27 Gifts For Everyone Who Learned To Cook During Quarantine

All of the flavor, none of the struggle.

1. A garlic press because garlic is a top tier ingredient that's super annoying to mince. This will help them produce perfectly cut garlic in a *fraction* of the time. It'll definitely come in handy since garlic is in almost every dish.

amazon.com

Promising review: "I wouldn't normally get excited over a garlic press. However, this set was a head-turner at our party. First, the garlic press is great quality and easy to use. The post "smashed cloves" left in the holder are very thin compared to the last cheap press I have, so more of the garlic is actually used. Next, and sadly most excitingly, the rubber roller is THE BOMB at peeling garlic. Everyone had to try it after I loudly with my most excited voice said "Holy crap, this thing actually works!" We all hate to peel garlic and it will never be a problem anymore! It is quick and efficient and you could even do it without having garlicky-smelling fingers. Great combo!" —D. Metcalf

Get it from Amazon for $9.97.

2. A vegetable and fruit peeler so they can stop trashing chunks of perfectly good food just to avoid the skin. This tool removes razor thin slivers of fruits and veggies with ease! Imagine the beautiful salads and delectable soups they could make with this baby.

amazon.com

Promising review: "I was perfectly content with my generic vegetable peeler. It did a decent job. Then I tried the Spring Chef Premium Swivel Vegetable Peeler at my daughter's house over Thanksgiving. Where has this little peeler been all my life? It made peeling potatoes effortless! Super comfortable, lightweight, glides over vegetables, plus an unbelievably reasonable price. I'm buying one for my sister, and highly recommend it to anyone. Even if you're happy with your current peeler, just try this one —you won't regret it." —Mary W

Get it from Amazon for $8.97.

3. A potato masher for getting the mashed potatoes that are so pillowy, they look like literal clouds. If they're cooking for someone who can't eat solid food, this will be a game-changer. Aaannnnddd it's dishwasher-safe 😌.

Amazon

Promising review: "When making potatoes from scratch, I've been foolishly mashing with a fork, so granted this may be a little biased as I am a newb to this magnificent tool. However, this thing is amazing! Very sturdy, dishwasher safe, and makes mashed potatoes a breeze. I have no doubt it will last a long time." —JTChristie

Get it from Amazon for $19.99.

4. An Instant Pot that pretty much does it all. Finally, they can use a single pot to make soups, stews, sautees, meats, steamed veggies, and even warm up food. Anyone living in a small space will appreciate a tool that will replace seven appliances, save kitchen space, and 💰.

Amazon, amazon.com

Rice cooker? ✔️ Pressure Cooker? ✔️ Sterilizer? ✔️ Slow Cooker? ✔️ Steamer? ✔️ Saute? ✔️ Yogurt Maker? ✔️ Warmer? ✔️. It's dishwasher safe and comes in various sizes.

Promising review: "I use this for everything! How did I live without this before? I live in a Sprinter van full-time and was using an induction burner for cooking, but since I've gotten this little gem, I haven't used the induction burner once! This is so easy to use, and it's the perfect size for one or two people. I've been making a lot of stews, and I'll saute the onions, carrots, and meat (if I'm using meat) then add everything else, seal it, and set it for seven minutes on high pressure. I let it release naturally and have a perfectly cooked, tasty meal every time. This gives me enough for four or five servings. I'll often make dinner right after I reheat my lunch, and make sure that the "keep warm" function is on. I'm able to drive with it in my sink and have a hot, healthy, delicious meal waiting for me when I'm done driving. I've even baked banana bread in it! So exciting, because I don't have an oven. It turned out SO good! I used one of the containers and the lid from my To-Go Ware stainless steel lunch container to bake it in on the rack. Because this cooks so quickly, it is very easy on my solar system." —The Galavan

Get it from Amazon for $79 (available in four sizes).

