Chowhound Gift Guide 2019: Kitchen Essentials That Will Make Anyone Feel Like a Professional Chef

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Between endless excuses to indulge in the very best food has to offer, and the chance to step up your kitchen game courtesy of friends and family who are eager to find you the perfect gift, the holidays are one season we wish would never end. If you’re anything like us, your kitchen wishlist is probably miles long—that’s why we rounded up the most essential kitchen gadgets, appliances, and culinary odds and ends that some of your favorite chef idols always keep on hand.

A Meat Thermometer

Thermapen Mk4 Professional Thermometer, $79.21 at ThermoWorks (normally $99)

ThermoWorks

Overcooked or undercooked meat is not very chef-like. That’s why a quality thermometer is essential to ensure your steak, chicken, or turkey is heated to the ideal temp. “I love the Thermapen Mk4 thermometer,” says Alex Guarnaschelli, Food Network star and executive chef of Butter in New York City. “It might not be the cheapest but it’s reliable, folds up, is waterproof, and most importantly, it displays temperature clearly.” Find it online at thermoworks.com or Amazon.Buy Now

Fresh Herbs at Their Fingertips

AeroGarden Gourmet Herb Seed Pod Kit, $49.95 on Amazon

AeroGarden/Amazon

The pros always have fresh herbs on hand, and one way to avoid a last minute grocery run is to grow your own. The AeroGarden is one of the easiest home gardening systems on the market, harnessing the power of hydroponics and grow lights to produce fresh basil, mint, thyme, and more with minimal effort from you. Simply feed and refill the water when prompted and watch your garden grow! Choose from a variety of sizes and seed selections at aerogarden.com, Macy’s, Kohl’s, or Amazon.Buy Now

An Air Fryer

GoWISE USA 5.8-Quart Electric Air Fryer, $63.20 on Amazon

GoWISE/Amazon

Gift-giving season is the perfect time to join the air fryer craze. These gadgets allow you to produce crunchy, crispy foods without dealing with the messy, stinky, unhealthy process of deep frying. Cat Cora, Food Network Iron Chef and host of ABC’s “Family Food Fight,” likes the Gourmia GAF575. “It’s the perfect gift for making anybody feel like a chef because it’s large enough for a family but compact enough to store easily. Plus, it’s simple to use,” she says.Buy Now

Seasonal Dessert Gear

Cookie Cutters, Cake Pans, and Festive Sprinkles, $4.99 and up at NYCake

Chowhound

A professional chef is prepared for any special occasion, and one way is to keep themed items that are easily storable on hand. For holiday gear, cookie cutters and cake molds are a must. NY CAKE, the largest baking supply store in the world, has all your baking needs covered. Our favorites? Christmas tree cookie cutters, a snowflake-shaped silicone cake pan, and festive sprinkles.Buy Now

A Juicer

Hurom H-AA Slow Juicer in Rose Gold, $459 on Amazon

Amazon

You don’t need to be a health nut to own a juicer. These days, juicers can squeeze out everything from fruit and veggie juices to smoothies, ice cream, nut milks, and even hummus! Check out HUROM for a variety of styles, sizes, and colors (hello, matte black and rose gold!) that are sure to make your countertop pop.Buy Now

A Wine Accessory

Üllo Wine Purifier, $59.99 on Amazon

Ullo/Amazon

Wine is essential, for both cooking and entertaining. Impress your guests with restaurant-quality vino by investing in a wine purifier, which aerates and purifies (aka removes sulfites that are responsible for that next morning wine headache) to create a smoother, tastier sip. The Üllo Wine Purifier is one of the best and is widely available at Amazon, CrateandBarrel.com, Bloomingdales.com, and more.Buy Now

