We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more ›
Last-minute holiday shopping can feel stressful and expensive, so we assembled this guide of top-tier gifts that all cost less than $100. These gifts will work for everyone on your shopping list regardless of age or interests. Whether you’re shopping for a precious child, an avid home chef, or someone who always complains about being cold, you’ll find what you’re looking for below. We also have a guide to the 50+ gifts under $50 if you’d like even more recommendations in this price range.
Ostrichpillow Original, $99
You’ve seen Moira Rose wear this pillow on Schitt’s Creek. Get one for yourself or your stressed-out friend to nap anywhere thanks to its immersive, plush design. Use it to rest your head against the wall, or pop your hands inside to put your head down on a table. It looks kooky, but getting a power nap anywhere will be your new superpower.
Levoit Core 300 Air Purifier, $99
Levoit
This compact model took home the best budget air purifier for allergies award in our buying guide, and for good reason. This 16-inch high device sits quietly in the corner of a room and sucks harmful particles out of the air. Each filter only needs changing once every six months, and the device runs basically silently except for the small fan. You can dim out all of the the lights on the display if you’re keeping it in your bedroom, the fan offers three modes, from tame to most powerful. It’s a great addition to any space, especially if someone has pets or loves to cook. Have you ever tried to get the smell of burned tortellini out of an apartment? It’s difficult without an air purifier.
Decibullz – Custom Molded Earplugs, $25
Decibullz
You might be surprised to find out how often a good set of earplugs can come in handy. Maybe you have a partner who snores or you’re planning to hit up your favorite underground music venue to catch some death metal bands. Or maybe you’re going to be using some power tools. Whatever your reason, these custom moldable earplugs will make the activity easier on your ears. They offer an NRR rating of 31, which makes them very powerful compared to those squishy little nugget-style plugs you’d get at the drugstore. In order to fit the Decibullz to your head, boil them in water to make the material warm and flexible. Once they’ve cooled down, mash them into your ear holes, and they form into the perfect shape. If you screw it up, just start all over.
Emile Henry Extra Large Baker, $89.96
What can be said about a gift that’ll allow the baker in your life to make everything from brownies and cinnamon rolls to lasagna and macaroni and cheese. Emile Henry’s Extra Large Baker is their largest rectangular baking dish, clocking in at 17.75 inches long x and 11 inches wide. It’s made from a ceramic material that’s oven safe at temperatures up to 520 degrees Fahrenheit, and dishwasher friendly for easier cleanup. This is a kitchen-friendly gift designed for meal preppers and anyone who wants to bake for a crowd.
LloydPans 10 by 14 Inch Detroit Style Pizza Pan, $38.73
LloydPans
If you know someone who wants to expand their pizza horizons from Neopolitan, New York, or New Haven style, LloydPans’ 10 by 14 Inch Detroit Style Pizza Pan is the perfect gift. It was designed to cook Detroit-style pizzas specifically, but it could also be used when baking focaccia. If the pizza maker you know wants to expand into making grandma-style pies, LloydPans also has them covered with a specific pan for that use. This pan was designed specifically with pizza in mind, from the seamless corners to its ability to be used in ovens up to 700 degrees. Whether you’re baking pizza in a home oven or dedicated indoor or outdoor pizza oven, LloydPans’ Detroit Style Pizza Pan can handle the heat. LloydPans developed its own proprietary “Pre-Seasoned Tuff-Kote” finish, which keeps pizza from sticking to the pan. This is important because a tell-tale trait of Detroit-style pizza is a layer of well-done cheese around the edges. Professional kitchens rely on LloydPans’ pizza pans to get their pies perfect, and this gift can give that opportunity to the curious chef in your life.
OXO 11-Pound Food Scale, $49.52
Everybody knows a home baker who uses measuring cups instead of weighing ingredients, and you can help them seriously up their game by gifting them a kitchen scale. Their bakes will turn out consistently, and the scale can be used in savory applications to portion meat and vegetables before cooking them. We like OXO’s scale because of its magnetic slide-out screen, which makes it possible to use the scale when weighing food in a large container. These containers would block the display of a lesser scale, which defeats the purpose of using it. OXO is one of our go-to cookware companies, and we can recommend its salad spinner as another great gift idea for picky chefs and its Burr grinder for coffee connoisseurs.