5. A toaster oven to help them make snacks and d'oeuvres quickly. This is basically an adult version of an Easy Bake Oven that can make personal pan pizzas 🍕, toast, baked potatoes, brownies, or even roasted broccoli 🥦. With this versatile oven, the possibilities are endless.

amazon.com

Promising review: "This my third Black & Decker. But I like the B&D features, quality, price and looks. At $40 each, people reviewing these expect a thick outer casing that does not get hot, exact temperature, and more. It's a $40 toaster oven that toasts bread and frozen waffles, it cooks small pizzas and appetizers (think Trader Joe's), it warms leftovers, and much more via three simple and easy to use dials. This toaster needed to match my stainless steel appliances and it does that beautifully. It works well, it's a perfect size, the timer shows minutes on it so I can actually time appetizers, etc. The timer makes a little ticking sound, they all do, but less than most and it is not at all a bother." —AC

Get it from Amazon for $37.99+ (available in two finishes).

6. An adorable 2.5-qt. Kate Spade kettle that'll make the perfect gift for anyone who loves tea, coffee, ramen — anything that requires hot water.

Kate Spade

Promising review: "Adds color to the kitchen and better style than an old fashioned tea kettle, but you do need to use a pot holder on the handle." —chicagostorm

Get it from Kate Spade for $60 (available in three colors).

7. A set of three stainless-steel mixing bowls because every bonafide chef has them. They can use them to serve salad at dinner or pop on the lid to marinate meats overnight.

Amazon

Promising review: "I’m used to using bulky glass bowls, so when these first arrived, I was a bit disappointed because they seemed to be too light, but after using them, I actually think the weight makes them better. The sizes are really nice. A lot of times sets like this really have only one size that’s usable and there’s one too big to be used often and one that’s too small, but to me, they all seem to be a size that will be used a lot. The anti-slip rubber coating is why I purchased them, and it does as it should. The only thing I’m not 100% happy with is that they don’t all nest inside each other with the lids on. I can deal with storing the lids on the bottom if they’re all stored together. They’ve been in constant use since I got them, so it may not matter at all." —Heather F

Get it from Amazon for $19.95.

8. A seven-piece set of measuring spoons that are *actually* labeled correctly so they can nail Every. Single. Recipe!

amazon.com

Promising review: "Right before Christmas my wife told me that she wanted a good set of metal measuring cups so she could get rid of the other three sets that we had in our limited drawer space. Her reaction once she pulled the box out of the bag was priceless, as was her mom's she opened the box and pulled out the cups and started saying how amazing they were. My wife started laughing and said they were the nicest measuring cups she had ever seen. If you want the best metal measuring cups you have ever owned then buy these cups. Buy them for a new cook, an experienced cook or any cook that you know —it will be money well spent and you will probably only have to do it once for each special person in your life." —CoachC

Get it from Amazon for $24.95.

9. A stylish Rachael Ray cookware set that includes pretty much everything they need to cook up a storm. They'll get 13 aluminum nonstick items that heat up evenly and clean up easy for under $150 — it doesn't get better than that.

Bed Bath and Beyond

Set includes: 1.5 qt. saucepan with lid, 3 qt. everything pan with lid, 3 qt. saute pan with lid, 6 qt. stockpot with lid, 8.5" deep skillet, 10.25" deep skillet with a lid, 9.6" nylon turner, 9" x 13" cookie pan

Promising review: "I was so lucky to receive this set from viewpoints to try out and I am in LOVE!! The nonstick surface not only makes cooking easy but so is the cleanup. The real color sparkles. I love every piece to this set. If you know someone who loves to cook or getting their first home this would make a great gift. Anyone would be thrilled to receive this set. I also loved the spatula that came with it and I look forward to adding more Rachael Ray cooking utensils to my collection. If you are looking to purchase this set do it, you won't be disappointed." — Krissie M

Get it from Bed Bath & Beyond for $139.99 (available in five colors).

10. A meat thermometer to save them the agony of salmonella and any other horrors caused by undercooked food. It'll give them an accurate, trustworthy result in seconds!

amazon.com

Promising review: "My sister’s recent bout with food poisoning due to undercooked food finally made me realize it’s time to find a smarter way [to test the temperature]. I simply wanted something to quickly and accurately tell me with precision if my food was cooked to the right temperature. There is absolutely zero learning curve. Push the button, stick the thermometer in. I’d say it takes approx two sec for it to give a stable temp. So how can you tell if the number it says is correct? Well, this I discovered by accident. Just this morning I turned it on before using it and set it on the counter. As I grabbed it to use it I realized the temperature reading was the exact same as the thermostat on our wall. This is a good size, works quickly and even included an extra battery. Zero complaints, happy customer." —O.G.