A Blender

Vitamix 5200 Professional-Grade 64-Ounce Blender, $388 on Amazon

Vitamix/Amazon

Whether you’re whipping up pesto, salad dressing, sauce, or a soup, you’ll need a blender to do so. Guy Vaknin, chef and founder of Beyond Sushi in New York City, opts for a Vitamix blender that’s 3-horsepower and up. “There’s no better tool that I have come across that will bind, combine, and force flavors and ingredients together to create a silky smooth texture for any of the dishes I create,” he says.Buy Now

Braun Multiquick 9 ACTIVEBlade Technology Hand Blender, $119.95 on Amazon

Braun/Amazon

If you don’t have room for a full-size unit, an immersion blender is the way to go. One great option is the Braun MultiQuick MQ9037 Hand Blender—not only does it get the job done and come with extra attachments like a whisk and a masher, it’s Quiet Mark certified, which means it meets the company’s standards for noiseless or noise-cancelling products. Translation: If you get a hankering for homemade hummus at 3 a.m., blend away!Buy Now

Quality Cookware

Lagostina Giada Stainless Steel 4-Quart. Dutch Oven with Hammered Copper Lid, $44.99 on Amazon

Macy’s

Give (or beg for) the gift of high-end cookware. Lagostina offers a variety of pots, pans, and any other cooking vessel you can imagine, made from materials likes stainless steel and copper (to really feel like a pro, we love the Lagostina Giada 4 Qt. Dutch Oven, a versatile product that’s part of a collaboration with chef and Food Network mainstay Giada De Laurentiis).Buy Now

Good Olive Oil

Premium Olive Oil, $21.95 and up at Domenica Fiore

Domeinca Fiore

Any foodie will appreciate the gift of quality olive oil that they won’t find at Costco. Try Domenica Fiore, which offers high-end extra virgin olive oil from Italy, or Greek olive-oil brand Gaea.See It

Coffee Gear

KRUPS Programmable Digital 12-Cup Coffee Maker, $79.95

KRUPS/Amazon

No professional kitchen is complete without coffee on-demand. For traditional drip machines, fancy espresso machines, or grinders, Krups is your one-stop-shop.Buy Now

Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe by Breville, $149.99 on Amazon

Amazon

Too lazy to measure and pack your espresso shot? Pod machines like Nespresso (the OG that offers dozens of pod flavors) or Espressotoria were made for you.Buy Now

Nice Knives

“The One” Chef’s Knife, $75 on Material Kitchen

Material Kitchen

Professional chefs love their knives, so shove those dull blades in the back of a drawer and replace them with shiny, sharp ones that make chopping and slicing easier, safer, and more satisfying. For a splurge gift, give The Trio of Material Kitchen’s precision design knives, or choose single knives like this all-purpose chef’s blade.Buy Now

Multicookers, Slow Cookers, and Pressure Cookers

These days, there’s a “cooker” for everything.

Crock-Pot 6-Quart Cook & Carry Slow Cooker, $24.97 on Amazon (originally $44.40)

Crock-Pot/Amazon

Crock-Pot is the beloved brand-name slow cooker and now comes in a variety of models, including the Cook & Carry, which you can take on-the-go (tailgating essential!).Buy Now

Aroma Houseware Professional 16-Cup Turbo Convection Multicooker, $99.99 on Amazon

Aroma Housewares

But you can also get multicookers from companies like AROMA—you can cook via turbo convection heat or induction heat, and its sleek design almost begs to be displayed on the countertop.Buy Now

Ninja Foodi, $178.93 on Amazon

Ninja

There’s also the Ninja Foodi. It lets you pressure cook or air fry, making it the ultimate all-in-one gadget (but if your giftee already has an Instant Pot or similar pressure cooker, consider the Mealthy CrispLid attachment that adds air fryer functionality).Buy Now

Spices

Shutterstock

A professional kitchen isn’t complete without spices galore. Turn your loved ones’ kitchens (or your own!) into spice cabinet goals by stocking it with high quality spices you might not pick up on your regular grocery run. We love brands like Spice Island, Pereg, and Gustus Vitae for their unique variety and quality source ingredients (everything bagel spice or ground ancho chile, anyone?!). You can even give them fancy salts if they already have everything else.

