The ultimate foodie gift guide! Shop my kitchen essentials and splurge-worthy favourites to wow the cooks and food lovers in your life this holiday.
The holiday season is almost upon us, and there’s no better time to surprise your loved ones with gifts that elevate their cooking game—especially if they love Asian cuisine! If you’re looking for the perfect presents for friends, family, or yourself, this 2024 holiday gift guide has you covered with essential tools, inspiring cookbooks, and thoughtful extras.
Splurge-Worthy Gifts: Shop My Kitchen
Over my years of cooking, I’ve made some investments in my kitchen! Some didn’t quite work out well, but some are absolute GAME-CHANGERS!
These high-quality, versatile tools are perfect for the serious homecooks looking to invest in long-lasting, luxury kitchen essentials. While they may come with a higher price tag, each one is built to last and can elevate any cooking experience.
1. Rice Cooker
If there’s one kitchen tool that is essential, that would be a rice cooker!
Cooking a fresh pot of rice everyday has never been an issue for my household, thanks to the rice cooker. A rice cooker is a game-changer for perfectly fluffy rice every time, removing all of the guesswork for cooking rice over the stovetop. It’s especially handy for busy weeknights and frees up stove space when making bigger meals. I personally recommend choosing one with a timer and warming function for maximum convenience.
If you want to start small, any rice cooker is better than no rice cooker – and there are options to suit all budgets. If you want to level up your rice cooker game, I love my ultra-reliable Zojirushi! I’ve owned my Zojirushi for a little over 2 years now, and I can attest to its reliability, functionality and how EFFORTLESS it is to cook any rice perfectly. The rice cooker is an ultra versatile tool in your kitchen too; use it to make full meals – be sure to check out my plethora (and ever-growing) list of rice cooker recipes.
- Zojirushi NS-ZCC10 Neuro Fuzzy Cooker
- Zojirushi NS-ZAQ10 Micom Fuzzy Logic (the exact one I purchased – this is the same as the model above; it’s labelled differently in Singapore/Southeast Asia. This is a ‘Made in Japan’ model.)
Note: The two models are the same, the names differ based on where they’re sold.
The Zojirushi is a splurge for sure, and there are cheaper, reliable options available. Growing up, my Mom owned a giant one-button rice cooker that lasted through my childhood!
2. Instant Pot
This year I scored an Instant Pot, and I’ve put it through A LOT! I made the most amazing, easiest, fall-off-the-bone Pho in this… and it took me just an hour. This multi-cooker is perfect for everything from pressure-cooking and slow-cooking, as well as sautéing and yogurt-making – though I’ve never attempted that function. The Instant Pot is a versatile addition that makes meal prep easier and faster for all types of cuisines.
I use the Instant Pot Rio, and absolutely love it! It’s the only Instant Pot I own, and I prefer it to the other pressure cookers solely based on aesthetics. I like the all-black, slim exterior that matches my current kitchen.
This is a more popular Instant Pot variation:
3. Le Creuset Dutch Oven
Le Creuset is dream cookware for many cooks… including myself! A Dutch oven is an investment piece for sure, but once you start using it, it’s hard to go back to anything else. This is a high-quality heavy-bottomed pot that perfect for stews, braises, and one-pot dishes. Le Creuset comes in a beautiful range of colours that look amazing on the stovetop OR dining table.
4. Le Creuset Marmite
For my second Le Creuset I wanted to get a braiser, but after consulting with the sales assistant, I went with the Marmite! I stir fry more than I braise, so the Marmite would be a far useful addition.
The Le Creuset Marmite is designed with sloped sides that eliminate sharp corners, preventing ingredients from settling and promoting efficient, continuous stirring, even with the lid in place. I use it now for all my stir frying purposes, but it’s versatile for any other purposes such as reducing sauces.
5. Staub Chistera or Le Creuset Braiser
Ideal for everything from braising meats to cooking casseroles, a good braiser has excellent heat distribution, creating beautifully tender dishes. Staub and Le Creuset offer beautiful options with enamel-coated interiors.
