We’ve tested a lot of indoor garden systems, but none have ever been as design-forward and luxe as this on—making this a super gifty option. In our Lab and in our homes, we grew an assortment of herbs, salad greens, and flowers that required little maintenance.
This tiny machine allows users to brew espresso with a click of a button, no matter where they are. “I’ve unfortunately become a coffee snob since working in the Kitchen & Cooking Lab. This portable espresso maker saves me when I’m on the go–it even heats the water,” says Papantoniou.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
If they’re known for tackling new recipes, a cookbook stand will help them do it hands-free. It can hold their book open, or prop up their tablet. Not to mention, this pinewood design with a rich walnut finish looks stylish on counters.
Sprinkling salt can be chic with these sculptural salt sphere. “It’s one of my favorite things in my kitchen,” says Martinez. “I love how beautiful it looks sitting out—it’s the rare kitchen piece that’s both functional and a design moment.”
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
If you know anyone who struggles to get through their morning cup of coffee or tea before it gets cold (cough, anyone with a small child), here is a gift they will appreciate. This mug has temperature control, so they can control the temp of their brew, and say goodbye to lukewarm coffee.
Available in so many fun patterns, Geometry’s towels are super thin and absorbent, great for drying hands and cleaning up spills around the kitchen. They dry quickly, so there’s less urgency to replace these pretty designs.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Everyone who spends a lot of time in the kitchen knows the struggle of lingering food smells on the hands, like garlic, onion, and fish. “This soap—which is currently on pre-order after selling out—thoroughly removes cooking smells without leaving your skin dry. It makes you actually want to wash your hands,” says Briskin.
From weeknight dinners of salmon, chicken, and potatoes to mixing Bloody Marys at brunch, these versatile blends are known to elevate dishes. “Spicehouse makes really great and fresh-tasting spice blends, and this is a great intro set,” says Papantoniou.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
From baked goods to savory dishes, this Vietnamese cinnamon will become a staple ingredient in their kitchen. “It’s deeply aromatic with a rich, fragrant intensity that really stands out. Vietnamese cinnamon—sometimes called Saigon cinnamon—is known for being sweeter and more powerful than typical grocery-store varieties,” says Martinez.
If they love to cook, they probably already have a pepper mill—but nothing compares to this one, which claims to grind 10x faster. “It’s the sports car of pepper mills: a slightly guilt-inducing splurge that’s thrilling to use,” says Choung. “To be honest, it’s so powerful it makes every other mill feel slow and a little embarrassing.”
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Give them an alternative to storing food in plastic bags with these silicone bags that can be used over (and over!) and come in a host of fun colors and patterns. “I use these all the time—every size, every style,” says Papantoniou.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
This best-selling kitchen appliance has gotten a lot of love on TikTok and for good reason: You can use it to make pints of ice cream and sorbets in minutes (especially if you gift them a few additional pints to keep in the freezer).
READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Ninja Creami Review
This brand sells jars of individual spices—with pretty present-worthy packaging—on Amazon, if you’re looking for a last-minute gift. “These are beautiful and would work as a special food gift,” says Martinez.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Here’s a tiny gadget that’ll quietly upgrade their life. “It keeps your sparkling wine actually bubbly (a miracle), but it also works on open bottles of cider, beer, even sparkling water—basically anything fizzy that deserves a second day,” says Choung.
If the home cook in your life also happens to be a fan of The Bear, they can match Carmine (Jeremy Allen White) in this timeless apron that our pros also love. “This is my favorite apron. I’ve been wearing it for years. I like the thickness of the apron and how it fits my body,” says Papantoniou. It washed well in Lab tests and we liked the easy-access pockets.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Anyone who appreciates a good pre-dinner drink should have the right barware tools to shake up their own cocktails at home. This stunning set comes with a shaker, strainer, jigger, muddler, bar spoon, wine key, and a wooden base to neatly store it all.
“Since I only drink one cup of coffee a day, I like to savor it—and this mug actually keeps it warm long enough to do that,” says Martinez. The stackable design also makes them easy to store, and there are so many color options.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Credit: Good Housekeeping
There are a few places to find culinary inspiration. One of our favorites? Flipping through a cookbook and trying a new recipe (or two!). Give them a classic or a brand-new favorite to add to their shelf.
Many professional restaurant chefs have used sous vide machines for decades, thanks to their promise of precise, hands-free cooking. They work by heating a water bath to a specific temperature to slowly cook submerged foods. This sleek option is very straightforward to use with an intuitive touchscreen control panel and app compatibility.
RELATED: 7 Best Sous Vide Machines You Can Buy
Alyssa Gautieri (she/her) leads Good Housekeeping’s gift guide strategy. She writes and edits commerce content, where she analyzes lifestyle trends, shopping data, and works closely with the Good Housekeeping Institute to recommend top-tested products. Previously, she was the associate lifestyle editor for GH and wrote for publications including ELLE Decor, BobVila.com, and Unique Homes Magazine. When she’s not tracking down buzzy products, you can find her walking her dog, Skye, around Jersey City.
Trish (she/her) is the deputy food editor at Good Housekeeping, where she covers all things food, from cooking trends and delicious recipes to top-tested kitchen products and grocery finds. She has more than a decade of experience writing about food for GH, Women’s Health, Prevention, Redbook, Woman’s Day, The Daily Meal and Food Network. When she’s not at the supermarket or trying out a new recipe, you can find her at the beach, in her backyard or on the couch — typically with a glass of wine in hand.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Readers Also Read
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Dining and Cooking