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A gift guide: What to get a culinary lover

By LLM Reporters   |  

Do you have a friend or family member who loves cooking and the culinary arts? You might be wondering how you can inject a little luxury into their kitchen next time a special occasion rolls around and thankfully, you’re in luck.

From the latest appliances to the handiest accessories, there is no shortage of gift ideas out there, and finding something that is guaranteed to put a smile on their face won’t be hard. But, if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed by the wealth of choice on offer, then it can be difficult to know where to start.

Thankfully, we’ve done the hard work for you – so look no further for some amazing culinary gift ideas that are guaranteed to please. Our top tip? Check out GiftRep for some more unique ideas they’ll love.

woman
Millennials are leading the home cooking trend

Make Sure to Do Your Homework

First things first, you’ll need to do a little investigating before you go shopping to find out which gadgets and tools they alredy have. When someone is already invested in a hobby, the chances are that they will be reasonably well equipped, so pay them a visit and have a furtive look around the kitchen whilst they are making a pot of tea.

If you’d like to take a little time over it or get some more in depth insider information, ask one of their family to help out. The more you can find out, the clearer an idea you’ll have of what kind of a cook they are – and creating an inventory of the items they already have will ensure that you don’t accidentally double up.

At the same time, listen to your loved one carefully when they are talking about cooking. They might just end up letting something slip about a gadget they wish that they had – making it easier for you to get them exactly what they need.

Improve Their Culinary Skills

If your loved one is still in the early stages of their cooking journey, then they can always use some guidance. At this point, a cookbook can go a long way in helping them become better culinary experts.

When making such a purchase, though, you should keep the recipient’s tastes in mind. After all, there are a number of different types of cookbooks. So, opt for one that is up-to-date, popular, and is easy to read and follow.

If cookbooks feel a little old-fashioned to you, then opt for something more modern. These days, there are plenty of apps that can make cooking a great deal easier for anyone. Some of the best, like Paprika Recipe Manager, require some form of payment for a subscription – so why not treat them to an annual sign-up for a gift that will keep on giving?

kitchen
Home-cooked meals on the rise in the UK

Make Their Prep Work Simpler

There is no denying that one of the most frustrating aspects of cooking is all the prep work. Certain processes can be time-consuming, messy, and rather unenjoyable.

Look for something that can make your loved one’s life just a little easier – whether that’s a helpful tool for hulling strawberries in an instant or an egg cracker to ensure they crack an egg perfectly every time.

If they use a lot of garlic in their cooking, why not give them a garlic rocker, which can mince garlic within seconds, ensuring that absolutely no part of the clove is wasted?

Since there is a high demand for handy kitchen items such as these, the possibilities are endless – think of an irritating kitchen practice, and there is guaranteed to be a gadget to make it easier. Your main job here is to figure out which ones will actually be useful and which are gimmicks – after all, if your loved one is serious about their culinary endeavours, then they will not want to waste their time with silly tools.

Upgrade Their Cooking Techniques

Technology has invaded every aspect of our homes – including the kitchen, and as a result, these days, there are plenty of smart cooking appliances, gadgets, and more. Perhaps some of the more useful items are those that monitor temperature and can be linked to your smartphone or another digital device – ensuring that the gift recipient will always know when their food is perfectly done.

On the other hand, some chefs prefer to keep it old school, but fortunately, there are plenty of ways to help them upgrade their cooking without going too high tech. For example, kitchen knives with modern designs are actually a lot safer and easier to use than some of the older versions. So, by getting them a beautiful set of luxury knives, you can help take their cooking up to the next level.

Invest in a beautiful set of luxury knives

Get Them to Try Something New

Sometimes, it isn’t about upgrades but rather bringing something new and exciting into someone’s kitchen. Once again, there has been so much innovation in this department over the past few years – the tricky part will be figuring out which ones are actually worth your investment.

One idea to consider is an artificial environment where herbs can be grown, such as a hydroponic system or a place to keep the plants fresh for longer. This way, the chef in your life will have constant access to fresh ingredients without having to go through the hassle of tending to a garden.

You could also be the catalyst that urges them to try something new. In case you want to inspire your chef friend or family member, get them something like a tagine pot, which will teach them how to cook in an entirely new way and broaden their horizons as well. Not to mention, there is a good chance they may have never come up with such an idea themselves – scoring you extra points for creativity.

The possibilities are truly endless when shopping for a culinary lover, and the hardest part is not finding a suitable gift, but choosing just one.