Ninja NeverStick PRO Belgian Waffle Maker, $77
Ninja
A waffle maker is one of the few single-use appliance we can heartily recommend giving as a gift, and this model from Ninja’s NeverStick PRO Belgian Waffle Maker is by far the best option in this price range. It offers five doneness settings, which can be changed by turning a single knob. The only other button on this appliance turns it off. We like the NeverStick Pro’s unique design, which features an opening on the top. Batter is poured inside using the included cup, which ensures the waffle maker doesn’t get overfilled. The waffle maker is only opened once the waffle is ready. If you know someone who loves breakfast, but has gotten tired of making pancakes and French toast, this is the gift to get them.
Aer System Bundle, $89
Aerflo
At-home drink carbonators are everywhere, but Aerflo has done something unique by making one you can take everywhere. Yes, this system allows you to make carbonated water on-the-go. The system is comprised of a reusable bottle, screw-on cap, and miniature carbon capsules. This bundle includes an additional 12 capsules and capsule travel case. We tried this gadget out for ourselves, and it worked surprisingly well. We filled the bottle, inserted a carbon capsule inside the screw-on cap, attached the cap, and pushed down on a button on top of the cap three times—shaking the bottle between pushes. Our water was sufficiently fizzy, and Aerflow says you can push down a fourth time for even more carbonation. The company says each capsule is good for making roughly four drinks, which was true in our experience. Once the capsules are spent, you can send them back in a box with a prepaid USPS label on it. You’re charged $23.50 for a pack of 12 capsules, and are charged each time you send a package back rather than on a monthly basis. If you know someone who wants to drink more water but finds it dull and flat, this would be a great gift.
Anova Mini, $69
Anova
OK, sure … we did start this whole list saying that Instant Pots are the new sous-vide machines. But that doesn’t mean the real things went away. If anything, they’re just hitting their stride. Anova’s Mini is smaller than previous models, but still as powerful. The appliance tool allows you to cook your food to a specific temperature and will keep it there for hours. This means your steak will never be over or underdone again, and there’s no need to frantically prod meat with a thermometer dozens of times for fear of getting yourself or someone else sick. Anova allows you to set the Mini’s cook time and temperature and keeps tabs on it using its mobile app. A subscription to its premium subscription unlocks additional features, including custom cook programs, access to a digital recipe catalogue, and the ability to connect to multiple devices simultaneously. If you’re shopping for someone who’s on the fence about sous vide cooking but has been thinking about trying it out, you won’t go wrong here.
Lancaster Cast Iron No. 4 Skillet, $100
Lancaster Cast Iron
Cast Iron cookware is designed to last a lifetime (or more), which is why giving it as a gift could mean it’d stay in your giftee’s family for generations. Lancaster Cast Iron’s No. 4 Skillet is a premium piece of cast iron cookware that looks, feels, and cooks food beautifully. It’s large enough to cook a couple of eggs, a pair of filet mignons, a healthy portion of hashbrowns, or anything else you can think up. The skillet comes pre seasoned with two coats of grapeseed oil, so it’ll be ready for any cooktop the moment it’s opened. If you’d like to go above and beyond, you can gift the No. 4 Skillet along with its larger sibling the No. 10 skillet, which has the same properties but comes in a bigger size.
Leatherman Super Tool 300, $99.95
If you’re searching for the best bang-for-your-buck gift for the person in your life who spends their time fixing things or tackling DIY projects, you can’t beat Leatherman’s Super Tool 300. Its name may seem hyperbolic, but the multitool has 19 functions, ranging from cutting and slicing to measuring and plying. It’s made from stainless steel, which is a durable material that won’t bend or crack in the middle of the job. Leatherman’s 25-year warranty doesn’t hurt either. Part of the fun of this gift will be hearing about all the ways your giftee uses it over time, which is especially exciting because the Super Tool 300 encourages creativity through its multifunctionality.
