Photo:
Allrecipes / Katherine Gallagher
Home cook, novice baker, or professional chef—if you’re someone who loves to cook, there’s no better gift to receive than high-quality kitchen gear.
We’ve tested a lot of cooking equipment over the years, and we know there’s nothing worse than investing in something exciting that ultimately falls apart after a few uses. Unlike a good edible gift (which, granted, we also love), a kitchen tool is something to be enjoyed again and again—whether it’s an appliance that you’ll reach for year-round or a cast iron skillet that will last for generations. These are our favorite tried-and-true pieces of cookware, bakeware, and overall best “buy-it-for-life” kitchen gifts that will last forever with proper care.
Psst! Ship your holiday gifts by these dates to make sure they arrive on time (may exclude Hawaii and Alaska):
- Amazon Free Shipping: Dec. 17, 2024
- FedEx and UPS 2nd Day Air: Dec. 20, 2024
- USPS Priority Mail Express: Dec. 21, 2024
Staub Cast Iron Dutch Oven 5.5-qt Round Cocotte
PHOTO: Amazon
$400 at Amazon
$600
$400 at Target
$400 at Nordstrom
I received this 5.5-quart Dutch oven as a gift a while back, and it truly made my year. Constructed out of durable cast iron, it’s the absolute perfect shape and size for everyday use—from cozy stews in the winter to pulled pork in the summer. If you’re willing to spend a bit more, Le Creuset is also known for offering a wide variety of colors and a more lightweight cast iron. We named the Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron 5.5-Quart Round Dutch Oven as our top overall pick during our most recent Dutch oven tests. On the other end, the Lodge 6-Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven is a great Le Creuset Dutch oven alternative at a lower price.
The Details: Enameled cast iron; 5.5 quarts; 10.5 pounds
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Katherine Gallagher
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Katherine Gallagher
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Katherine Gallagher
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Katherine Gallagher
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Katherine Gallagher
Mac Knife 8-Inch Hollow Edge Chef’s Knife
PHOTO: Amazon
$155 at Amazon
View on Cutleryandmore.com
View on Macknife.com
Any chef will tell you that a good kitchen knife is the most useful tool a cook can invest in. This “buy-it-for-life” kitchen knife is the best chef’s knife we’ve tested and a trusted favorite of professional chefs everywhere. It’s lightweight, balanced, and features an alloy steel blade with a triple riveted handle for added strength. The hollow edge helps create small air pockets between the blade and the food to resist sticking while you chop, slice, and dice.
The Details: Alloy steel; 8.25-inch blade; 6.75 ounces
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Dera Burreson
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Dera Burreson
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John Boos Reversible Maple Wood Cutting Board
PHOTO: Amazon
$252 at Amazon
$260
$70 at Target
$160 at Sur La Table
Plastic cutting boards certainly have a place in the kitchen, but if we’re talking longevity, you’re going to want a wooden cutting board. This large maple cutting board comes from John Boos (it’s also known as a “Boos Block”), a brand setting the standard for strong boards that also look beautiful on the countertop. Keep it regularly oiled with food-safe mineral oil or John Boos Mystery Oil and always hand wash to maintain the quality for years to come.
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Kim Shupe
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Kim Shupe
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Kim Shupe
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Will Dickey
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Will Dickey
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Will Dickey
All-Clad D3 7-Piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set
PHOTO: Amazon
$500 at Amazon
I have a couple pieces of All-Clad stainless steel cookware that have lasted well over ten years without any show of wear or tear. This 7-piece set includes everything you need to be successful in the kitchen, including a frying pan, saucepan, sauté pan, and stockpot. The “D3” refers to the three layers of full-clad material that result in superior heat distribution and retention, and the collection is also available as a 10-piece set or a 14-piece set.