As much as I’m a Le Creuset girl, when it comes to the braiser, I’m leaning towards the Staub Chistera, which has a steeper slope which means you can fit more into the pan. You can’t go wrong with either quality options!
6. Lodge Cast Iron Pan
For serious cooks only: a durable, quality cast iron skillet! A cast iron skillet is incredibly versatile. It’s perfect for searing meats (all of my steaks must be cooked on my cast iron skillet!), stir-frying, roasting vegetables, and even baking. The heat retention is excellent, which helps lock in flavour. I have a Lodge Cast Iron Pan, it’s quality that doesn’t break the bank.
7. Air Fryer
An air fryer is a modern must-have, with sleek, compact designs that fit beautifully into any kitchen. Perfect for “frying” with minimal oil, roasting vegetables, reheating leftovers, and even baking, it’s incredibly versatile. Many models come with intuitive digital displays and pre-set functions, making it both an aesthetic and practical gift.
I resisted getting an air fryer for the longest time, because I have an oven already. While it doesn’t function the same way, everything I wanted to accomplish in an air fryer, my oven can do. Ever since I got my air fryer though, I rarely use my oven! It’s more compact, cooks food faster and it’s more convenient (and energy-saving!) for cooking small amounts of food for daily meals.
My current air fryer is ok, but it’s due for an upgrade. These are some air fryers that have caught my eye:
- Ninja Foodi 6-in-1 DualZone 2-Basket Air Fryer
- Cuisinart Air Fryer Oven – 6-Qt Basket Stainless Steel Air Fryer
- Cuisinart TOA-26 Compact Airfryer Toaster Oven
8. Cosmic Cookware Pan
If you are located in Singapore/Southeast Asia, I adore Cosmic Cookware pots and pans! A disclaimer that they sponsored content here, but NOT this post – I genuinely enjoy their products.
Specifically, this Cosmo Pan, because it’s great for one-pan long pasta cooking! It can fit the entire length of my dry spaghetti, so we can avoid offending pasta die-hards out there by breaking it. Plus, they look good!
2. Essential Asian Cooking Tools
Great tools make cooking easier, more enjoyable, and far more delicious.
Here are must-have items for anyone who loves exploring the rich flavors of Asian cuisine:
Wok
A high-quality wok is perfect for stir-frying, deep-frying, steaming, and more.
A carbon steel wok develops a natural non-stick surface over time, while a non-stick wok is great for beginners and still versatile enough for any dish.
NOTE: While I do own a wok, it’s large so I rarely use it for daily cooking. Instead, I use my Le Creuset Marmite!
Bamboo Steamer
For steaming dumplings, buns, fish, and veggies, a bamboo steamer is an essential tool. It allows food to cook gently and evenly, enhancing natural flavors and textures. Plus, it looks beautiful on the table!
Note: I use a Le Creuset steamer attachment that fits my dutch oven perfectly! Perhaps it doesn’t look at good as bamboo steamers, but it’s stainless steel, which means it’s more durable and easier maintenance. Stores so easily too!
A Good Kitchen Knife (Japanese Knife)
A high-quality chef’s knife is invaluable in any kitchen, and I may be partial to a Japanese knife since that’s what I use! It’s the best knife I have EVER owned. I purchased mine from a specialty knife store – these are better bets than department stores.
By the way, if you’re based in Singapore and looking for high quality knives, I highly recommend you visit Razorsharp! Very knowledgeable knife experts, and they stock a variety of knives to suit all budgets.
Japanese knives are known for their razor-sharp edges and balance, essential for comfortable and precision cutting. A sharp, balanced knife makes prep work an absolute pleasure.
I use the Tojiro DP Gyutou knife.
These are some potential options from Amazon – a quick disclaimer that I’ve not personally tried them – but they’re close to what I own:
Mortar and Pestle (Granite)
Of course I HAVE to include a mortar and pestle in here! I love my blender, but sometimes this does a better job.
Essential for grinding spices and creating pastes or marinades, a granite mortar and pestle allows you to release deeper, fresher flavours from ingredients.
