Best Gifts for Cooks: Thoughtful Ideas for Home Cooks, Foodies and Bakers

Choosing gifts for cooks can feel oddly stressful. Most keen home chefs already own the basics, and you want to avoid anything that will end up shoved to the back of a cupboard. This guide gathers together thoughtful, design-led gifts for cooks that feel special to unwrap and are genuinely useful in a busy kitchen.

You’ll find ideas for home cooks who love easy suppers, enthusiastic foodies who are always trying new recipes, and those confident friends who happily take charge of Christmas lunch. From space-saving pans and clever gadgets to beautiful serving pieces and small stocking fillers, these are some of the best gifts for cooks at different budgets. Wherever you are in the UK, there are plenty of options here that are easy to order, so you can quickly tick everyone off your list – from keen cooks to occasional bakers and committed food lovers.

Joseph Joseph Space Folding Handle Wok

A clever, space-saving wok with folding handles – perfect for stir-fries and one-pan suppers in a compact kitchen.

Joseph Joseph Space Steel 3-Piece Saucepan Set

Nesting stainless-steel pans with folding handles that free up precious cupboard space.

Ninja ProChef Wireless Thermometer

App-connected, wireless temperature control for perfectly cooked roasts and BBQ every time.

Shop the Pacific Blue Serving Board

Royal Doulton has long stood at the forefront of design innovation and artistic collaboration, transforming everyday dining into an experience of elegance and creativity. These serving boards, a quartet of craftsmanship, are a testament to over two centuries of dedication to premium quality.

Each board in the set is a canvas, painted with a unique Pacific pattern in the signature indigo blue, a nod to the vast and mysterious ocean. The versatility of the designs allows for a harmonious blend with pieces from the Pacific Collection, including the fresh hues of the new Pacific Mint.

Not only are they cheese boards, these porcelain palettes invite you to serve a myriad of dishes, from the simplicity of poached eggs on toast to the indulgence of a slice of cake. They encapsulate the essence of Royal Doulton’s commitment to bringing exceptional design to every table.

Colourful tableware gifts for cooks and foodies

Once you’ve chosen a hero serving board, it’s fun to add pieces that brighten up the table and earn their place in everyday use. These design-led grinders, bowls and chopsticks are great gifts for cooks and foodies who care as much about presentation as they do about flavour.

This glossy bobbin mill from Addison Ross is a playful, colourful alternative to a standard grinder. The stacked, sculptural shape feels almost like a little piece of modern art for the kitchen, and it comes in a rainbow of shades from soft sage and cream to bold brights. It’s a lovely gift for keen cooks who enjoy laying a pretty table, and it works just as well on the worktop by the hob as it does centre stage on the dining table.

For a sleeker look, the Audo Copenhagen bottle grinders make a very chic present for home cooks. The smooth, matte bottle silhouette hides a powerful ceramic mechanism that can handle salt, pepper and spices with ease. A wooden lid adds warmth and makes them feel smart enough to leave out at all times.

They’re a simple upgrade that instantly makes everyday cooking – and seasoning at the table – feel more considered.

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HAY’s Barro collection is ideal for cooks who love sharing food. The terracotta-toned bowls and dishes, edged with hand-painted white stripes, bring an easy, relaxed feel to everything from big salads and roasted vegetables to puddings and fruit.

They mix happily with plain white plates or patterned ceramics, and look just as good on an everyday supper table as they do for a special occasion. It’s an easy way to give someone a piece of design they’ll actually use.

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