It’s officially time to start thinking about holiday gifts! Over the last few months, I have been assembling lists of kitchen items I use in my everyday life, upgrades I’ve made (and want to make!) and splurges that are on my list for the future. Last Christmas, my girl friends and I were laughing when we realized we asked for slow cookers and kitchen gear for Christmas. It seemed so “adult” of us to ask for such practical things. Truly, the holiday season is a great time to gift items that will be useful every day. If you’re looking for gift ideas for a home cook, recent grad, or want to give a hint to someone to start cooking more here are fifteen kitchen essentials I would recommend for any kitchen.

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15

Utensils

GIR has long time been one of my favorite brands. Their spoon and spatula are the best around. Once I purchased a good vegetable peeler, cleaning vegetables went so much faster. Tongs double for salad tossing or meat flipping. A Microplane will become a regular item for you before you know it. Grating ginger and garlic into food infuses the flavors even better than mincing. A good set of measuring cups will last for years. I still have mine that I got for Christmas from my cousin when I was ten! I love that the OXO ones above magnetize together to save space.

Knives

This department has a lot of room for personal preference. I recommended a 6 inch cook’s knife because I love the size. I have tiny hands, so this size of knife gives me great control while cutting. An 8 inch knife is more general of a size, and this version is a steal on Amazon. A paring knife is a great to have on hand for smaller fruits, vegetables and detailed cutting.

Food Mixing and Storage

My Snapware storage containers have totally changed the game for me. I highly recommend investing in (or gifting) the glass set because they don’t get stained by things like chili or curry, and they are super durable. I purchased my set at Costco, but you can also find them on Amazon. Stainless mixing bowls with rubber bottoms are fabulous for all-purpose cooking and you can even seal them with lids. The glass bowls (#11) above also double as serving bowls. You’ll see these on Food Network all the time!

The Rest

Baking sheets come into play weekly in my kitchen. Whether I’m roasting vegetables or baking chicken, I always have use for them. Cutting boards are easy to find at any store, but I love ones with a non-slip gip. Pots and pans are similar – you can find a million different kinds – but I am really happy with my simple nonstick Cuisinart set. Also check out Costco for great options! Strainers also made the list because they are so versatile. Whether you’re rinsing quinoa, washing fruit, dusting powdered sugar or draining pasta, these strainers could work.

If I had limited kitchen items, all of these would be on my list. While some brands may vary, I use these items in my everyday cooking. You’ve probably seen some of them on Snapchat or Instagram Stories while I cook – and now you can snag them for yourself or gift to a friend. Stay tuned for more gift guides coming your way each week.

Love food. Love self. Love life.
Gabriela