Get it from Amazon for $20.95.

11. A waffle maker so they can whip up IG-flick-worthy waffles for brunch. There's a built-in overflow chamber (and extra measuring cup) just in case they go overboard with the batter.

amazon.com

Promising review: "So far I am satisfied with this waffle maker. I like that it doesn’t take too long to heat up. There is a red light to indicate it is on. There are six settings to get your desired waffle. My favorite part is the blue light to indicate the waffle is ready. We used settings 3 and 4 and found that 3 is great for us, our kids don’t like crunchy waffles. The spill overflow works if you actually measure your waffle batter correctly. When I made my first waffle I didn’t pay attention to the thickness lines on the measuring cup and I put too much batter in and it overflowed. After that, I paid better attention and didn’t have any issues. I also like that there is a secure latch on the front of it to keep it closed. Overall I really like it. I am happy with the way it works, I didn’t find any issues with the quality and it makes waffles just the way we like them. I recommend it." —Cass Young

Get it from Amazon for $34.99 (available in four colors).

12. A 14-piece kitchen utensil set because their meals are only as good as the tools they use to cook them. I mean, Michelangelo didn't paint the Sistine Chapel with a toothbrush.

amazon.com

Set includes: a deep soup ladle, solid serving spoon, slotted spoon/strainer, slotted turner, pasta server, flexible spatula, basting brush, whisk, tongs, round spatula, turner, large skimmer spoon, and a small silicone spatula.

Promising review: "Unlike my old plastic one, these silicone utensils won’t melt. After cooking, I use warm water and a little dish detergent to clean. It is very easy to clean. Sometimes I also put them into the dishwasher for cleaning. I love that these come with a jar so that I can put all the utensils together. Compared to plastics one, these silicone utensils are much sturdy because of the wood holder. I love this product!" —Sharon

Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in two colors).

13. A set of stainless-steel colanders for *Mariah Carey voice* sha-sha-shaking off the water from freshly washed fruits, and veggies or draining the noodles they just cranked out of the pasta maker.

Amazon, amazon.com

Promising review: "Excellent set of colanders. I bought these to replace a set made from screen-like material. The screening was attached to plastic on the outside edge. They fell apart after a few uses. I used the Holm steel mesh colanders for the first time Sunday. Oh, what a difference. They are great. I can see that I haven't wasted my money this time. I particularly like the fact that there aren't any additional places for food to hide during the cleaning process but the construction is heavy-duty. The stainless-steel mesh is small enough to keep small foods from falling through (the reason I bought the screened product that fell apart) but strong enough to handle heavy foods and still allow water to escape easily. I am delighted with this product." —NOSaints1

Get it from Amazon for $18.99.

14. A box grater because when it comes to food, fresher is [almost] always better. They can use this grater to churn out fresh cheese, spices, or zests that'll transform their meals.

amazon.com

Promising review: "This grater is awesome! Works perfectly and I love the rubber edging around the bottom — stopped it from sliding around on my wet cutting board! I used the larger side to grate potatoes and onions, as well as the medium-sized side. No issues to report, thanks for an affordable and functional product. Can't complain! The lifetime warranty is also a lovely added perk. It is definitely worth buying." —D.F.

Get it from Amazon for $11.97+ (available in two sizes).

15. An air fryer to make their favorite fried foods with up to 80% less fat. It also has roast, bake, and reheat features!

Amazon, amazon.com

Promising review: "I have tried the Bake and Airfry features so far and I LOVE IT! The air fryer heats up very quickly! So there's no need to "reheat" when you're going to use it because it normally heats up in less than five minutes. The noise is about the same as any other air fryer. I also enjoy the 'add food' and 'turn food over' prompts that the fryer does, alongside the beeps! The knob to manage the time and temperature, allow for flexibility and you can change the time and temperature whenever you need to. The weight aspect is something that I like as well, it is not on the heavy side (when I use it I'm basically lifting it up about 4 feet." —Laura Betancourt

Get it from Amazon for $89.

16. A nine-speed immersion electric hand blender for making milkshakes that bring all the boys to the yard, whipping batter, or blending smoothies. It comes with an attachable whisk and a milk frother 😌.

