I really love kitchen tools and what you’ll find in my kitchen is a good mix of super-specific items and general use. I don’t tend to get a lot of one use items, but when I do, I think long and hard before I purchase. This is my ultimate kitchen gadget-y wish list – a mix of high-end and affordable products. To make these products even more affordable, you might be able to find some voucher codes! I would love to receive any of these items this holiday season and I’m sure the cook in your life would too!
Ever since I tried rigging up a ghetto-sous vide machine to make Momofuku’s 48 hour short ribs, I’ve been wanting a sous vide machine. Nomiku just came out with a new wifi home sous vide machine and I backed it because I was so impressed with their past incarnation. Essentially, a sous vide machine lets you cook food (usually in a vacuum sealed bag) in water bath set at an extremely low temperature. The sous vide machine both heats and circulates water and your food is gently cooked to scientific precision.
If you’re going to ask for a sous-vide machine, the next thing you might want to add to your wish list is a Searzall. I don’t have one of these (they just finished their kickstarter and are gearing up to sell on Amazon), but it’s definitely on my radar. It’s basically a portable salamander – use to sear sous vide steaks, melt cheese, or finish dishes off with a blast of heat.
The above two items are things that I think I’ll love, but they’re definitely more things I wish I had rather than things I need. These spatulas on the other hand, I have in my drawer right now and reach for all the time. I’ve talked about my love for silicone spatulas previously and I’m still a big fan of them. These colorful guys from Get It Right make me happy every time I reach for them. They make a perfect little gift. They’re unibody (which means no grotty parts to clean), hold up to heat well, and are dishwasher safe.
One of my favourite kitchen tools is a garlic press. I actually like mincing garlic (I’m weird, I know) but I don’t really like my fingers smelling like garlic every time I do it. Garlic presses take that problem away. This press from Savora is both pretty and functional. It’s an excellent gift for a garlic lover.
I wish I could send everyone a holiday present but since I can’t, I’m doing the next best thing and hosting a little Le Creuset Giveaway!
Giveaway: I’m giving away a Le Creuset Cherry Wok, a Le Creuset Balti Dish and a cute little Le Creuset Condiment Pot. They’re cherry red and perfect for the holiday season – thank you Le Crueset!
Enter: Leave a comment letting me know what the best gift you received was and why and then use the widget to enter. Open to US residents only. Winner will be selected at random and contacted by email. Good luck!
Update: Congrats Vicky! Get ready to start cooking! :D Look for an email from me shortly.
The best gift I ever received was a huge dollhouse when I was 10. My parents tricked me into thinking I didn’t get it and then brought it out at the very end of the day. Great childhood memory!
The best holiday gift I’ve ever gotten was an electric kettle – it sounds weird, I know! – because it was the first present I ever received from the guy who ended up becoming my boyfriend. Now we live together and we still have that kettle. It’s kind of cute!
The best gift I ever received was my very first dutch oven. It completely revolutionized cooking for me and has become my best friend in the kitchen!
The best gift I’ve recently received was a cuisinart food processor. Having this guy handy really opened my cooking world. I have now made a number of different sauces, soups, and chutneys that would have been extremely difficult/inefficient to make before. It’s been a staple and makes me super happy!
The best gift i’ve ever received has been the nest thermostat we received as a wedding gift! Sleek and helps us save on our electricity bills!
The best holiday gift I ever received was from my grandmother – her old, well used iron skillet – it has been in the family for decades and I think of her every time I use it! Honestly one of the best tools in my kitchen. :)
The best gift I received was a meat thermometer. I was always afraid of serving undercooked meats, specially chicken and fish, and ended up overcooking them. And those of us that have eaten overcooked chicken know how terrible it is! So happy with my thermometer! Can’t cook without it anymore!
Best gift ever: cowboy boots! I wear them all the time. They are so practice for yard work and construction sites, but are definitely dressy enough to wear anywhere.
the best gift i received was my first le creuset dutch oven!
the best was a mixer.