Anker Prime Power Bank, $89.99
Anker
Everyone has suffered from the realization that their smartphone, tablet, or laptop’s battery is about to run out sooner than expected, and you can save their behind by gifting them Anker’s Prime Power Bank. This battery pack is equipped with two USB-C ports, can output up to 65W of power, and has a capacity of 9,600mA—enough to recharge a smartphone once or twice fully. A screen on the Prime Power Bank’s front will allow you to see how much charge is left in the battery with the push of a button and will show how much energy (in watts) is being drained when devices are connected. However, the biggest reason we’re recommending this power bank over others is that it has a plug built in, so it can be connected directly to an outlet. This feature makes the Prime Power Bank more convenient to charge. Anker includes both a USB-C to USB-C cable and travel pouch with the Prime Power Bank, so the person who receives it will have everything they need to keep their devices fully charged while on the go in the new year and beyond. And if you need a more pocketable top-off, the Anker MagGo Power Bank is a Qi2 10,000mAh charger and one of our constant travel companions.
Logitech MX Master 3S, $84.99
Logitech’s MX Master 3S is the tech accessory office workers don’t know they need. The Bluetooth mouse is shaped so an entire hand can fit on top of it, with a dedicated thumb resting on its left side. The MX Master 3S’ ergonomic design makes it much more comfortable to use over long periods. Additional buttons on the side and top of the mouse give users quick access to different apps or system functions, which can save the person you gift it to several minutes every day. One of this mouse’s coolest features is the ability to pair it with up to three devices, so your friend or family member can use it with their work and personal computer. Nobody thinks about the computer mouse they use, but once you gift someone the Logitech MX Master 3S, they’ll never return to a generic wired one.
Logitech Wave Keys, $59.99
If you’re already gifting someone an ergonomic mouse, pairing it with a mechanical keyboard makes sense. Logitech’s newly released Wave Keys is one of the best we’ve ever tested. It can connect to a PC or Mac wirelessly over Bluetooth, or with a USB-C cable, so it’s great if you’re shopping for someone who works on MacOS and Windows. The sensation of typing on an ergonomic keyboard after years of using the slim ones built into laptops is revelatory. The built-in palm rest will keep their wrists elevated, while the sloped keys are more satisfying to depress. Comfort is key when typing all day, and the person you gift this keyboard to will wonder how they ever got along without it.
Satechi GaN Travel Charger, $89.99
Satechi
The best gifts for travelers can be used on a trip or at home, and Satechi’s SaN Travel Charger is the perfect example. The four-port USB-C charger can output up to 145W of power—either sent to one port or distributed between multiple ports—enough to charge laptops and smaller gadgets at their fastest speeds. The Travel Charger comes with interchangeable adapters for U.S., European, U.K., Asian, and Australian outlets. These plugs get attached to the charger itself rather than connecting on top of the U.S. prongs, which reduces bulk and provides a more direct connection to the wall outlet. This is a simple tech accessory, but one that any traveler can use domestically and abroad to keep all their gadgets topped up at top speeds.
Woodenhouse 12-Piece Wooden Cooking Utensils Set, $55.99
Woodenhouse
We all have a friend or family member who’s trying to dramatically reduce the amount of microplastics they consume, and Woodenhouse’s 12-Piece Wooden Cooking Utensils Set is the right gift for the job. The set contains every tool a home cook might use, from spatulas and a turner to spoons and a ladle. Every piece in this set is naturally BPA-free and non-toxic. Woodenhouse offers many utensils sets, but we like this one because it includes a wooden holder to keep your tools, hanging hooks, and a wooden spoon rest. This makes it feel like a complete package that the person you gift it to can fully integrate into their kitchen immediately.
Apple AirTag, $24
Apple developed AirTags to help you track down lost items, and this is particularly handy for travelers whose luggage has gone missing. The small tracker can fit into any small pocket and will allow you to track your luggage as it moves from one place to another (or doesn’t). Apple hardware is often locked down to their platform, but not in this case: The AirTag can be set up and managed with Apple or Android devices.
Scosche PBJ700-1 PowerUp 700 Portable Car Jump Starter, $99.99
Scosche
Scosche’s Portable Car Jump Starter is the ideal gift for travelers who love going on road trips. This gadget allows you to jumpstart your own car when its battery is dead rather than waiting for roadside assistance or a trusted friend from having to jump it using their car. The ultra-portable jumpstarter comes with its own case, a wall charger and 12 volt charger.
A pair of USB-A ports on the side of the device allows you to charge a couple of smaller devices in a punch, and a light built into the jumpstarter makes it easier to attach its clamps to the batter in the dark. This jumpstarter will keep its charge for months, but it’s important to remind them to top it up at least a couple of times a year just in case. Your giftee may not use this holiday present very often, but it’ll save them in times of need.
