for a chef who’s always cooking up a new recipe, a co-worker who brings all their latest baking creations to the office, or your favorite party hostess, we’ve got you covered.
From trendy to technical to eco-friendly, here are the thoughtful gifts for all the cooks on your shopping list.
01. Custom Embroidered Apron, Sourdough Apron, $30

Any chef knows that a good apron is a crucial accessory to prevent your clothes from being dirty. So why don’t you surprise the chef with this trendy and practical MagicLinen apron in your life? The most special apron is the embroidered names. Just enter your name or your family names, you’ll have a unique and innovative apron.
The 100% cotton material keeps them cool on hot days, and the two spacious front pockets are ideal for holding their appliance while they’re cooking. It’s also chemical-free, machine washable, and comes in a number of different colors, making it easy to pick one that suits your pal’s style.
02. Five Two Wooden Spoons, $25- One Of The Thoughtful Gifts

Exclusive to Food52, this cute set of wooden spoons is the perfect addition to your home-made chef’s kitchen. They are made of teak wood, which is naturally non-toxic, water-resistant, and robust, with a rustic aesthetic.
Choose from five bits, including a blending spoon, a double spoon that’s great for sampling, and two flat scraping and flipping spoons. Each piece is ergonomically built for comfort with extra long handles and adequate reach. If you’re placing one or two of these spoons in a gift basket or offering a full package, they’re going to be a functional and beautiful addition to anyone’s utensil drawer.
03. Caraway Cookware Set, $395

This is one of the thoughtful gifts for the cooks. There’s no secret that there’s a lot of cookware out there. But few combine design, versatility, and good looks as seamlessly as Caraway’s package. Made from an aluminum core with a ceramic non-stick coating, they are free from toxic chemicals and metals found in conventional non-stick coatings.
The collection includes a sauté pan, a saucepan, a Dutch oven and a fry pan that are healthy in the oven and function in all types of range. Magnetic racks allow you to store the pans on their side so that you don’t have to stack—and probably scratch—pots and pans. They also come with their own space-saving storage system, and there’s a hanging lid that fits inside a cabinet frame. Will we need to say more?
Available in five earth-toned color choices: warm white, cool green, elegant navy, vivid sage, and pink-toned terracotta. Each item in this set is also available for purchase individually, so you can build your own package that suits your budget.
04. Crate & Barrel Red Cast Iron Fondue Set, $39.95

A fondue collection makes it the perfect centerpiece to host a cozy and enjoyable dinner party. They’re nostalgic, vintage, and a perfect gift to any cook who’s an aficionado to cheese and chocolate. Apart from classics such as ooey-gooey cheese and melted chocolate, a fondue pot may also be filled with broth or oil for cooking meat, seafood and vegetables.
This collection includes a cheerful red enameled cast iron fondue pot that heats up quickly and keeps the contents warm for the right dip consistency every time. The collection also includes a cast-iron stand to cover the tabletop, a burner dish, and eight color-coded fondue forks.
05. Anova Culinary AN500-US00 Sous Vide Precision Cooker, $139

Behold, this is the ideal gadget for a chef who loves playing in the kitchen. Sous vide is a common cooking style in which food is put in a sealed bag that is immersed in a temperature-controlled water bath. Say hi to evenly fried, ultra-tender food every single time.
ANOVA can be used to vacuum any pot that has been filled with water. It also heats up the water – no stove burner is required – and keeps it circulating to keep the temperature accurate during cooking. The cooker is fitted with Wi-Fi access, and a special app is available to monitor the entire cooking process from a smartphone. With over 1000 vacuum recipes and cooking guides on the app, your gift recipient will get cooking regardless of their previous vacuum skill level. These thoughtful gifts are really worth trying.
06. CapaBunga Multi-Pocket Canvas Market Tote, $50

When it comes to thoughtful gifts for the cook, the tote is on the first list. This market tote is the perfect trendy gift for a friend who likes to spend the weekends visiting the farmers’ markets for gourmet goodies. You’d think any reusable tote will be enough to bring the food around but the committed market-goers would appreciate the classic style, the durable cloth, and the practical pockets designed to match the egg carton, the milk, or even the bottle of wine or the homemade kombucha. There’s also a strap on the outside of the bag to take fresh flowers home without cracking or leaking through the bag.
Although we love the classic cream color, this tote is also available in a caper green shade that is exclusive to Food52. It has an additional two pockets and a reversible insulated pouch to hold perishable products chilled.
07. Williams Sonoma Brotform Proofing Basket, $39.95

Looking for thoughtful gifts for someone who recently hopped on the DIY Sourdough Bread Train? Luckily, they’re going to love this bread proofing basket, also known as a broth in Germany. This basket made of coiled cane leaves an indented spiral pattern on the dough instead of making bread dough in a plain old mixing bowl. Throw it in the oven to bake, and behold, freshly baked bread with a rustic, patterned finish, just as you would find in your favorite handicraft bakery.
Conclusion
Hopefully, these thoughtful gifts above will satisfy everyone—from a newbie who just wants to make a decent grilled cheese to an amateur chef who has it all. Try these thoughtful gifts to spoil your friends and family and you won’t regret it. If you have any thoughtful gifts for the cooks, feel free to share them with us.