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 Ray’s gift guides too.

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How to Cook a Cuban Christmas Feast

Of all the global Christmas food traditions, Cuba’s Christmas Eve roast pig might just be the best yet. The centerpiece of a Cuban Nochebuena is a lusciously tender, juicy, crisp-skinned roasted pig that’s been marinated in the classic sour orange, garlic, cumin, and oregano marinade called mojo. Known as lechón asado, this glorious pig is not only packed with flavor from the marinade, but imbued with smoke from the barbecue, and the puffy, crackly, savory pig skin basically becomes chicharrones.

Cuban black beans and rice, fried plantains, and croquetas (small fried fritters of potato and ham or salt cod) are all likely to show up alongside the pork. Salad and mashed yuca are often there too, and there’s plenty to drink. As for sweets, there might be buñuelos, flan, and/or turrón (a nutty nougat similar to Italian torrone) to end the meal.

The overall impression is of abundance—of food, of fun, and of love.

We visited Amor Cubano, “a little piece of Cuba in a corner of Manhattan,” to talk to Vivian Baquero about some of the traditional Nochebuena menu items. The restaurant opened 10 years ago, with “a lot of love” and places a premium on making their food authentic, so it’s no surprise that lots of people have told Vivian “it tastes like home.”

Chowhound

No Nochebuena is complete without the lechón, although in the city, where it’s not so easy to roast the pig on a spit or over coals, it comes from the oven. It’s still juicy, tender, and delicious—and plentiful.

Related Reading: Pureto Rican Pernil Is Another Worthy Christmas Centerpiece

The yuca is simply boiled with some salt, and dressed with mojo at the table. Vivian learned her mojo recipe from her grandmother, who used a big mortar and pestle to grind raw garlic, then added fresh-squeezed sour orange juice (or lime juice in a pinch), and stirred in heated vegetable oil to cook off some of the fire from the garlic.

ChefSofi Mortar and Pestle Set, $41.99 on Amazon

A great way to grind small amounts of spices and all kinds of seasoning pastes.

Buy Now

Then there are the Moros y Cristianos (rice and beans). The black beans are cooked with bay leaves, then mixed with white rice and finely chopped chicharrones or bacon that’s been stir-fried with onions and garlic. Muy sabroso!

Wash it all down with beer or Cuba Libres, and be sure you have music to dance to, because as Vivian says, “In Cuba, you’re always dancing.” It’s definitely one way to work off all that food, so you can go back for more.

Chowhound’s Cuba Libre

If you want to host your own Nochebuena feast, here’s a complete menu from chef Randy Zweiban, who took inspiration from the Cuban expat community in Miami when he moved from Florida to open the pan-Latin restaurant Nacional 27 in Chicago.

Just remember the three “F”s of Cuban Christmas celebrations: family, friends, and food. Make a whole lot of the latter and invite a bunch of the former, turn on some good music, maybe mix up a batch of coquito (Cuban coconut eggnog), and celebrate joyfully.

Cuban Christmas Menu

Bacalao Croquetas

Shutterstock

These crispy, savory salt cod fritters are hard to stop munching on, but you’ll want to save plenty of room for everything else, because it’s all delicious. Get our Bacalao Croquetas recipe.

Eggplant and Tomato Stew (Guiso de Berenjena)

Shutterstock

Something a little like a Cuban ratatouille, this rich stew of eggplant, tomatoes, and peppers is meltingly tender and flavored with cumin and coriander. Get our Eggplant and Tomato Stew recipe.

Cuban Green Salad with Avocados

Chowhound

A light, crisp, refreshing side salad made special with caramelized onions, avocado, and lime-sherry vinaigrette. Get our Cuban Green Salad with Avocados recipe.

