29 Gifts for the Dad Who’s Always Cooking

A Dutch oven is a kitchen must-have for making soups, braises, and homemade no-knead bread. You can’t go wrong with the iconic and classic Le Creuset Dutch oven. It’s made of enameled cast iron and has a lighter interior enamel finish. This mitigates stubborn stains and allows you to monitor cooking progress, like browning and searing.

Editor Katie Tuttle loves her Le Creuset Dutch oven. “It browns beautifully and simmers consistently,” with excellent heat retention, she says.

For a gift that could be handed down from one generation to another, we love the Smithey Cast Iron Skillet. It’s a pre-seasoned skillet with a polished interior finish that’s naturally nonstick with proper care.

“This skillet heats beautifully,” says Tuttle. “It’s wonderful for searing steaks when it's too cold to grill outside, for broiling, and for hearty skillet meals.” It’s also nice to look at, she says.

For a special touch, Smithey offers custom engraving, so Dad will feel love whenever he’s scrambling eggs or savoring baked beans over the campfire.

Making smoothies and soups is an excellent way to get more fiber and produce, especially when you throw in a handful of greens. That’s where the Vitamix Ascent X2 Blender comes in. It features 10 speeds and three blending modes for smoothies, soups, and frozen desserts. It also has a digital timer. Also, did we mention the Ascent X2 has a self-cleaning mode?

A Vitamix is an investment, but they last; my Vitamix is a decade old, and I use it frequently for making açai bowls, protein smoothies, and nutrient-rich soups.

Our Place Wonder Oven is a multipurpose, countertop smart oven that has your dad’s name written all over it. It features six cooking modes: air fry, bake, roast, broil, toast, and reheat. It’s compact enough for a countertop, yet it can accommodate a 4 ½-pound chicken. It includes a wire rack, a baking pan, an air fryer basket, and a crumb tray, allowing for plenty of multitasking cooking.

It’s also free of perfluorinated and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) and is a cinch to use. Tuttle appreciates the even cooking, numerous settings, and how nice it looks on her countertops.

If your dad loves to juice, the Tribest Slowstar AI Juicer is a smart upgrade. It’s a cold-press masticating juicer, which means there's more juice and less pulp. It has a high-powered, commercial-grade DC motor and a touchscreen interface with eight preset modes, including celery, apples, citrus, and pomegranate. Its AI capabilities automatically regulate the squeezing pressure and time, taking the guesswork out of juicing fruits and vegetables.

We love a grill night, but when food falls through the narrow grill grates, it’s a mess to clean and a waste of food. Fortunately, the Cuisinart Outdoor Griddle is quite a solid option.

It features a generous 28-inch (in), carbon steel, flat-top griddle that accommodates up to 24 burgers — Hello, summer cookouts — and has a combined power output of 30,000 BTUs. It also has two thoughtful side shelves and caddies for storing utensils, seasonings, and condiments.

Health and nutrition writer Alexandra Ginos and her family “love the versatility of the flat griddle top for pancakes, stir fries, vegetables, proteins, and more.” This low-maintenance, high-octane outdoor griddle will satisfy all of Dad’s cookout desires.

Now that Dad has his new grill, he’ll need accessories to spice up his barbecue game, like the Drip EZ Prep & Rest Bundle. It includes two generously sized, collapsible prep tubs with built-in cutting boards and barbecue “blankets” to lock in moisture and flavor.

“The tub helps reduce mess when seasoning and carving large cuts of meat, and the surface can also serve as a cutting board,” says Tuttle. It’s easy to clean and makes transferring large cuts of meat much less precarious. And it’s great for that special someone who loves to smoke and barbecue meat, she says.

An electric grill reduces the need for frequent refueling, which is why we’re firing up the Current Electric Grill and Cover set. It’s a powerful, dual-zone electric grill that reaches up to 700 degrees F. The precise temperature control evenly heats the two cooking surfaces for multiple grilling options. It has several cooking modes, including searing, roasting, and smoking, and pairs with an app for convenient preheating.

After testing this set, writer Raki Swanson regularly grills with it. “It’s a cinch to preheat and control,” she says, noting that the “custom, waterproof cover fits the grill perfectly.”

We know how annoying it is to scrub a burnt pan after cooking dinner, which is why this set from GreenPan lives on our stove. It’s made from 3-ply stainless steel and finished with a nonstick and nontoxic ceramic coating that can handle all the mess.

These pans are a staple in my home. From gooey grilled cheeses to seared salmon, I love how quickly and evenly they cook with minimal oil. Cleaning up is effortless as well; just steer clear of any metal utensils, which can scratch the Thermobond ceramic surface.

Well Plated Every Day by Erin Clarke is a go-to cookbook for making attainable at-home meals. “I like cookbooks that feel inspirational without being intimidating, and that's exactly what this book is,” says editorial director Simone Scully. “The recipes include ingredients I often have in the house, and many feature relatable stories, anecdotes, and cooking tips.”