The Comfy Wearable Blanket, $54.99
The Comfy looks ridiculous, but any semblance of pretension melts away whenever one puts it on. This is basically a blanket masquerading as a one-size-fits-all oversized hoodie. The Comfy is probably best recommended for at-home use, but it’s well worth a look if you’re shopping for someone who wants to binge-watch shows all winter without freezing. The Comfy’s sherpa inner lining and microfiber outer lining are soft to the touch, which makes it easy to wear for hours at a time, while the centered pouch gives one a place to put their hands. The Comfy is objectively ridiculous, but it’s also ridiculously warm.
Fuego Box Spicy Box of Awesome, $54.95
Sometimes you want to be heated from the inside out, which is why a Fuego Box’s Spicy Box of Awesome is the ideal gift. The box comes with three hot sauces, jalapeño and garlic rub, and Himalayan ghost salt. The site also offers a subscription service that sends between one and three hot sauces to the recipient’s door every month. Sauces can also be purchased a la carte, and each is branded with a heat level from one to four peppers, so you know whether the bottle you’re picking is mild or extra hot. One of our favorite parts about the Fuego Box is that sauces are sent in a wooden crate, which makes it a lot more fun to open before you get to the gift itself.
PAKA Crew Socks (3-Pack), $55
Paka
Giving socks as a holiday gift is a trope, but PAKA’s Crew Socks are a comfortable, practical choice that’ll be a big upgrade over whatever they’re wearing now. The socks are made out of alpaca wool, which is durable, more breathable, and odor resistant. While you may not be familiar with alpaca wool clothing (yet) it is machine washable. We’ve been able to get our feet on these socks ourselves, and they’ve become the first pairs we put on after the laundry is done. We like how they’re high-topped, which keep the bottom of our legs extra insulated when it’s cold out, and they feel very comfortable to wear all day. The best part about this three pack is you can gift the entire set to one person, or break it up as a stocking stuffer for three folks.
Ostrichpillow Sleep Mask, $45
Tony Ware
There was a time when I couldn’t sleep on planes and would arrive at every destination exhausted. That time is over, however, thanks in part to this specific eye mask from Ostrichpillow, known for its peculiar powernap product. I’ve never seen one of those in the wild, but I have used the far more normal $69 GO neck pillow on my way to tell anyone who does a lot of business travel or is just preparing for the holidaze hustle, don’t sleep on this mask. Because you want to sleep on this mask. The concave interior of the molded foam allows for full coverage with zero pressure. It’s a total blackout that’s totally comfortable, also making them great for partners with different schedules, etc. Trust me, that family gathering will be exhausting enough. This gift will help you, or someone you love, arrive with more energy to abide.
Ohsnap Snap Grip Luxe, $39.99
Amanda Reed
I love using a phone grip to prevent my phone from crashing to the ground while texting with one hand or falling onto my face when I’m lying in bed and scrolling. However, taking advantage of MagSafe charging and mounts with one attached is typically impossible. Other phone grips require you to remove them to charge wirelessly or use a MagSafe accessory. The Ohsnap Snap Grip Luxe changes that. It’s ridiculously thin—2.5mm to be exact—and it’s made of aerospace-grade aluminum. You can also attach it to anything magnetic to get a perfect selfie. The Snap Grip also has multiple gripping positions—I prefer the classic finger split, but you can also stick a finger straight through it. The best part is being able to use my MagSafe accessories, like this Otterbox Wireless Power Bank, without keeping track of a little doohickey I’m bound to lose. Ohsnap also sells cases that match the grips if you’re buying for someone who loves a little color coordination.
WanderFull Black Matte HydroBag, $59 – $79
Tony Ware
Looking for the perfect gift for that friend who shares articles about water and aging or progress on hydration goals or spends time watching videos about accessorizing Stanley Cups? Add the Wanderfull HydroBag to your cart right now. This hands-free bottle carrier wraps any water bottle up to 3.5 inches in diameter in a seasonally appropriate puffer jacket. This quilted tote is super light—we said puffer jacket, right?—with two spacious zippered pockets for a slim wallet or a few cards, keys, an emergency lip balm, an outer pocket large enough for most smartphones. It’s perfect for the festival-goer, dog walker, day-hiker, yogi, or anyone who’s ever shed a tear over a scratched water bottle—which, let’s be honest, is all of us now. These crossbody bags come in a variety of colors and interchangeable guitar-like straps, and a larger version that accommodates vessels up to 4.5 inches in diameter, including those with handles (like our next item).