Mojo Marinated Pork Cubano (Lechon Asado)

Chowhound

The star of the show, this tender pork is dripping with juice and flavor. This particular recipe is a bit non-traditional in that it adds spicier peppers to the mojo, but you can leave those out for a more classic Cuban flavor. Use sour oranges if you can find them, or consider using a blend of orange and lime juice. Get our Mojo Marinated Pork Cubano recipe.

Coconut Rice with Black Beans and Fried Plantains

Shutterstock

Black beans and rice taste wonderful on their own, but add some sweet fried plantains (plus bits of garlicky pork and boniato), and the flavors and textures are especially incredible. Get our Coconut Rice with Black Beans and Fried Plantains recipe.

Mashed Boniato with Onions

Shutterstock

Boniato is another tuber similar to yuca. Here, it’s mashed with potatoes and caramelized onions, and tastes just as good with extra mojo as plainer boiled yuca does. Get our Mashed Boniato with Onions recipe.

Pumpkin Flan

Chowhound

Flan is rich and creamy yet fairly light, so it’s a perfect end to an abundant meal. This version is made with pumpkin and warm spices, and doesn’t skimp on the caramel sauce. Get our Pumpkin Flan recipe.

For more tips, tricks, hacks, and recipes, check out our Ultimate Guide to Christmas and visit our Holiday Entertaining Headquarters.

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Chowhound’s Top 10 Food Questions of 2019

It’s that time of year again when we look back and take stock, see what we’ve learned. A lot of it was about food, naturally. So we collected the top 10 food and cooking questions that resonated on Chowhound in 2019.

Some were very of-the-moment (concerning air fryers and keto snack staples), while others were eternally pressing issues (like “Will raw potatoes kill you?” and “Can you swap brown and white sugar?”). One involves a shocking origin story and another delves into the surprisingly passionate responses people have to ketchup.

Related Reading: Chowhound’s Top 100 Kitchen Gadgets, Cookbooks & Pantry Staples

From general kitchen wisdom to specific questions about ingredients and methods, these are the things you were most interested in this year.

Here’s to learning new things, and staying curious!

1. Is Getting an Air Fryer Worth the Investment?

Dash/Amazon

It’s the modern appliance that threatens to unseat the Instant Pot as top holiday gift/counter space hog. And it’s only natural to want to know if you really need one. So find out once and for all: Is getting an air fryer worth it?

2. Should You Buy Your Steak at Costco?

Chowhound

Costco is a wonderland, full of keto-friendly food in bulk, fabulous frozen finds, and splurge-worthy treats from great Champagne to entire legs of jamón, but there’s a needling question we’ve wrestled with…Should you buy Costco steak?

Related Reading: The 15 Biggest Food Fights of the Last Decade

3. When Should You Use the Lid on Your Grill?

Huw Jones / Photolibrary / Getty Images Plus

This one really popped in summer (no surprise), but there’s no law that says you can’t keep cooking out in winter, even in colder climes. At any rate, it’s a good basic life skill to know: When should you open and close the grill lid?

4. Does It Matter Whether You Use a Glass or Metal Baking Dish?

Apichat Thongmalai / EyeEm / GettyImages

Knowing the pros and cons of baking with different materials makes every batch of brownies, baked salmon dinner, and pan of roasted veggies that much better. So find out: Is it better to use glass or metal baking dishes?

Related Reading: Should You Line Your Pan with Parchment or Silicone Baking Mats?

5. Are Sprouted Potatoes Poisonous?

Jenny Dettrick / Moment / Getty Images

You’ve likely heard that sprouted potatoes can kill you, but is it an old wives’ tale or scientific fact? Even if you think you know the answer, it’s always safe to double-check before you start peeling eye-studded spuds for that next vat of mashed potatoes. Settle it: Can sprouted potatoes kill you?

6. Should You Rinse Meat Before Cooking It?

Manny Rodriguez/Getty Images

This is another food safety issue, and you’ve probably heard both sides of the debate presented as absolute, immutable kitchen gospel—but only one camp is actually correct. If you’re not sure, find out: Should you rinse raw meat before you cook it?