Scully is particularly fond of the freezer make-ahead options that are “great for busy parents who want to help their family eat healthier but don't have a ton of time during the week.”

The Sonder LA Highland Cutting Board is ideal for Dad’s mise en place (aka his process for prepping and organizing ingredients). The board is made from nontoxic, sustainably-sourced teak and finished with an edge-grained construction. It has a generous juice groove on one side, and the other side is flat for versatile meal prep.

This stable cutting board stays in place while I’m prepping, is naturally stain-resistant, and is kind to my knives. It’s also gorgeous. Sonder products are made in the United States, and every board is unique. Just remind Dad that this cutting board isn’t dishwasher-safe and must be oiled regularly to maintain its durability and finish.

For a professional chef moment, we like this tool set by Hestan. It includes a stainless-steel solid spoon, a slotted spoon, a turner, a ladle, a pasta fork, a fish spatula, a French whisk, and a porcelain bain-marie that conveniently stores the utensils.

“It makes sense why professional chefs reach for Hestan,” says Tuttle. “The tools are heavy, well-made, and feel expensive. The porcelain bain-marie is a very nice touch as well.” For home cooks who appreciate restaurant-quality utensils, the Hestan Ultimate Chef's Tool Set is the perfect gift.

After stumbling upon the Dreamfarm Lemon Fluicer, I may never go back to a traditional citrus press. It's a BPA-free, lightweight plastic juicer that crushes the most stubborn lemons and limes. It’s easy to use and works like a charm; the interior spikes keep the fruit in place while the ingenious lip catches those pesky pits.

It has a slim profile and folds flat for convenient storage, and it’s dishwasher-safe. We promise this will make juicing those lemons for Dad’s next vinaigrette much more fun and efficient.

Speaking of vinaigrettes, your dad can show off his latest salad talents with the Woodenhouse 12-in Salad Bowl. This spacious vessel is ideal for salads, sides, snacks, and more. It’s made from sustainably sourced, sturdy teak with a natural, smooth finish. While it’s not dishwasher-safe, it’s easy to hand-wash and is naturally moisture-resistant.

This elegant bowl works well as a serving piece or as a display piece. Your dad will admire the beautiful craftsmanship and timeless aesthetic no matter what he’s serving.

Knife skills are essential for any home cook, and having a set of sharp knives is a must. If Dad’s set of slicers isn’t meeting the mark, he’ll love upgrading to the Schmidt Brothers 12-Piece Giotto Knife Block Set.

The knives are made from German stainless steel and finished in matte black titanium for an elevated and modern look. The comprehensive set features 11 knives, including a bread, chef, Nakiri, serrated, and paring knife, as well as six steak knives and a 12-slot, acacia rotating storage block.

Swanson put these knives to the slice test. “The quality of the block, along with the knives, is worth every penny,” she says.

A subscription from Sightglass Coffee is a meaningful gift for the true coffee devotee. Sightglass is a boutique West Coast coffee-roaster specializing in small-batch roasting. The company works closely with sustainably focused and small-run farms around the world. It offers a variety of USDA-organic espresso, single-origin, and blended roasts, with a rotating or customized subscription option.

Writer and nutritionist Sarah Garone was immediately drawn to the intoxicating aroma of the bag she sampled. “The espresso beans in particular smell heavenly, even before grinding,” she says. “I'd certainly recommend this to a friend who's a coffee connoisseur.”

Beans are roasted in a vintage Probat roaster, and bags are labeled with tasting notes, source location, farming altitude, and processing methods. The coffee-curious sipper will appreciate these thoughtful details.

Start his morning off right with the Breville Luxe Brewer Thermal, the ultimate coffee experience. Dad can nerd out customizing bloom volume and time, temperature, and flow rate, crafting the perfect cup — or cold brew — with the touch of a button. The dual-wall thermos retains temperature for up to four hours and includes a flat bottom or cone filter for brewing versatility.

While it’s a splurge, writer and tester Ysolt Usigan deems it worthy; its nuanced brewing capabilities give it an edge over its competitors. It also meets the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) Golden Cup standard for home brewing for the ultimate at-home barista status.

The Tea Forte Wellbeing Presentation Box is a meaningful gift for a calming moment. The curated set features 20 pyramid tea sachets of loose tea leaves, including two green teas and three herbal varieties, all with wellness in mind. For example, Defense is a green tea with echinacea, ginger, and elderberry. Radiance is an herbal tea with citrus, berry, and rosemary.

All teas in the box are USDA-organic and kosher. Plus, the thoughtful tasting notes will guide Dad on his tasting journey.

“The tea is really delicious,” says tester Olivia Campbell. “I try a lot of different teas, and as a tea lover, I'd be very happy to receive this as a gift. It's beautifully packaged and presented, and tastes great.”

The Fellow Stagg EKG Electric Kettle is an integral part of my morning caffeine routine, saving me valuable time and energy. Whether I’m brewing a pour-over coffee or a piping-hot cup of tea, I love the quick, precise temperature control.

