Gifts for foodies and home cooks
Last updated: · Links and ratings checked 16 October 2026
Keen cooks tend to own lots of gadgets but are always happy with a great cookbook or a pan that lasts a lifetime. We’ve focused on proven classics.
Cookbooks that get used
Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat teaches technique rather than recipes. Ottolenghi SIMPLE is the weeknight-friendly Ottolenghi. Dishoom brings a much-loved restaurant home. Jamie’s 5 Ingredients suits less confident cooks.
Kit for life
A pre-seasoned cast-iron skillet works on the hob, in the oven and over a fire. Note that its public rating (4.0★ when we checked) is lower than most of our picks, but it comes from a very large number of ratings.
Related: coffee lovers, books as gifts.
Thinking about their kitchen
Before buying equipment, consider space: a small kitchen may not have room for another gadget, but a cookbook or a single quality pan will always find a place. Cast iron is heavy, which some people find hard to handle, so keep that in mind for older relatives.
At a glance
- 14 picks: 1 in £50–£100, 7 in £10–£25, 6 in £25–£50.
- 13 show a public rating on the retailer’s page; 1 don’t have a rating we could verify.
- 2 are personalised and need extra making time.
- Highest rated when checked: Artisan coffee roasting pan gift set (★ 4.9), Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat – Samin Nosrat (★ 4.8), Dishoom: the cookbook (★ 4.8).
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Our picks (14)
Artisan coffee roasting pan gift set
Roast your own beans at home. A genuinely new hobby for the coffee bore who owns every gadget.
View at notonthehighstreet (opens in new tab)Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat – Samin Nosrat
Teaches how to cook rather than what to cook. It's for the person who has every recipe book already.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)Dishoom: the cookbook
The restaurant's recipes, chai and bacon naan included. A feast-weekend project for curry fans.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)AeroPress Original coffee maker
Coffee lovers rarely buy themselves one, yet it beats most £200 machines for a single cup and packs into a rucksack.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)Ottolenghi SIMPLE
Ottolenghi without the 14-ingredient lists, so the keen cook will actually cook from it on a weeknight.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)Coffee Club: three-month gift subscription
A gift that keeps arriving into spring and leaves no clutter. Ideal for someone who has everything.
View at notonthehighstreet (opens in new tab)Personalised whisky lovers letterbox hamper
Miniatures to taste rather than one bottle to guess. Contains alcohol, so it's excluded for non-drinkers.
View at notonthehighstreet (opens in new tab)Bialetti Moka Express (3-cup)
A 1933 design classic that lasts decades. It's a great Secret Santa for anyone who mentions their 'one good coffee' a day.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)Personalised letterbox sweets gift box
A cheerful Secret Santa or 'can't be there' gift that's eaten, not stored.
View at notonthehighstreet (opens in new tab)Grow your own kit with 70 seed varieties
A year's veg patch in a box, for the allotment-curious or a new homeowner.
View at notonthehighstreet (opens in new tab)Luxury milkshakes create-your-own gift box
A make-it-together treat for teens. It's consumable, fun and alcohol-free.
View at notonthehighstreet (opens in new tab)5 Ingredients – Jamie Oliver
Perfect for the reluctant cook or student, with dinner from five things.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)Lodge pre-seasoned cast iron skillet
Works on the hob, in the oven and on a BBQ or campfire, and it gets better with age. A proper heirloom pan.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)AeroPress Go travel coffee maker
Same brew as the Original but nests inside its own mug, so it's ideal for walkers, campers and commuters.
View at AeroPress UK (opens in new tab)
Frequently asked questions
What is the best cookbook to give as a gift?
It depends on the cook. Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat suits people who want to improve, and 5 Ingredients suits beginners.
Will it arrive before Christmas?
Check each retailer’s cut-off and our UK Christmas delivery dates page. For Christmas 2026, Royal Mail’s last recommended 1st Class posting date is Monday 21 December. Personalised items need extra time.