7. What Are Fat Bombs?

Pexels

As keto has entered the mainstream consciousness, people have had lots of questions about it (like “What is Bulletproof coffee?” and “What’s the difference between keto and Atkins?”), but this was the one that topped our charts. If you’ve yet to be acquainted with them, find out: What are fat bombs (and how do you make them)?

Related Reading: The Top 10 Friday Food Finds of 2019

8. What Is the Origin of the Word Cocktail?

Chowhound

An oldie but a goodie, we dug a little deeper and refreshed this with some new knowledge earlier this year. Read it immediately and be sure to whip out the anecdote at your next cocktail party or holiday happy hour. Do you think you know the origin of the word cocktail?

9. Are Brown and White Sugar Interchangeable When Baking?

Michelle Patrick / EyeEm / Getty Images

Unsurprisingly, this saw a recent surge as everyone’s doing their holiday baking, but it’s good to know the answer all year round. So see how it shakes out: Can you use brown sugar instead of white sugar in baking (and vice versa)?

10. Why Does Ketchup on a Hot Dog Piss People Off?

Chowhound

And were you aware that it does? Oh, boy. Discover the truth: Why do some people hate ketchup on hot dogs?

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Bread Pudding

This best-ever Bread Pudding is so easy to make. Just soak bread cubes with eggs, sugar, and milk, then bake. Add bourbon-soaked raisins and spices to make it extra-special. This New Orleans dessert is a classic for Christmas, Mardi Gras, or any special meal.

Continue reading "Bread Pudding" »

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Chowhound & CNET All-Clad Cookware Giveaway

It’s all happening. The holidays are in full swing and that means lots and lots of cooking. If you’re looking to upgrade your kitchen cookware in a big way, this All-Clad holiday cookware giveaway might just be the fastest way to do it.

Chowhound and CNET have teamed up for yet another amazing giveaway, and this time it’s a full set of fan- and chef-favorite All-Clad cookware going to one lucky reader. Luxury All-Clad cookware is built to last, conducts heat evenly featuring patented technology of five alternating layers of responsive aluminum, and durable heat-diffusing stainless steel. That means no warping and far fewer cold spots than other brands. Not to mention it looks great is dishwasher-safe and made in the U.S.

Valued at $899, the complete 10-piece set of All-Clad brushed stainless steel cookware includes an 8-inch fry pan, 10-inch fry pan, 1.5-quart saucepan with lid, 3-quart saucepan with lid, 3-quart saute pan with lid, and an 8-quart stockpot with lid. Everything you need to tackle the holiday blitz in style.

To enter and win this grand prize, all you need to do is fill out the form below between now and Dec. 30, 2019, 10 PM PT, read the official rules, and accept the terms and conditions. After you’ve filled out the form, you will have the opportunity to get extra entries by following or liking our social media channels, resulting in six possible ways to enter. The more you participate, the greater your chances of winning.

Fill out the form below to enter to win:

For complete sweepstakes rules and regulations click here.

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Chowhound Gift Guide 2019: Great Amazon Kitchen Items You Can Still Get in Time

It’s no secret we love Amazon here at Chowhound–fast, free shipping combined with cheap prices means more stuff in our stockings this Christmas, which is the ultimate goal. As we’ve been making our own Christmas lists at the office, we’ve done the hard part of combing through the infinite amount of Amazon kitchen products in order to curate our top picks. If we had to narrow it down, this would be it. From a beautiful copper saucepan (that doesn’t break the bank!) to a trusty cast iron skillet, keep reading to see what we really want from Santa.

Related Reading: Great Under-$25 Gifts You Can Score on Amazon | Oprah’s Favorite Things on Amazon for 2019

Bonus: If you have Amazon Prime, you can still get them all in time for Christmas.

