Chowhound Christmas Gift Guide 2019: 10 Gifts That Make a Cooks Life Easier

Buying Christmas gifts for home cooks is not a simple task. There are presents that seem like a good idea at the time, but are a total hassle in reality (hello, ice cream maker). Then, there are those go-to kitchen tools ambitious cooks will actually use (hopefully, to make you dinner). Below, what to buy for those amateur chefs in your life (and maybe yourself).

Bonus: Most are on Amazon, so if you have Prime, you can still get them in time.

OXO Good Grips V-Blade Mandoline Slicer, $39.95 on Amazon

Slicing carrots for stew, or apples for pie is infinitely faster with a mandoline. Its also more precise, meaning everything will cook more evenly when its chopped within the same quarter-inch. This one comes with a guard too, which protects all digits.Buy Now

Aunt Marthas Gray Striped Dish Towels, $7.25 on Amazon

One can truly never have enough clean dish towels, which double as oven mitts, a mat for sliding cutting boards, and napkins in a pinch. Theyre also a pain to launder, so trust us when we say that no one will turn away clean dish towels. No. One.Buy Now

Stainless Steel Round Biscuit Cutters, 5 for $12.99 on Amazon

Even if you dont make biscuits that often, this set of five cutters will surely come in handy when its time to cut sugar cookies or make ravioli. They can even help with plating if youre feeling fancy; think a perfectly circular mound of steak tartare or tiny cakes cut from a larger dessert.Buy Now

Cuisinart SmartStick Immersion Blender & Chopper, $79.80 on Amazon

Blenders and food processors arent a bad thing to have, but nothing is easier than an immersion blender, which can be dipped into soups, salsas, and smoothies. And the clean-up is a total breeze. Tell that to your giant plastic food processor that came with a million attachments.Buy Now

Hala Bamboo Cookbook Holder with Acrylic Shield, $38.89 on Amazon

Not only does this sleek cookbook holder keep your recipes from falling over, a splatter-proof guard means that your bolognese wont ruin your pages, or worse, your iPad. It folds flat for easy storage.Buy Now

Jenaluca Herb Scissors, $14.87 on Amazon

Even though single-use items arent the most economical things to keep in a crowded kitchen drawer, this one is worth having on hand. From slicing through chives to mincing cilantro fast, herb scissors elevate any salad, and in record time.Buy Now

Silicone Splatter Screen, $15 at Sur la Table

It seems like something you dont really needuntil you take a look at your stovetop after whipping up some stir-fry. This splatter screen is simple and uncomplicatedyet a nice step up from the usual stainless steel mesh modeland youll be glad you have one when its time to deep fry, well, anything. You can find similar screens on Amazon.Buy Now

Silpat Perfect Cookie Baking Mat, $20.95 on Amazon

Anyone whos ever baked a batch of chocolate chip cookies knows how important spacing isand how expensive and wasteful rolls of parchment paper can be. This non-stick silicone mat is a must for even the occasional cookie-maker, and if you feel like tackling macarons, the piping guides will help you form them evenly.Buy Now

Marca Verde Extra Virgin Olive Oil, $9.95 at Sur la Table

Nothings more annoying than running out of olive oil while youre in the middle of making a dish. Save the day by gifting your favorite home chef a bottle of the good stuffthis is affordable but has near-perfect reviews.Buy Now

Bees Wrap, 3 sheets for $18 on Amazon

Its more eco-friendly than plastic wrap, and the warmth of your hands helps makes it mold to almost any food item. Its a total lifesaver for a chef who always has leftovers.Buy Now

See our best food and drink gift guide for even more ideas.

And see our sister sites tech gift guides, gaming gift guides, fashion and beauty gift guides, TV gift guides, and Rachael Rays gift guides too.

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