Amazon

Promising review: "In looking for a new hand blender I felt fortunate to find this one by Mueller. At 500 watts this one is more powerful than most, the steel feels substantial and the attachments are very easy to change. I've only had it a week and so far have used it to blend egg batter and emulsify salad dressing. I am impressed with how fast it is and cleanup is super easy. I had one of those small many multi-function super blenders and gave it away, too difficult to use and store. This one is perfect for my needs, no frills just a very sleek tool for a serious cook!" —farm folk

Get it from Amazon for $34.97.

17. A panini press grill to help them sear sandwiches, burgers, and anything else. For some reason those lil' marks make anything look like it came from a Michelin Restaurant, we don't make the rules!

amazon.com

Promising review: "It says exactly what it says it does. If you are looking for a machine to use as a panini press or toaster this product is for you. There are no buttons and only has one setting. It gets very hot very fast. The plates are not removable but that was not a deal-breaker for me. I will soak a paper towel with water and a little bit of soap after it has cooled down and place it between the plates. Other than that a small spray bottle of water usually does the job of cleaning this product well. Love the fact that it has an upright storage option." —Leila Lirazan

Get it from Amazon for $41.43.

18. A juicer so they can juice all the fruits and veggies they were too lazy to cook. Stop wasting scraps and start drinking them instead. Plus, it's got an extra-large feeder tube!

amazon.com

Promising review: "Never owned a juicer because I thought they were too expensive, but I was extremely surprised at what this juicer offers at this price! The column you send the fruit down is wide enough to fit whole medium apples, entire peeled oranges, and whole pears. The prep work is so minimal (fruit dependent, of course). The actual juicing process is a breeze. The centrifuge does a great job of maximizing juice retrieval, leaving the pulp pretty dry. The juicer is easy to clean. The pieces go together and come apart with ease. And if you use a bread bag in the pulp collector, disposal and cleaning is even faster. The juice itself was fresh and frothy, with a collection pitcher that has a lid on it that allows you to pour right into a glass, and will even skim the foam off the top. The user manual was pretty accurate on juice yield. Point blank, this is the perfect juicer for newbies like me and has blown all my ill pre-conceived juicer assumptions right out the window. Fun to use, easy to clean, and allows me to throw veggies into my kids' diets without them knowing." —Joshua

Get it from Amazon for $69.97.

19. A 15-piece bartender kit because, thanks to COVID, there's never been a better time to learn how to make their favorite drinks at home.

Amazon

Set includes: an 18-oz cocktail shaker, double jigger, straight straw, bend straw, strainer, opener, stopper, two spoons, two pourers, ice tongs, bamboo stand, booklet, and a brush.

Promising review: "I am trying to build my new hobby and learning to make cocktails in this lockdown period. I bought this cocktail shaker set and really enjoying making different cocktails. This set comes with a cocktail recipe book as well." —DR

Get it from Amazon for $30.99.

20. A pasta maker to crank out ~artisan~ pasta and recreate Italy from the comfort of their kitchen. Believe it or not, making custom pasta is easier than they probably imagined. It has several settings to make angel hair, linguini, ravioli, and more!

amazon.com

Promising review: "I bought the noodle machine for making hand-made noodles. I always love freshly made noodles, but don't want to spend a fortune on an automatic noodle machine. This one is easy to assemble and convenient to use. The price is reasonable. It's a very sturdy machine. There are several grades of thickness you could adjust. It rolls thick/thin and smooth product. It can make noodles, won ton wrappers, spaghetti, and pasta. It also cleans up very easily. Definitely recommend if you want to make fresh products." —Jenny

Get it from Amazon for $35.99.

21. A cake decorating kit for those days when they want to feel like Buddy, the Cake Boss. Sometimes the only thing holding their sweets back is the lack of proper baking materials.

Amazon, amazon.com

Set includes: a revolving cake turntable, 12 numbered cake decorating tips, two packs of 12-inch silicone, a disposable bag, a flexible icing spatula, icing smoother, and three decorating combs.

Promising review: "I typically go all out and bake a multi-tiered phenomenon (ha!) about two or three times per year on special occasions. Because of that reason, I didn't want to spend a ton of money on a fancy turntable. (The turntable is really why I purchased this set.) The turntable is plastic, but it is solid and does the job just fine. Having the rest of the items included is just a nice bonus! The flat spatulas are great for crumb coats and final coats. And, who doesn't love having extra tips, bags, etc? Great value, nice products! I'm glad I purchased these." —KD

Get it from Amazon for $18.99.

