Unusual Cooking Gifts: Unique Picks for the Home Chef

An unusual cooking gift is about choosing something that a home cook would not buy for themselves but would love to have. The best unusual cooking gifts are items that are unique, quality, and practical, chosen because they upgrade their kitchen or expand their cooking repertoire, not because they are generic kitchen gadgets.

Unusual cooking gifts are unique or unexpected presents chosen for someone who loves to cook. They range from specialty ingredients to unique kitchen tools to DIY food kits to cooking classes. The best ones are items that are unusual but also quality and practical, chosen because they fit the cook and expand their kitchen.

A good unusual cooking gift is something unique and quality: a specialty ingredient set, a unique kitchen tool, a DIY food kit, a cooking class, a quality spice set, or a specialty cookbook. Skip generic kitchen gadgets and anything that looks like a novelty item.

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The specialty ingredient approach

A specialty ingredient set is an unusual cooking gift that is quality and gets used. A set of hand-blended finishing salts from Jennifer Fisher, a bottle of first-press olive oil from California Olive Ranch, a set of small-batch spices from Spicewalla, or a jar of artisan honey are all gifts that are unusual and quality and expand a cook pantry.

Food52 and Bon Appetit both recommend specialty ingredients for cooking gifts. The advantage of specialty ingredients is that they are quality and get used. The drawback is that they are consumed. Choose quality brands so the experience of using the ingredient feels premium.

The unique tool approach

A unique kitchen tool is an unusual cooking gift that is quality and practical. A Japanese knife, a specialty mandoline, a quality mortar and pestle, a bench scraper, or a niche tool that a home cook would not buy for themselves are all gifts that are unusual and useful.

Eater and Americas Test Kitchen both recommend unique tools for cooking gifts. The advantage of unique tools is that they are practical and lasting. The drawback is that you need to know what they already have. Choose something that fills a gap in their kitchen.

The DIY food kit approach

A DIY food kit is an unusual cooking gift that is fun and engaging. A DIY pasta making kit, a mozzarella making kit, a hot sauce making kit, or a bread baking kit are all gifts that are unusual and fun and give the cook a new experience.

Uncommon Goods and Food52 both recommend DIY food kits for cooking gifts. The advantage of DIY kits is that they are fun and experiential. The drawback is that they are one-time use. Choose a kit that matches their cooking interests.

What to avoid

Avoid generic kitchen gadgets. A random gadget from a big-box store, a novelty item that serves one purpose, or a cheap tool that breaks after one use are not good gifts. Choose something quality and unique.

Also avoid items that are unusual but useless. A novelty kitchen item that looks fun but does not work, a decorative piece that cannot be used for cooking, or a random unusual item with no practical function are gifts that miss the point. Choose something that is unusual but also quality and practical.

FAQ

What is a good unusual cooking gift?

Something unique and quality: a specialty ingredient set, a unique kitchen tool, a DIY food kit, a cooking class, a quality spice set, or a specialty cookbook. Choose something that fits the cook.

How much should I spend on an unusual cooking gift?

A typical range is 25 to 75 dollars. The key is choosing something unique and quality. A 30 dollar set of hand-blended finishing salts is a better gift than a 75 dollar generic gadget.

Are specialty ingredients good cooking gifts?

Yes. A set of finishing salts, a bottle of first-press olive oil, or a set of small-batch spices are gifts that are quality and get used. Choose quality brands.

What should I avoid in an unusual cooking gift?

Avoid generic kitchen gadgets, novelty items that serve one purpose, and anything that is unusual but useless. Choose something quality and practical.

Are DIY food kits good cooking gifts?

Yes. A DIY pasta making kit, a mozzarella making kit, or a bread baking kit are gifts that are fun and experiential. Choose a kit that matches their cooking interests.

Final verdict

An unusual cooking gift works when it is unique, quality, and practical. Choose a specialty ingredient, a unique tool, or a DIY food kit, and skip the generic gadgets and novelty items. The best unusual cooking gift is the one that expands a cook kitchen and gets used, not the one that looks unusual but collects dust.

References

• Wirecutter, product reviews and gift guides: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/gifts/
• Good Housekeeping, seasonal gift guides and product reviews: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/gift-ideas/
• CNN Underscored, gift guides and product reviews: https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/gifts/
• The Strategist, gift recommendations by category: https://nymag.com/strategist
• Forbes Vetted, product reviews and gift guides: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-personal-shopper/
• Uncommon Goods, unique gift ideas: https://www.uncommongoods.com
• Vogue, gift guides and style recommendations: https://www.vogue.com
• Cosmopolitan, gift guides and product recommendations: https://www.cosmopolitan.com
• Esquire, gift guides for men: https://www.esquire.com
• InStyle, product reviews and gift guides: https://www.instyle.com