Gift Ideas for Men Who Like to Cook

In my family it's the men who do the cooking. And guys love gear. This article has gift ideas for your husband, boyfriend, or brother who loves to cook. These gifts help your man to cook in style.

Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer

Men love stand mixers because they are the industrial version of mixers. They are virtually indestructible and can handle larger quantities of food. They are also strong enough to handle mixing dough or mashing potatoes.

Pizza Stone/ Pizza Peel

Men love pizza. Men who love to cook love to cook pizza. These two inexpensive piece of equipment can improve pizza making exponentially. the stone helps crisp the crust and the peel helps you get the pizza in and out of the oven without burning yourself.

Crock Pot Slow Cooker

A slow cooker is the perfect vehicle for hearty stews and braised meats like pulled pork barbecue. Because it cooks all day it is reasonable to cook during the work week. Turn it on in the morning and it's done when you get home.

Cast Iron Skillet

Nothing says rustic cuisine like a 10-pound piece of iron. Well cared for cast iron skillets are non-stick and low tech.

Meat Thermometer

Spend the extra money to get an instant read digital thermometer. It is worth not guessing. CDN makes a nearly instant (reads in about 10 seconds) for about a quarter of high-end digital thermometers. I use it and recommend it.

Immersion Blender

Immersion blenders allow a cook to make a blended soup like potato leek soup or butternut squash soup without dirtying another pot. Who wouldn't love that? They also make a mean milk shake.

A Good Knife

Nothing says I love you and trust you like a sharp knife. I recommend Wusthof or Victorinox. Both brands deliver high quality at a reasonable price. I have never figured out why I should pay hundred of dollars for a good knife.

Pressure Cooker Canner

A pressure cooker is like a magic cooker. It can roast a chicken in less than a half-hour. It can make stocks, soups, and stews in a fraction on the time. And it can be used to can sauces, veggies, and jams.

Pastry Cutter or Dough Blender

You might see this product listed under various names–dough blender, pastry cutter, pastry knife. The instrument is has a handle and three small blades for cutting butter into dough to make biscuits or a pie crust. The tool is not very helpful beyond this, although I have used it to mash potatoes before, but it is a great gift for guys who like to cook because it looks like brass knuckles. Very macho.

Induction Burner

No, I am not suggesting you replace the whole range. These portable cook tops plug in anywhere (including the tailgate or by the grill) and deliver high powered BTUs to whatever you need to heat. He will love it.

So there you have it–a short list of gift ideas. And most of the ideas cost less than $100. If your man likes to cook. He will love any of these additions to his kitchen.

Many people searching for a great gift for a guy who loves to cook might be tempted to buy him an Omaha Steaks package deal. These packages come with an array of meats and sides and are all delivered to his door, but are they worth the price? The answer is complicated. Mathematically, you can calculate for yourself what a similar meal would cost should you buy it at the grocery store or butcher shop. Choice cuts of steak might run $10/pound. The intangibles that have to be factored in is the quality of the meat (quite good) and the convenience (doorstep delivery). With those factors added in, Omaha Steaks or similar gourmet deliveries might be a good option for a food lover in your family, especially those far from home.