New DEMMEX Hammered Copper Saucepan, $69.90 on Amazon

Chowhound

This copper saucepan is a work of art. When we first unwrapped it at the office we were in awe of its beauty. Even if you don’t cook, this would be a beautiful piece to keep on your stovetop to fool people into thinking you do cook (and to show off your great taste). However, we (obviously) do cook and recommend making a simple tomato sauce to complement this copper masterpiece.Buy Now

Ironwood Gourmet Large Charleston End Grain Prep Station, $56.99 on Amazon

Chowhound

Pssst–this cheeseboard should cost way more money than it actually does. We can’t believe how great it is for the price. Our social media strategist/photographer ended up purchasing one on the spot for her sister for Christmas. It’s that good. At 1.25 inches thick, it’s a hefty board that could be left out on your counter at all times. And the grain in this acacia wood is everything. Use as a cheeseboard, prep board, styling prop, or all three like we’ll be doing.Buy Now

Lodge 6 Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven, $59.90 on Amazon

Chowhound

Another item we were shocked to see the low price tag on is this gigantic cast iron Dutch oven by Lodge. We still love the iconic Le Creuset for all its beauty, but this Lodge version is literally $300 less. It’s huge, definitely big enough to feed a crowd this holiday season. We suggest using this mega piece of cookware to throw together some simple soup in between all the holiday madness. If you’re looking for a good tomato soup recipe, try our Classic Tomato Soup.Buy Now

Solino Home Linen Dinner Napkins, 4 for $23.99 on Amazon

Amazon

The chicest way to wipe the melty cheese off your hands is with a proper napkin. We recently upgraded to using linen napkins nightly at home for dinner instead of paper napkins, and it really has increased our quality of life. Not only is it way better for the environment, but it also makes your life feel just a little bit more put together, even when it’s not. This set is gorgeous–the material is the perfect thickness and the color is a chic, saturated charcoal (but they’re also available in other shades). You’ll find the same napkins done by other stores, but this budget buy can stand up to any of them.Buy Now

Calphalon 12-Inch Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet, $21.59 on Amazon 

Chowhound

Another cast iron cookware piece we’re crushing on is this quintessential cast iron skillet by Calphalon. It was the highest-selling item our community bought during Black Friday and Cyber Monday in 2018, so we had to investigate for ourselves. Our conclusion? Everyone should own a cast iron skillet, and this one checks the box. Grab it now while it’s a whopping 57 percent off! And then make some macaroni like we did (the office was drooling the day we served it).Buy Now

Rose Gold Silverware Set, 20-piece set for $36.99 on Amazon 

Chowhound

The perfect compliment to garlicky spaghetti? Shiny gold flatware. We’ve been eyeing a gold flatware set since Black Friday but haven’t pulled the trigger…until now. This best seller (it has more than 1200 reviews with a 4.6 star rating) is also available in an equally attractive rose gold as well as black and rainbow oil-slick colors. Using gold flatware will make even leftovers feel a little more special.Buy Now

BIA Cordon Bleu 12-Inch Porcelain Round Cake Stand, $27.70 on Amazon

Chowhound

This cake stand/pedestal is the ultimate vessel for showing off your baked goods this holiday season. Its crisp white color makes a rainbow of colors pop (aka, everything you bake will look good on this), and it’s thick but not too heavy so you can easily transport it from cupboard to counter to table and back again.Buy Now

Nordic Ware Natural Aluminum Commercial Baker’s Half Sheet Pans, 2 for $21.99 on Amazon 

Chowhound

If you want perfect cookies, you need the right tools. And this 2-pack of baker’s half sheets are iconic. Our staff loves them, and so do Amazon users—5000+ 4.5 star reviews can’t be wrong. All that’s left to do is click, buy, and bake (well, and decide whether to line with parchment or silicone baking mats). Enjoy!Buy Now

See all our favorite gourmet food and drink gifts for 2019.

See our sister sites’ tech gift guides, gaming gift guides, fashion and beauty gift guides, TV gift guides, and Rachael Ray’s gift guides, for more.

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