36 unique kitchen gifts under $50 that any home cook or baker will love

A stovetop espresso maker

Bialetti Moka Express Stovetop Coffee Maker (6-cup), $34.95, available at Amazon

For the coffee-loving types who have already tried just about every way to get their morning brew, give them this Moka pot. Bialetti actually invented the first stovetop coffee maker in the early 20th century and, even after all these years, the original model is our favorite option out there. 

A thoughtfully designed apron

Five Two Ultimate Apron, $45, available at Food52

This is the apron to top all aprons. In addition to practical design considerations like extra-long waist ties and an adjustable neck strap, there are smart details like built-in pot holders, a conversion chart sewn into one pocket, and a narrow chest pocket to hold tools like pens and thermometers. 

A cheese melt pan

Cuisinart BBQ Cheese Melt Pan, $9.99, available at Amazon

If they’re not already melting cheese on all of their favorite foods… they should probably start. Help them out with this pan that makes the ooey, gooey, cheesy topping of their dreams a reality. 

A beautiful batter bowl

Food52 x Mason Cash Cane Batter Bowl, $40, available at Food52

Chip-resistant, dishwasher- and microwave-safe, and embossed with unique patterns, Mason Cash’s mixing bowls are iconic — you may recognize them the Great British Bake-Off. This collaboration with Food52 comes with a handle and spout for easy whisking and pouring. 

A useful microwave cover

Gone are the days of microwave overflows, resulting in a lengthy cleaning process that totally defeats the purpose of using a microwave in the first place. This cover guard protects food from microwave splatters, while the included steam vents assure that food still cooks evenly. 

A Lazy Susan turntable

Copco Non-Skid Lazy Susan Turntable, available on Amazon, $8.99

They can use this Lazy Susan for anything from condiment organization to food serving. It’s easy to clean, can withstand weight, and it makes hard to reach items far more accessible.

A convenient take on the egg sandwich

A bagel sandwich is a classic on-the-go breakfast, and this tool allows for mess-free, quickly cooked eggs each morning. All they have to do is whisk their egg (and chosen mix-ins) into the ceramic bowl, pop it in the microwave for 60 seconds, and enjoy. 

A smoothie set

Chef’n Smoothie Set, $34.95, available at Williams Sonoma

This set has all the little prep tools they never thought they needed. A strawberry huller, citrus juicer, and kale and green stripper will help them quickly turn their favorite fresh produce into a delicious smoothie. 

A cheeky pig trivet

Felt Pig Trivet, $34, available at Food52

Keep your countertops safe from hot pans and dishes with this trivet. It’s made from 100% merino wool felt and is adorably shaped like a pig.

A mess-free garlic chopper

Vibe by Chef’n Garlic Chopper, $7, available at Target

They can ease the frustrations that often come with mincing garlic by simply peeling their garlic, popping it into this tool, and rolling it on the counter to chop. The tool is affordable and mess-free, so it’s likely to become a staple in their kitchen. 

A rapid egg cooker

Dash Rapid Egg Cooker, $19.99, available at Amazon

Whether they like them hard boiled, poached, or scrambled, this rapid egg cooker lives up to its name — it makes cooking eggs way faster and easier than ever before. 

A versatile spatula

GIR Premium Silicone Spatula, from $7.95, available at The Grommet

They’ll never run out of uses for a silicone spatula, and GIR (short for Get it Right) does exactly that by making a spatula that’s both heat resistant and strong. 

A foldable cutting board

Joseph Joseph Foldable Plastic Cutting Board, $16.76, available at Amazon

They probably already have a cutting board, but this one is a seriously smart upgrade. With a sturdy handle and sides that fold up when squeezed, this board will help them seamlessly chop and then pour into a pot or pan, without dropping any of the good stuff along the way. 

Mickey Mouse ramekins

Le Creuset Disney Mickey Mouse Ramekins (set of 2), $49.95, available at Williams Sonoma

Good ramekins are useful for baking and serving just about any dish —  and these Mickey Mouse ones are some of the cutest out there. They’re adorable, but they’re also seriously durable stoneware that’ll last them a lifetime. 

A 3-in-1 avocado slicer

OXO 3-in-1 Avocado Slicer, $9.95, available at Williams Sonoma

The only tool avocado lovers need — it can halve, pit, and slice an avocado all in one go. Plus, it’s all plastic so they don’t have to worry about any avocado-related injuries. 

A timesaving apple slicer

OXO Good Grips Apple Slicer, Corer and Divider, $9.99, available at Amazon

Much like the aforementioned avocado slicer, OXO’s apple slicer also cleanly slices apples with ease. Whether they’re preparing their next baking session or simply saving time when snacking, convenience is key.

A pizza stone and cutter

Heritage Black Ceramic Pizza Stone and Cutter, $39.99, available at Amazon

You can’t give them a wood fired oven (well, maybe you can), but you can bring them a little closer to getting that crispy, pizzeria-quality crust. Any frozen pizza will be given an upgrade when cooked on this pizza stone.