HydroFlask Travel Tumbler, $35
Brandt Ranj / Popular Science
Drinking water throughout the day is more important than most of us realize, and you can help your friends and family hydrate with Hydro Flask’s Travel Tumbler, which wowed us with its ability to keep drinks warm and cold for up to 12 hours or more. This makes it ideal for keeping tea or coffee warm or ensuring ice water is sufficiently chilled throughout the day, depending on the time of year. Hydro Flask offers this tumbler in a variety of sizes and colors, but we like the 32-ounce model, which features a handle, straw, and tapered shape that fits into a car’s cup holder. This tumbler is also dishwasher safe, which makes it easy to clean and maintain. Performance aside, the best reason to gift someone the Travel Tumbler is that they can use it daily without having to make a dramatic difference in their routine. It’s a practical, affordable gift for anybody in your life.
AllTrails+, $35.99
AllTrails
Hiking is one of my favorite ways of getting both mental relaxation and physical exercise, and AllTrails is one of the best hiking apps for finding and exploring new routes. The upgraded app adds more functionality to its free counterpart. For just $35.99 a year, you get wrong-turn alerts and offline maps to stay on the right path sans service. Live Share lets your loved ones know your location, and real-time map overlays give you a heads-up on what’s to come. This is a gift you don’t even need to wrap up for people who might be wound up.
Waterpik Cordless Water Flosser, $39.99
Amazon
When I first snagged this water flosser, I kicked myself for not getting one sooner. To use, simply fill up the reservoir with warm water, place the tip in your mouth, lean over the sink, turn it on, and aim at the gumline. It feels soothing on gums, the same kind of soothing when you pick at a scab or peel off some skin post-sunburn. Plus, it’s easy to clean: Just dunk the reservoir and tip into some vinegar-y water, let it sit for 5-10 minutes, and then rinse. It’s also battery-operated and dentist-recommended. If there’s one thing I love, it’s getting a compliment on my teeth during an annual cleaning. I also have a favorite floss, which is a perfect stocking stuffer. Dental work is expensive, so you’re doing your clean-freak family members a favor by gifting them this $40 flosser.
Nomad ChargeKey, $25
Nomad
The simplest gifts are sometimes the most impactful, and that’s certainly true with Nomad’s ChargeKey. The six-inch USB-C to USB-C cable comes attached to a loop, which can be fitted onto a key ring. The two USB-C connectors are slightly magnetized, preventing them from tangling inside a pocket or getting unnecessarily stressed or kinked. One can use the ChargeKey to connect a smartphone, tablet, or laptop to a battery pack or one another. The cable can transfer power at up to 60 Watts, the maximum charging speed for most portable electronics. This practical gift ensures the forgetful person in your life will always have access to a charging cable when they need one.
8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller, $49.99
8Bitdo’s Ultimate Bluetooth controller lives up to its name. The gamepad, which works with both the Nintendo Switch and Windows PCs, feels great in the hand, has a familiar button layout, and can switch between Bluetooth and a 2.4GHz wireless connection. Additionally, buttons on the back can be programmed on the back to trigger custom commands in compatible games. Perhaps the coolest thing about this controller is the included charging dock, which makes topping up its battery a lot easier. If you keep the controller docked when you’re not playing, it’ll never run out of juice. Xbox and PlayStation players shouldn’t feel left out, as the official first-party controllers for the Xbox Series S/X and PlayStation 5 are available.
Echo Spot, $49.99
Amazon
High-impact sound can be hard to come by on the road, and the Echo Spot can give music lovers great tunes and excellent audio with just a simple “Hey, Alexa” command. As an added bonus, it includes an alarm clock so travelers with early departure times won’t have to depend on wake-up calls or the natural body clock. The Spot has a display, which can show the time, weather, and other relevant information at a glance. This is an advantage over the Echo Dot, which could only show the time.
The Spot’s built-in speaker will sound way better than your tinny phone alarm(s). And, back home, this device also can be used to control compatible smart devices. While rocking out to a favorite playlist and getting dressed for dinner, just issue a command to Alexa to turn on a light so your house doesn’t appear to be vacant all night.