22. A pair of cut-resistant gloves so they won't accidentally dismember themself while making dinner. I know what you're thinking, "Can't knives cut fabric?" Yes, but not this one. These lightweight gloves are four times more cut resistant than leather AND they have great grip.

Amazon

Promising review: "After my husband sliced his finger on our mandolin I decided to check out these gloves. We are both very impressed with how well they work. The company who sells these is also wonderful — they sent a follow-up email to ensure that we liked the gloves and would have replaced or refunded our money if we weren't happy. The only thing I was concerned about when I ordered the gloves was if I was buying the right size. My husband and I have different hand sizes, but the medium is working well for both of us. And knowing that they would send a different size free of charge was wonderful. Now we don't have to worry about slicing off our fingers!" —That Author Guy's Wife

Get them from Amazon for $11.49 (available in sizes S—XL and four colors).

23. A BuzzFeed Tasty mini kitchen so the tiniest chefs can "cook" alongside you without potentially burning down the kitchen.

Amazon

Promising review: "We were going to wait for Christmas but decided to bring it out this past weekend for my daughter. It's REALLY cute. I've seen other Little Tikes models but this set is super fun because it has little modern foods and cute emoji faces on em. It's adorable and you can build it into a shorter or taller setup depending on your child's age." —Emmy Nicole

Get it from Amazon for $97.58.

24. An super convenient 8-in-1 kitchen gadget tool for juicing, grating, cracking, shredding, separating, measuring, and more!

Amazon

Promising review: "Is all of one product I highly recommend it to everybody it's very convenient and it takes up less space and I just sit it right on the counter and my kitchen and just grab it when I need it and it ideal for everything and it's perfect" —jennifer h.

Get it from Amazon for $10.99.

25. A set of cooling racks so they can move finished items off of the stove, oven, or microwave without burning your counters. Not only will it fit inside their oven but, the metal can also be heated to up to 575 degrees!

Amazon

Promising review: "We have tried a lot of different racks in the past even after seeing reviews that suggested they might not be good for baking, only cooling. I was very happy to find this one that can do both! Even better, it was suggested by a YouTuber that focuses on sous vide (Sous Vide Everything). He uses it with clips to hold vacuum-sealed bags with food in place within the water bath. Meaning, this has held up well for baking, cooling, and being used underwater. For the price, you can't beat this rack! Tip: when you bake something on it, spray some cooking spray on it and it cleans up pretty easy." —Mike C

Get it from Amazon for $19.98.

26. A cast-iron skillet that will last a lifetime, seriously. This ultra-durable pan is amazing for frying chicken, roasting veggies, and making cornbread!

Sur la Table

Promising review: "I don't know how I ever lived without this skillet. It cooks like a dream. It is the perfect size for everyday use. It's heavy (like all cast iron) but manageable in this size. It cooks really evenly with no cold spots. Its material is naturally nonstick which is awesome. Cleanup is very easy. It goes from stove to oven to table which is great. I love the way it looks and you can serve in it as well and makes a great presentation. You can use it for many things but I absolutely love cooking eggs in here. Le Creuset is my favorite kitchen brand. Even though it can be pricey, it's worth it because it just performs better than anything else. They also have a limited lifetime guarantee which is nice to have!" —Samantha B.

Get it from Sur la Table for $179.95 (available in six colors).

27. A set of three cutting boards so they can chop and cut to their heart's desire without damaging their plates, nonstick pans, or counters.

Amazon

The cutting board sizes are 10” x 5.8”, 12.5” x 7.8”, and 15.8” x 9.5."

Promising review: "I love these cutting boards. This is the third set I’ve purchased. The boards are of high quality and last a long time. I do like to replace my cutting boards due to germs, so the price point of these are perfect for that. They clean well and I don’t hold food stains. The rubber sides are a great non-slip surface. The rubber itself adheres to the board smoothly so I don’t worry about germs getting trapped inside the cracks. I included a picture of the new board next to the old one (about 9 months old) to show how well they wear." —Jesmski

Get it from Amazon for $16.97 (available in three colors).

Looking for the perfect gift for any occasion? Check out all of BuzzFeed's gift guides!

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Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.