The Details: 7 pieces; hand wash recommended; oven safe to 600°F; induction compatible
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Irvin Lin
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Irvin Lin
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Jenna Urben
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Jenna Urben
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Jenna Urben
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Jenna Urben
J.K. Adams FRP-1 Maple French Rolling Pin
PHOTO: Sur La Table
$33 at Amazon
$25 at Walmart
$25 at Wayfair
French-style rolling pins are a game changer, especially if you’re used to traditional handled rolling pins. Instead of a center cylinder that moves between two separate handles, this one has tapered ends for easy gripping. Writer Rachel Knecht loves that the single, simple piece of sustainably sourced wood makes for a quiet, more peaceful process. “A French rolling pin helps me stay in tune with my dough, no matter what I’m rolling out,” she says. “The dough is close enough that I can feel where the thickness changes and adjust how much pressure I apply.”
The Details: Beech wood; 20.5 x 1.75 inches; 0.9 pounds
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Rachel Knecht
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Rachel Knecht
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Rachel Knecht
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Rachel Knecht
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Rachel Knecht
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Rachel Knecht
Yeti Cast Iron Skillet
PHOTO: Yeti
View on Yeti
A “buy-it-for-life” kitchen tools list wouldn’t be complete without a great cast iron skillet. This one from Yeti comes in three different sizes and is perfect for all types of cooktops—including live campfires. In tests, we found it to be perfectly seasoned with a smooth cooking surface that allows for more balanced heat. Best of all, it’s backed by the Yeti brand, which is famous for its durability. Looking for a more budget-conscious version? We also love the KitchenAid 12-Inch Enameled Cast Iron Frying Pan and the Lodge 10.25 Inch Cast Iron Pre-Seasoned Skillet
The Details: pre-seasoned cast iron; available in 8-inch, 10-inch, and 12-inch sizes; hand wash only
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Siobhan Wallace
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Siobhan Wallace
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Siobhan Wallace
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Siobhan Wallace
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Siobhan Wallace
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Siobhan Wallace
Wusthof Classic 3.5-Inch Paring Knife
PHOTO: Amazon
$95 at Amazon
$95 at Williams Sonoma
View on Wusthof.com
You may have heard the motto that every cook needs just three knives in their collection: a chef’s knife, a bread knife, and a paring knife. A good paring knife will come in handy for all sorts of kitchen tasks, whether you’re segmenting a fresh orange for salad or preparing garnishes for a round of cocktails. Writer Bernadette Machard de Gramont has had this Wusthof paring knife in her kitchen for over a decade. “Despite its age, I haven’t noticed any pitting or nicks in the edge or any changes to the structural integrity of the handle, making it worth every penny I spent on it all those years ago,” she says.
The Details: Stainless steel; 3.5-inch blade; 1.6 ounces
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Bernadette Machard de Gramont
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Bernadette Machard de Gramont
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Bernadette Machard de Gramont
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Bernadette Machard de Gramont
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Bernadette Machard de Gramont
Made In 8×8 Inch Baking Dish
PHOTO: Amazon
$69 at Amazon
View on Madeincookware.com
You may be surprised at how many uses you’ll find for this lovely porcelain baking dish—outside of making brownies, of course. With 8 x 8 inches of baking surface, the Made In Baking Dish is versatile for plenty of recipes, from baked desserts to small casseroles. It’s constructed in France using a 202-year-old porcelain recipe and is strong enough to use in the freezer, microwave, and oven up to 650°F.
The Details: Porcelain; 8 x 8 x 2.5 inches; 3.2 pounds; oven safe up to 650°F; dishwasher safe
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Kim Shupe
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Kim Shupe
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Kim Shupe
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Kim Shupe
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Kim Shupe
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Kim Shupe
Tramontina Covered Deep Saute Pan
PHOTO: Amazon
$119
$80 at Amazon
$80 at Target
$80 at Wayfair
Writer Irvin Lin tested 22 sauté pans for Allrecipes and loved this one the best. “Tramontina’s tri-ply pan hits that sweet spot of not being as heavy as other tri-ply pans and costing less than the competition, all while heating evenly and responsively,” he says. In tests, chicken Parmesan came out perfectly crisp and pan-seared chicken thighs browned evenly in this pan. Deglazing afterward was easy with a wooden spoon, and the round, tapered handle stayed cool on the stovetop.