A popcorn maker

Whirley Stainless-Steel Induction Popcorn Maker, $49.95, available at Williams Sonoma

A vintage-style stovetop popcorn maker that you crank by hand — this thing is the real deal. It’s a little more effort, but they’ll never want to return to the microwave stuff after this. 

A ravioli mold

Ravioli Mold with Roller, $26.95, available at Williams Sonoma

They could just pop some frozen ravioli into a pot of boiling water and call it a day, but the homemade version is undeniably more fun (and delicious) to make. This mold and roller set is a simple way to get them started. 

A mini rice cooker

Dash Mini Rice Cooker, from $19.99, available at Amazon

This appliance is small, but mighty — it can make rice, stews, soups, pasta, and more. The two-cup capacity is good for making small meals and won’t take up too much of their precious counter space. 

A spiralizer

Paderno 4-Blade Spiralizer, $49.95, available at Williams Sonoma

Zucchinis, sweet potatoes, carrots, beets — anything can be a noodle if you really believe, or if you use a spiralizer. Plus, these spindly shapes make eating veggies a lot more fun. 

A splatter screen

Silicone Splatter Screen, $24.95, available at Williams Sonoma

Save them from one of the perils of frying foods at home: the dreaded hot oil splatter. This screen has holes to release steam, so everything stays crunchy, but keeps all of the grease in the pan as it’s intended to be. 

A s’mores maker

S’mores Maker, $49.95, available at Williams Sonoma

When it’s too cold to head out to the fire pit, they’ll appreciate this thoughtful set with all of the tools they need to get outdoor quality s’mores — without ever having to leave the kitchen. 

A state pride dish towel

State Dish Towel, $20, available at Uncommon Goods

Add some sentimentality to their kitchen with a dish towel of their home state. The bright towels include iconic names, landmarks, and images of what makes their favorite state so special. 

A sushi kit

DIY Sushi Kit, $39.95, available at Williams Sonoma

If they love sushi, and a good challenge, they’ll love trying to make their own rolls with this set. It comes with tools and ingredients like rice, nori, and wasabi powder so they can recreate recipes their favorite sushi spot from the comfort of their own kitchen. 

A molcajete

Molcajete, from $29.95, available at Williams Sonoma

An old-fashioned mortar and pestle set is the key to crushing and grinding everything from fresh herbs and spices to making perfectly smooth guacamole. 

An Oreo cup

Dunking Buddy, $14.95, available at Amazon

A thoughtful gift that shows you understand their cookie obsession, this cup helps them get the perfect dunk every time. It also comes with a pack of Oreos for good measure. 

A bento box

Modern Large Bento Box, $35, available at Food52

This bento box is made up of multiple stackable components. It’s dishwasher- and microwave-safe, and surely an upgrade to the brown paper bag.  

 

A microwave grill

Microwave Grill, $40, available at Uncommon Goods

If a small kitchen or lack of an outdoor space is stopping them from grilling their favorite foods, they’ll love this. They can put their favorite veggies in between the two plates and just pop in the microwave for perfect grill marks every time.

A serving board

Anolon Marble/Teak Serving Board, $39.99, available at Amazon

This serving board makes a beautiful backdrop for charcuterie boards, appetizers, and more. The piece even made it onto Jennifer Lawrence’s Amazon wedding registry. 

A martini shaker and glasses

Libbey Capone Entertaining Set, Shaker and 4 glasses, $40.99 available at Amazon

Amateur and experienced mixologists alike will get a kick out of shaking up their own cocktails, and presenting them in these classy martini glasses. 

Fancy olive oil

Alive Extra Virgin Heirloom Olive Oil, $37, available at Brightland

A drizzle of good olive oil adds a flavorful punch to any dish. Brightland’s high-quality olive oils are sharp, peppery, and come in sleek, coated glass bottles that will look nice on their kitchen counter. 

A cookie spoon pan

Cookie Spoon Pan, $18, available at Uncommon Goods

Indulge their sweet tooth with this innovative pan that lets them turn their favorite cookie doughs into spoon-shaped cookies. They can use them to scoop ice cream, stir their coffee, or dip into the Nutella jar — every use is equally delicious. 

An automatic pan stirrer

Automatic Pan Stirrer with Timer, $25, available at Uncommon Goods

Help them save time and elbow grease with this little gadget. All they have to do is place it in the pan, set the timer, and let it whiz around so they can do other kitchen tasks while their sauce is stirred for them. 

A pancake pan

Nordic Ware Silver Dollar Pancake Pan, $34.95, available at Crate & Barrel 

This pan lets them cook seven silver dollar pancakes at once and ensures that each one is a perfectly round circle. 

A food scale

Bamboo Food Scale, $29.95, available at Crate & Barrel

If they’re serious about baking, they’ll appreciate this food scale. It’ll help them make sure they’re using the exact measurements every time. Plus, the bamboo and sleek LED display make it look nice in their space.