Cuisinart 4-Slice Toaster, $69.95
Cuisinart
If you know someone who can’t start their day without toast, a bagel, or an English muffin, Cuisinart’s 4-Slice Toaster is the one to get. It has four slots, which are large enough to accommodate thick bagels or slices of Texas toast. There are two temperature knobs to control the rightmost and leftmost slots, so a pair of people can cook toast to their preferred level of doneness simultaneously. The toaster has dedicated modes for defrosting, cooking bagels, and reheating bread. In our tests, this toaster held up well compared to other models that cost several times more. This is a practical kitchen gift that’ll get used first thing in the morning hundreds of times a year.
YETI Food Storage Container, $25
YETI
YETI’s Food Storage Container is a practical gift that comes in handy when you’re about to go off camping or need a place for tonight’s leftovers. The dishwasher-safe container is made from 50% recycled plastic, and uses four latches to keep an air-tight seal around whatever’s inside. The container can be used in a microwave, stored in a freezer, and is compatible with YETI’s Thin Ice cooler packs. YETI offers its food storage containers in three sizes, but we like the largest option because it can hold up to two sandwiches—or one with a couple of sides—which makes it a great option for commuters who bring lunch to work.
Fat Daddio’s PSQCC-993 Removable Bottom Square Cake Pan, $26.49
Fat Daddio
It can be stressful to successfully remove cake or brownies from a pan without them breaking. Fat Daddio’s solved this problem with its Square Cake Pan, which has a removable bottom, which allows you to successfully remove the entire cake by pushing upward through a hole-shaped cutout below. This gift is something most home bakers would never think of, which makes it an unexpected gift. The cake pan comes in various shapes and sizes—we like the square best—so you can pick up a couple to help outfit their kitchen more fully.
Made In Cookware Serving Platter, $89
Made In
If you’re shopping for a host who’s got an eye aesthetics, gift them Made In’s Serving Platter. The 13-inch Navy-rimmed platter is made from fully glazed china that’s durable, dishwasher safe, and microwave safe. It’s large enough to hold the centerpiece of a meal (or plenty of cookies and cake slices for dessert) and help elevate whatever’s on top of it. The platter’s raised lip is especially helpful for preventing drippings from saucy food from getting on the tablecloth. While we’re partial to the navy-rimmed version of this Serving Platter, Made-In offers it with a black rim, red rim, or on rim coloring at all.
Kuhn Rikon 4th Burner Pot, $37.40
Kuhn Rikon’s 4th Burner Pot was specifically designed to be used on the smallest burner found on a stovetop. If you’re shopping for a home cook who cares about efficiency, this gift will please them immeasurably. The pot comes with a steam basket, which can also be used to boil smaller vegetables or thick pasta (think rigatoni) and easily lift them out of boiling water. Small touches, like the covering on the top and side handles that make both parts grippier are especially nice touches. We guarantee the chef in your life doesn’t have this tool in their arsenal, and they’ll immediately begin figuring out the most efficient ways to use it.
OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Salad Spinner, $59
OXO
A salad spinner is an essential kitchen gift for those looking to get some extra greens into their diet. Washing produce is essential, but waiting for it to dry naturally, or trying to wring out moisture by squeezing can take time and ruin its texture respectively. OXO’s salad spinner whips away a lot of moisture in a minute, and has an easy to use hand pump design that won’t fatigue the your arm like alternatives that require turning a crank or pulling a handle. OXO offers this salad spinner in a few styles, but this stainless steel model is the nicest-looking and most giftable.
Farberware Build-a-Board, $33.29
Farberware
Any host would be thrilled to receive Farberware’s Build-A-Board as a gift this holiday season. The wooden board has six wells, which are designed to be used as guides for different meats, cheeses, and other accoutrements when building a charcuterie board. It can be difficult to know how to arrange a charcuterie board if you’ve never done it before, and Farberware takes all the guesswork out of it. Two wells are larger and four are smaller, which allows you to decide which items get prioritized. If you flip the board over, you can use the underside as a cutting board, too. Best of all, the board comes with a snap-on lid, which makes it easy to transport a freshly-made charcuterie board to another person’s house, or to store in the fridge before guests come. Farberware offers the Build-A-Board in a variety of sizes, shapes, and styles, but this six well version is the one we like best.