The Details: Tri-ply clad construction of 18/10 stainless steel, aluminum core, magnetic stainless steel; 3-quart capacity; 9.5-inch diameter, oven safe to 500°F, dishwasher safe
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Irvin Lin
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Irvin Lin
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Irvin Lin
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Irvin Lin
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Irvin Lin
KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer
PHOTO: Amazon
$450 at Amazon
$450
$330 at Target
$330 at Williams Sonoma
If your giftee is a home cook, chances are they already have a KitchenAid stand mixer on their wishlist. This 5-quart tilt-head option is a classic for a reason. It’s built with an initiative operating system with 10 speeds to choose from, along with a splash guard to prevent messes. In our stand mixer tests, Allrecipes Allstar Ramona Cruz-Peters appreciated the power, durability, and quality. “It seems like it can handle most anything the home cook (or budding chef) needs to make,” she says.
The Details: 325 watts; 5.5-quart capacity; 10 speeds; includes a dough hook, a flat beater, and a 6-wire whip attachment
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Ramona Cruz-Peters
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Ramona Cruz-Peters
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Ramona Cruz-Peters
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Ramona Cruz-Peters
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Ramona Cruz-Peters
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Ramona Cruz-Peters
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Pyrex 9-Inch Glass Pie Plate
PHOTO: Pyrex
$16
$14 at Amazon
$12 at Walmart
You may not use a pie dish every day, but that doesn’t mean any old pie dish will do. This 9-inch glass model comes from the 100-year-old American kitchenware company Pyrex, which plenty of home cooks are already familiar with. At under $20, it’s also the best pie dish we’ve tested, warming up evenly and slowly in the oven—and retaining that heat well—especially with custard-based pies.
The Details: Glass; 9 x 1.2 inches; 1.6 pounds; dishwasher safe
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Elizabeth Dalton
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Elizabeth Dalton
Cuisinart Chef’s Classic Stainless 16-Inch Roasting Pan With Rack
PHOTO: Amazon
$65 at Amazon
$90 at Walmart
$110 at Kohls.com
Like a pie dish, a roasting pan is another kitchen product that may not get as much regular use as, say, a frying pan. Even if you only break it out once a year around the holidays, you still want a roasting pan that’s durable, efficient, and easy to clean. Enter this Cuisinart pan, which has riveted handles, a fitted roasting rack, and stainless steel construction. When it came to tests, we found this pan to have the ideal size and shape to hold a turkey and keep all the drippings—without making it difficult to baste.
The Details: 16 x 12 x 4.9 inches; 8.1 pounds; stainless steel; dishwasher safe
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Nosheen Babar
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Nosheen Babar
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Nosheen Babar
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Nosheen Babar
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Nosheen Babar
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Nosheen Babar
Caraway Stainless Steel 3 Quart Saucepan
PHOTO: Amazon
$165
$148 at Amazon
$165
$149 at Nordstrom
$165
$149 at Macys
With a sleek exterior, 5-ply stainless steel construction, and thoughtful elements like a small steam vent in the flat lid, this Caraway pan easily won the design category during our saucepan tests. “This is for the cook that loves cooking and wants to have the best tools,” says Allrecipes Allstar Maura Rawlette. “Top of the line name and top of the line price. It may outlast all the other saucepans, and it should.”
The Details: Stainless steel pot and lid; 3-quart capacity; oven safe to 550°F
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Maura Rawlette
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Maura Rawlette
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Maura Rawlette
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Maura Rawlette
Why Take Our Word For It?
Katherine Gallagher is an editor for Allrecipes who has been writing about food since 2017. She worked in the restaurant industry for more than a decade, gaining knowledge about what to look for in the best kitchen gear, drinkware, and serveware.
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