10 Smart Gifts for Expert Home Cooks
When shopping for someone who's been through culinary school, or who's been cooking for many years, it's easy to get stuck wondering what gadget they don't already own. Any expert home cook will have an arsenal of appliances they use religiously, but that also means they can always use a fresh version of their overworked tools. We've rounded up a few of the best gift ideas for the home cook who has everything. From brand new Damascus steel knives to meat grinders and kitchen scales, these are the best tools for advanced home cooks to own right now.
Kitchen Scale
This scale from Zwilling can weigh up to 22 pounds of food, and the tare feature can weigh multiple ingredients in a single container. The LCD screen is readable from any angle, and the glass surface is easy to clean. For avid bakers and type-A cooks, this is an essential kitchen tool.
To buy:$50 atzwilling.com,amazon.com, orwilliams-sonoma.com
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Nespresso Vertuo Next
Coffee is the backbone of many households, and having a great cup or three early in the morning can be the key to starting the day off right. A Nespresso machine is a smart choice for optimizing counter space for a perfect coffee, whenever you need it. The latest Vertuo Next is more sustainable (made from recycled plastics) and can make everything from a 5-ounce espresso to a full 18-ounce carafe. Each recyclable capsule guides the machine for brewing at the right temperature, time, and cup size.
To buy:$180 atbedbathandbeyond.comoramazon.com
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Vitamix Blender
的Vitamix A3500是规则的搅拌器。The laser-cut stainless steel blades are designed to pull ingredients in and blend at the most powerful 1500 watts. It has smart programs that blend according to container volume, and the touchscreen display makes it easy to use and wipe clean. The five programs include smoothies, hot soups, dips & spreads, frozen desserts, and of course the best setting: self-cleaning.
To buy:$550 atvitamix.comoramazon.com
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Chef Knives
A santoku from Shun is a beautiful knife any home cook would covet. 34 layers of Damascus stainless steel, an ultra lightweight pakkawood handle and free sharpening as long as you own it. For a level up, Master Bladesmith Bob Kramer's exclusive design is a kitchen workhorse that looks like a work of art.
To buy:Shun Classic 7" Hollow-Ground Santoku, $150 (originally $175) atsurlatable.comoramazon.com
To buy:Bob Kramer Stainless Damascus Chef's Knife By Zwilling J.A. Henckels, $400 (originally $500) atsurlatable.comoramazon.com
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Hestan Cookware
This professional-grade set is the apple of the expert home cook's eye and loved by our test kitchen. Their best-selling set is on sale right now and includes 10 pieces of forged stainless steel tools with Hestan's "ProCore" aluminum, which is 35% more conductive than traditional stainless steel cookware. These pots and pans heat quickly, evenly, and will last for years to come.
To buy:$800 (was $1,395) athestan.com
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Smart Speaker
A smart speaker in the kitchen is an underrated pro move, and theSonos Oneis top-of-the-line. Link it with Amazon's Alexa or Google Assistant to use it to set timers, reminders, ask measurement conversions, and of course play music with top-quality sound. Simply connect it via WiFi and stream from your preferred music service, or straight from Apple Airplay. If you're shopping for someone who is voice assistant-averse, theSonos SL之一is microphone-free with all the same music features. Also a great idea? Getting two to connect for multi-room listening and even better sound.
To buy:$219 atsonos.com
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Hurom Juicer
When it comes to juicers, Hurom's tools are unparalleled. The slow-squeeze technology extracts all the best parts of your produce without heating things up, as well as making nut milk and even ice cream with frozen ingredients. At 43 RPMs, it's also quieter than most other juicers on the market.
To buy: $439 at amazon.com or bedbathandbeyond.com
When it comes to juicers, Hurom's tools are unparalleled. The slow-squeeze technology extracts all the best parts of your produce without heating things up, as well as making nut milk and even ice cream with frozen ingredients. At 43 RPMs, it's also quieter than most other juicers on the market.
To buy:$439 atamazon.comorbedbathandbeyond.com
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Meat Grinder
The machine is both compact and heavy-duty and will grind 3.5 pounds of meat per minute. It's got three grind plates and yes, a sausage stuffing kit. Any home cook with a love for homemade sausages and burger patties will be delighted to have this around.
To buy:$200 atwilliams-sonoma.comoramazon.com
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Sous Vide
The Anova Nano is one of the best sous vide tools available today, and the compact size and smart functions make it hard to beat for a gift idea. Smaller than the original Anova Precision Cooker, this tool will fit easily in a drawer for storage. It's easy to use via the app on your smartphone or tablet. Make perfectly cooked meats, chicken, and fish every time with this beauty.
To buy:$99 atamazon.com
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Robot Vacuum
Half of the cooking process is the cleanup, and having a tool to do it automatically is the most underrated gift of all. Roomba vacuums have only gotten more advanced by the year, and can now map the floorplan and know exactly where to pick up those pesky crumbs as well as dust and pet hair. It will automatically increase suction on carpets, works with Google Assistant and Alexa, and certain modelswill empty themselvesand resume cleaning. For home cooks who love to bake or need an extra hand in prep cleanup, this is a genius gift.
To buy:$199 (originally $274) atamazon.com