Christmas is just around the corner. Can you hear the children’s laughter, jingle bells ringing and strains of Mariah Carey? If you’re like us, then perhaps you’ll be putting your trust in Amazon in a last minute dash to occupy the empty space under the tree this year. Should you be looking for gifts for the aspiring chef or keen home cook or in your life, then we’ve got just the thing; our 8 IDEAL gift ideas for a cooking lover this Christmas.
UNIVERSAL LIDS
You don’t have to be a professional cook to understand the problem; you don’t even have to like cooking, in fact. But we’ve all been there – we have plenty of pots and pans, each one differently sized, but only half with their original lids. The universal lid solves this problem seamlessly and helps a cook declutter their kitchen, too; there’s no need to have them all stuffed in a drawer, taking up unnecessary real estate, when you need only have one, maybe two. These are generally made of silicone so it doesn’t mind the heat, but with a stainless steel interior which makes it extremely durable. Versatile and hugely useful.
GRANITE ROCK PAN
Many cooks consider the granite rock material as providing the best nonstick frying surface available on the market right now. Some even say that there’s absolutely no butter nor oil needed to use it, while others prefer to use at least a little lubricant (each to their own, hey), but all agree that a granite rock pan is the best non stick surface they’ve fried on. This might be because it has three layers of nonstick coating which ensures longevity and durability.
A SHARP KNIFE SET
If you’re looking to emulate restaurant standard food at home, then first things first; it’s vital to have the right tools for the job. And that means using the appropriate knife for each unique task, whether it be a long kitchen knife for dicing onions or a small paring knife for peeling a tomato. What’s more, a sharp blade is, conversely, a safer blade, as a blunt knife will slip and struggle. So, this year, gift the gourmand in your life a set of sharp knives and watch their cooking soar.
SOUS VIDE COOKER
You’ll have seen reliably pink duck breasts and vegetables pickled to extraordinarily bright colours on Masterchef and wondered just how they do it. Well, a sous vide cooker (an immersion circulator in some circles) is the key to this success. Indeed, sous vide allows your meat to cook slowly and at a stable, controllable temperature without the need for any adjustment or fiddling, leaving you to get on with other things. Now, would someone invent a machine to lay the table for us, please?
A PASTA MACHINE
Maybe that cook of yours is a fan of Italian cuisine? Hey, who isn’t? But when pasta is so readily available in supermarkets, the desire or necessity to make it from scratch from home is scant. But the results of the freshly made stuff can be mind-blowing.. The kneading, rolling and shaping of fresh pasta dough can also be an incredibly rewarding experience, and therapeutic, too. So, why not give the gift of superior spaghetti this year with a pasta making machine? There’s a great rundown of 8 of the best on the market here.
A FULLY AUTOMATIC ICE CREAM MAKER
You know how the old saying goes; give a man an ice cream and you feed him for a day, teach him to make ice cream, and you feed him for a lifetime. Or something like that. So, short of gifting ice cream making lessons (which actually sound pretty great too), why not buy an ice cream maker for a loved one this year? Essentially, they’re divided into two types, the manual version, which requires you to freeze the bowl prior to use, and a fully automatic machine, which doesn’t. Though the former saves space, the latter is easier to use and creates a much better ice cream.
A PERSONALISED APRON
An apron is something that every cook should own and wear proudly, but rarely do if they don’t cook professionally. But this leads to more washing of dirtied clothes and a messier mindset, equally. Change it all by making an apron an item which is fun to wear by personalising it! Of course, not all aprons were born equal; look for ones with adjustable neck straps, built-in special holders for kitchen utensils and extra-long waist ties. Once you’ve ticked all of those boxes, you can set about the fun part and personalise it, perhaps with their name or a picture?
SPICE MIXES
A truly passionate cook can never have enough spices. Indeed, have a nosey in any keen chef’s cupboards at home and you’ll see a whole array of exotic jars and items you’ve never heard of. This year, we think a personalised spice mix, imagined and made by you, is a lovely idea of a unique gift. There’s also the chance to package and present it in a beautiful way, which is all part of the Christmas fun, right?