Secret Santa gift ideas for one who loves to cook? $1-$5 and $10-$15 range

[Katie Dawn]

Am I asking the impossible?

Can you tell me a kitchen gadget (or whatever) that most people probably don't know about but is REALLY AWESOME? Oh, and it's gotta be cheap too! (yeah, that's the impossible part huh?)

Every year at work we draw names for Secret Santa; we give $1-$3 gifts Monday - Thursday. On Friday we give the person a $10-$15 gift and "reveal" the identity of everyone's Secret Santa.

The name I drew is a co-worker that LOVES to cook, but has a small kitchen with very little storage space. I don't particularly like cooking at all, so I need some expert advice. She's more of a "cook on the stove" rather than "likes to bake" type of person.

So if you have any kitchen gadget or product ideas in the $1-$5 or $10-$15 range I'd love to hear about it!

If you have ideas for Secret Santa gifts that are more "generic" and good for just about anyone I'd like to hear those too. Giving one of the Bath & Body Works pocket-sized antibacterial hand gels that are 5 for $5 are always good for a $1 day (and some of their Christmas scents smell sooo good.) I've given a pack of fun post-it notes (designs, colors, shapes, etc) to people who love post-it notes. Candy/snacks/drinks that are the person's favorite are always good too... Any other ideas out there?

 

[barkley]

one of the BEST items I've found is a "chop turner". it's a gadget that has a handle about as long as a spatula, and at the end is what looks like a giant letter X. it is stovetop safe and it's used when you are cooking ground meats to break apart the chunks. it's SO much easier to use than a spatula and does the job allot better. you can get one for less than $10 at most cooking stores.

 

[java]

I can never have enough spatulas. Also what about fun specialty salts or spices. Think usable items for small kitchen.

 

[POOHsie]

A great gadget is a microplaner, which is a narrow grater. Very useful. You see TV chefs use them all the time. $15-16.

 

[etoiles]

As another poster suggested, some spices might be nice. If you have a Penzey's or local spice store nearby there could be some interesting blends there. Also there are olive oil and vinegar stores popping up lately and you could get a small bottle of one of those.

World Market also often has interesting food items that you can cook with as well or a local interesting market from another culture.

For a small kitchen it's hard to get something useful that doesn't take up space. Something that I like is a pretty wooden spoon or a good brush for cleaning veggies, like one that has a potato handle and that is for scrubbing potatoes.

 

[Southernmiss]

Dish towels /pot holders. I always like these. A Rachael Ray mopene--towel with pockets like pot holders--just Google it lol. Large plastic serving spoon utensils-- I always need another.

 

[FlyingDumbo]

Spoonulas. I can never have enough of them! They are the soft spatulas. If you have time to order from Amazon, Boston Warehouse makes some really cute accessories. I like the bluebird wine opener and true piranha pizza cutter.

 

[Imzadi]

A great gadget is a microplaner, which is a narrow grater. Very useful. You see TV chefs use them all the time. $15-16.

This is my favorite tool. I have one that grates/shreds cheese. But they come in assorted sizes from fine, microfine (for grating spices like cinnamon,) to the coarse & extra-coarse for cheese & chocolate shavings.

Instead of a big box grater that takes up a lot of room and is hard to clean the insde, this fits right in the utensil holder or utensil drawer. So easy to clean & store. I actually found ones that are really sturdy at the Dollar Tree, of all places.

They look like this (with different hole sizes):

Other tools I love are the new silicone tipped utensils, like silicone spatulas, silicone tongs, silicone cooking spoons. Most people might not upgrade and buy them for themselves if they already have a nylon spatula or tongs that work. But, these really don't melt on stainless steel pans and they don't mar non-stick cookware. I have been slowly trading out all my utensils for the silicone ends.

 

[FlyingDumbo]

This is my favorite tool. I have one that grates/shreds cheese. But they come in assorted sizes from fine, microfine (for grating spices like cinnamon,) to the coarse & extra-coarse for cheese & chocolate shavings.

Instead of a big box grater that takes up a lot of room and is hard to clean the insde, this fits right in the utensil holder or utensil drawer. So easy to clean & store. I actually found ones that are really sturdy at the Dollar Tree, of all places.

They look like this (with different hole sizes):

Other tools I love are the new silicone tipped utensils, like silicone spatulas, silicone tongs, silicone cooking spoons. Most people might not upgrade and buy them for themselves if they already have a nylon spatula or tongs that work. But, these really don't melt on stainless steel pans and they don't mar non-stick cookware. I have been slowly trading out all my utensils for the silicone ends.

I want one!

 

[powellrj]

I love those little quickie(sp) paring knives that you get for $1. I am getting those for my favorite things gift exchange bags!

 

[Buckalew11]

If you have a Home Goods or a TJMaxx you should visit their kitchen section. I always find great deals on very useful stuff in there.

I saw a very pretty bamboo salt box (they had round and oval shaped) for 5.99. Love mine, so handy to keep next to the stove!

They look just like these: https://www.google.com/search?q=bamboo+salt+box&client=firefox-a&hs=jXv&rls=org.mozilla:en-USfficial&source=univ&tbm=shop&tbo=u&sa=X&ei=rkWIUuXsOMfIkAeK94HICw&ved=0CCwQsxg&biw=1366&bih=648

 

[TinkerBelled]

Joseph Joseph, all the way. They have a bunch of things under $15 that are exactly designed to save space.

Measuring cups:

Twist whisk (makes both a flat whisk and a balloon whisk):

Pinch pots for salt and pepper (or other spices):

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

Ice cream scooper with a gift card to a neighboring ice cream shop

 

[PollyannaMom]

One of the things I use a lot is those tiny cutting boards ("bar boards", they might be called?) I have some cheap flexible plastic ones from the grocery store, or I've seen thicker, colorful ones as well.

 

[TifffanyD]

Magnetic spice holders to hang on the fridge? That would save space.

 

[POOHsie]

Magnetic spice holders to hang on the fridge? That would save space.

It's funny you mention this. Because I've read of ppl looking at some new fridges, can't remember the brand, but magnets don't stick. Weird...

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

A great gadget is a microplaner, which is a narrow grater. Very useful. You see TV chefs use them all the time. $15-16.

I agree with this! I love mine, and I need another one for hard/soft cheeses, mine i use to zest lemons/limes and for garlic.

I LOVE my bench scrapper, don't know how I did without.
I received a nice set of measuring spoons, they are glass and very fragile but stunning and I love using them (they were the ones Giada used in her earlier seasons).
Maybe a cookbook?
Does she like baking? Maybe cookie cutters?

 

[luvmy3]

I really love my garlic press, adjustable measuring spoon, microplaner, silicone tipped tongs, small and medium scoops (I use these for baking, don't know if your friend bakes), silicone pot holder and my oven mits with silicone grips.
You could also do things like spice rubs, assorted cooking wines, window sill herb garden kit, kitchen linens.
I love getting cookbooks for gifts.

ETA just saw the pp's post about an oil dispenser. That is a great idea. I guess I take mine for granted. Also I have an oil mister that comes in handy.

I love these threads, kitchen gadgets are so exciting! (Yes, I know I'm lame)

 

[Abbeys_mom]

Lodge cast iron! So many sizes and pieces. You can get a panini or bacon press, which I use all the time. I agree on salts and spices all week, then cast iron on the big day. Costco just had four mini pans with a cookie mix in each for $17.

 

[iuki]

How about an attractive oil dispenser? I have three - one for olive oil; one for coconut oil; and one for sesame oil.