Souper Cubes, $35.99
We all know at least one person who likes to think ahead and always have a meal ready in advance. Do them a favor and gift them a set of Souper Cubes. The silicon containers have four 250mL (roughly 1.1 cup) cavities, which can be used to store liquid or solid ingredients to be deployed at a moment’s notice. Your giftee could use two molds for soup and leave the other two for flavorful toppings. Pre-shredded vegetables and cheese separated into their own sections could be defrosted and deployed during an at-home taco night. The Souper Cubes are an excellent gift for the efficient home chef or someone who likes to cook at home more often but runs out of time.
KitchenAid Go™ Cordless Hand Blender, $76.49
KitchenAid
Immersion blenders are a powerful tool for smoothing out soups, making homemade aioli, or breaking down fruit when making homemade jam, but some home cooks find them intimidating. Luckily, KitchenAid’s Go Cordless Hand Blender eliminates the biggest annoyance for this handheld appliance: its power cable. A corded immersion blender requires you to have a spare outlet near your stovetop or range when cooking, and can get in the way as you move it around. This battery-powered model can be used anywhere, anytime. It’s powerful enough to break up large chunks of food, can be used for a half hour before its battery needs to be topped up, and has a stainless steel blending arm. KitchenAid also includes a plastic guard to prevent you from scratching your cookware, and a blending jar (with lid) that allows you to blend smaller portions of food and store them for later.
Chef’n FreshForce Citrus Juicer, $22.99
Chef’n
A citrus juice is an oft-overlooked kitchen gift because it seems too simple, but bartender, salad makers, and tea lovers alike always need a good one. The FreshForce is a handheld citrus juicer that’s designed to optimize how much liquid you can get out of each lemon and lime you put inside. It requires some force, as its name implies, but Chef’n used a dual-gear mechanism so you don’t need to squeeze too hard. This is the type of handheld tool that becomes a kitchen workhorse that you didn’t know you needed, which is exactly why it makes for such a great (and unexpected) gift for the home cook.
Weston Professional French Fry Cutter, $99.99
Weston
This is a niche holiday gift, but we all know someone who’s obsessed with french fries and would lose their mind if they received Weston’s Professional French Fry Cutter as a gift. Granted, it could also be used to rapidly dice up other vegetables as well, which can be helpful when prepping food for a large number of people. The tool works by pushing food through a fixed metal plate by pulling on a lever. This is one of the most heavy-duty kitchen tools we’ve ever tested, and the results are no joke. We cranked out perfectly cut fries ready to be washed and air-fried in seconds. It’s pretty large, but this is an unexpected kitchen gift that meal preppers (and yes, people who love fries) will use unironically on a regular basis.
Stone + Lain Porcelain 16 Piece Dinnerware Set, $70
Another great gift for folks leaving home for the first time is a good-looking set of dinnerware, which should be fancy enough to impress guests but comfortable enough to use daily. Stone + Lain knocked it out of the park with this 16-piece set, a table setting for four people. Plates, bowls, and mugs are all included, so they’ll have everything they need in a single package. We loved how nice Stone + Lain’s dinnerware set looked in person, and the porcelain material felt fancier than we expected. Importantly, every piece in this set is microwave and dishwasher-safe.
Dreamroo Collapsible Multi-purpose Colander, $16.99
Every sink and recipe is a little different, but your giftee won’t have to worry about that with Dreamroo’s colander, which can expand and contract between 14.5 and 19.5 inches. This feature allows you to use the same colander to clean a pint or quart of fruit without reaching for a separate tool. This is the colander to reach for if you’re cooking pasta for yourself or a couple of friends. We like this colander because it’s a gift nobody expects but will immediately wonder how they lived without it. It’s even offered in multiple colors (we’re particularly partial to the blue), so you can get one to match their style.
DIY Mala Chili Crisp and Chili Oil Kit, $65
Mala Market
If you’re shopping for a foodie who wants to kick up the heat in their kitchen, gift them Mala Market’s DIY Mala Chili Crisp and Chili Oil Kit. This kit contains everything they’ll need to make their own chili crisp, including caiziyou, a ground hot chili blend, whole five spice, and Sichuan pepper, and fermented black soybeans. Once prepared using the included instructions, your giftee will have two 17-ounce bottles of chili crisp or chili oil, with some ingredients leftover to make more. This is the type of gift that’ll give the recipient both a fun activity in the kitchen and a condiment they can reach for to pep up their favorite dishes in the future.