It’s a gooseneck electric kettle that’s intuitive to use thanks to the temperature dial and digital temperature display. Water boils in minutes, and the automatic shutoff comes in handy, especially during chaotic weekday mornings. The slim, curved gooseneck spout is ideal for brewing nuanced coffees, and the ergonomic handle is convenient for pouring.

The kettle is also practical for heating my daily warm lemon water and tea, as well as for baking. The Stagg EKG is available in several hues with wooden handle finishes, and its modern aesthetic makes it countertop-worthy.

He’ll be slinging espresso shots in no time with the Rok Presso Smartshot. This stand-alone, lever espresso-maker extracts a double shot without the heft of traditional espresso makers or the unsightly electric cords.

It includes an attractive wooden-handled portafilter and a splitter for brewing two shots at once. It also comes with a multipurpose scoop that serves as a tamper and has an ingenious slanted handle to remove pesky used coffee grinds from the filter basket.

“It’s simple and straightforward to use, which is refreshing, as espresso makers are notoriously complicated,” says Campbell. The Presso Smartshot makes delicious espresso without the fuss, and its slim profile and lightweight design are perfect for travel, too.

Vinegar is often the pizazz to a well-balanced salad dressing, adding that tang that brightens up a dish. But with so many vinegar varieties, it’s difficult to select the right one. That’s why this pack from American Vinegar Works is gift-worthy in our opinion.

It includes five mini bottles, letting Dad choose his favorite flavor profile. It features the “19.53 Miles from the Tree” Apple Cider Vinegar, the Ultimate Red Wine Vinegar, Better than Champagne Chardonnay Wine Vinegar, California Junmai Rice Wine Vinegar, and IPA Beer Malt Vinegar.

These raw and fermented vinegars are small-batch and barrel-aged in New England using traditional methods dating back to the 1800s. They’re also staples in my cooking repertoire. They arrive in a custom gift box and include thoughtful recipe cards to spark culinary creativity.

When a dish is lacking depth, a splash of umami-driven tamari can make all the difference. Tamari is a gluten-free, soybean-fermented sauce that’s popular in Asian cooking. It also has less sodium than traditional soy sauce. If you’re new to cooking with tamari, the San-J Tamari Splash Variety Pack is an excellent place to start.

This set includes three styles of tamari: an umami with red miso, a sweet with maple syrup, and a citrus with yuzu and ponzu. I often use these versatile condiments to elevate stir-fries, fish, sauces, vegetables, and more.

Goldswarm Premium Raw Honey is a thoughtful gift for any honey admirer. It’s an award-winning, single-region, multi-floral raw honey harvested from West Africa.

“It has a less-sweet, thicker, richer, smokier flavor, and it does truly taste different than other honeys I've tried,” says Scully. Plus, every purchase supports protecting West African forests, which makes Dad’s morning tea with honey a bit more meaningful. 

This combo pack features two organic EVOO tins from California farms. The Standard is made from organic Frantoio olives and leans more bold, with notes of fennel, black pepper, and walnuts. The Blue is made from organic Arbequina and Picual olives with a more-mellow, fruit-forward profile of apples and almonds.

You can enjoy either one alongside homemade sourdough, drizzle it over pasta or roasted vegetables, or savor it on its own; it’s that good.

Nibbling on Unreal snacks satisfies a sweet tooth without the excess added sugars found in traditional store-bought treats. The Unreal Complete Variety Pack features six assorted bags of Dark Chocolate Peanut Gems, Peanut Butter Cups, Almond Butter Cups, Coconut Bars, Caramel Peanut Nougat Bars, and Milk Chocolate Gems. 

All snacks are free of gluten, dairy, soy, artificial dyes, corn syrup, and sugar alcohol. The chocolate is certified Fair Trade, and Unreal uses organic ingredients whenever possible.

This three-pack of tinned fish often sells out, and for good reason. It’s a real one-two punch that features hand-packed fillets of smoked salmon by Fishwife, and it’s seasoned with a Sichuan chili crisp from Fly By Jing. The result is a smoky, umami, and spicy combination that’s easy to devour. 

The salmon is responsibly sourced and raised in Norway by third-generation farmers, and it’s smoked and hand-packed with Fly By Jing Sichuan Chili Crisp in a West Coast cannery. 

I love it on crackers, in a rice bowl, or right out of the can. Plus, each tin packs 19 grams (g) of protein.

Wildgrain’s custom bread subscription will send Dad a box of eight or 12 grain products. It’s our solution for getting delicious grains without the time-consuming proofing. The menu features frozen bread loaves, croissants, homemade pastas and sauces, French butter, and seasonal delights, with options for gluten-free and vegan diets. 

"I like that the bread and pasta arrive frozen, so you don't feel like you have to rush to eat it right away. Now I just have it on hand when I need it,” says Scully.

Spice up Dad’s snack game with the Gria Fairtrade Cashew Variety Pack. It features a variety of flavors, such as Roasted Plain, Roasted Salted, Hot Honey, Cinnamon Sugar, Spicy Garlic, and Rosemary Salted Cashews.