Looking for stocking stuffers they won't want to return? These practical kitchen tools will appeal to any home cook on your list.
How many of us have received stocking stuffers that just seem like, well, filler? Cheesy little gifts we know we'll never use, promptly shoved in a drawer and forgot about by January. But as a kitchen product writer who used to bake professionally, I'm all about filling those socks on the fireplace with handy cooking tools. Whether you're shopping for aspiring chefs or cooking novices, these are my 10 picks — from a bestselling digital kitchen thermometer to a crab-shaped spoon rest. They're practical, sometimes fun and entirely giftable. Happy holidays!
Never have a dull moment in the kitchen again, thanks to this No. 1 bestselling knife sharpener. Equipped with three slots for sharpening, repairing, straightening and polishing, it'll take your old blades from obsolete to like new in just a few swipes. Plus, it comes with a handy cut-resistant glove to spare you from painful nicks, and it happens to be 67% off (best price ever!).
Just place it on your can, press the button and let it do its thing — your wrists will thank you!
Unlike the oil misters of my past, the Flairosol doesn't require pumping: All you do is fill it with oil, screw the top on and pull the ergonomic lever to spray. Now I'm able to control the amount of oil I use — one spray is usually enough for my smaller pans, and two is ample for my larger ones — resulting in food that takes on nice color without sitting in a pool of grease.
Check out my full Flairosol Olivia Oil Sprayer review for more.
Using a cookie scoop is the best way to portion out your dough to ensure each cookie is the same size. Not only will they look prettier this way, keeping everything as uniform as possible will help ensure they all finish baking at the same time, too.
No one likes having to pick each and every little leaf off of their herbs or removing the stems from their kale. And with this top-rated herb stripper, your recipient won't have to. They'll just slide the stems through the hole that fits best, and the leaves will come off in one fell swoop.
"This is one of those random kitchen gadgets that you would never even think about existing, but it's brilliant!" raved a fan. "We grew kale in our garden this fall and I was spending way too much time cutting the leaves off the stems. Then I stumbled across this tool ... I immediately ordered one and was very impressed! It saves me so much time stripping those leaves. I also use it for rosemary, oregano and other herbs. It really has come in handy way more than I would have thought, especially since we have a garden and I have lots of fresh, leafy veggies and herbs!"
Who says kitchen tools can't be fun? This adorable crab can be used as a spoon/utensil rest or be clipped onto the side of a pot to prop open the lid. It's like having your own little crustacean cheerleader while cooking. This is the best price we've seen since Black Friday.
Whisks might be more commonly associated with baking, but I find myself reaching for a silicone spatula much more often. The flexible design and rounded corner allows you to get into the curves of your bowl while you mix, and for more delicate batters, it'll let you gently fold the ingredients in. Plus, you can use it to smooth the top out once you've poured everything into your baking vessel.
My culinary life was changed when I discovered the Microplane, which makes quick and easy work of everything from zesting citrus to grating cheese. It's far less bulky than a box grater, and its handheld design offers much more control (meaning, less chance of nicking your fingers). It comes in 27 colors/prints!
"Easy to use, easy to hold and easy to clean!" wrote a five-star reviewer. "I love using this thing. The 'blades' on the microplane surface do not stick up very far, so even if you do accidentally run your hand across the grating surface, you're relatively unharmed - it's not like some of the old-fashioned ones where you get torn to bits. This thing will turn any hard cheese into little fluffy clouds of joy, for you to consume."
How adorable is this personal-size pot?
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The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