Make sure to source for a pure granite version as it’s is durable and chip-resistant—anything lower quality may chip or break, so invest in a sturdy option that will last.
These are some pure granite options from Amazon:
3. Cookbooks for Inspiring Asian Recipes
Cookbooks are gifts that keep on giving!
Here are some of my current top cookbook recommendations that any foodie would appreciate:
Effortless Asian Cooking
Just a quick little cheeky plug of my very own cookbook – Effortless Asian Cooking: 30-Minute Recipes for Flavorful Noodles, Rice Bowls, Stir-Fries, Curries and More! This book was designed to make Asian cooking accessible for everyone. With simple, quick recipes and bold flavours, this is perfect for anyone wanting to explore Asian cuisine without a lot of time in the kitchen.
TONIGHT by Nagi Maehashi
Anyone else completely surprised when Nagi dropped this cookbook? I have Dinner, and enjoyed it, so I had to get my hands on this too. When it comes to foolproof recipes, Nagi is my go-to!
No one cuisine attached to this cookbook, just daily dinner ideas that work – plus, the photos are mouthwateringly good!
The Woks of Life
A beautiful cookbook by another one of my favourite recipe bloggers: Woks of Life! If you need a deep dive into Chinese cuisine, there’s no better all-in-one resource than this.
Cookbooks are gifts that keep on giving, and Black Friday discounts often make them affordable additions to holiday shopping lists. Pairing a cookbook with one of the essential tools above could make for a fantastic gift bundle!
BONUS GIFT IDEA: To elevate your gifts, how about preparing gift boxes? Along with the books, include spices, or seasonings in the gift boxes too!
4. Stocking Stuffers & Small Gift Ideas for Home Cooks 🎄
For thoughtful yet budget-friendly options, here are a few stocking stuffer ideas for anyone who loves Asian flavors:
Le Creuset Mugs or Ramekins
I’m not sure if you can tell… but I’m a huge fan of Le Creuset! Their mugs are beautiful – I collect my set over the years, but you can buy a whole set too. Not only do they look good, you can microwave them too. Alternatively, ramekins are a good gift option too.
Chopsticks & Chopstick Rests
When I was in Japan, I saw a set of colourful Le Creuset chopsticks – I thought they would have made such a fantastic gift!
A beautiful set of chopsticks adds elegance to any meal, and they’re especially fun in a set of colours for anyone who loves cooking or eating Asian dishes! Try to get the ones with rests included for extra fun.
These are some alternative options:
Spice Sampler Sets
Some time back, I received a PR package from a brand that included beautifully packaged spices such as Szechuan peppercorns, star anise, and cinnamon! I thought it was such a perfect idea. You can DIY this by buying nice jars and packets of spices, or get ready-made spice collections such as these:
Sauce Kits
I also received a hot sauce kit before – I have never been SO excited to cook a bland meal so that I could test out all the variety of hot sauces!
Besides hot sauces, you can give a range of seasoning sauces such as soy sauce, oyster sauce, kicap manis, etc. Unless you’re located in the US or places where these sauces are not readily available, I recommend sourcing beautifully packaged versions of the sauces. Nobody wants to receive supermarket items!
This is a set:
These small yet thoughtful gifts bring joy and inspiration to the kitchen, and they’re perfect for adding to a larger gift or gift basket.
5. Meal Prep Gifts for Quick, Flavorful Meals
OK – so these may not be the sexiest things you can get someone as a gift, but in case you’re shopping for someone more practical, these are my top picks!
For busy cooks especially, these meal prep tools make cooking easy, organized, and delicious:
Label Maker Machine
A label printer is a must-have for anyone who loves an organized kitchen! I use the NIIMBOT D110 Mini Bluetooth Label Maker, it’s a compact thermal printer that makes labeling pantry containers and meal prep boxes effortless—no ink cartridges needed! If you have multiple types of flour in your pantry, you’ll know how game-changing it is to identify everything at a glance. The labels are waterproof, so no smudging even when they’re in the fridge or freezer. Plus, it’s super fun to use!
Whether you’re gifting it to a fellow home cook or someone who loves to stay organized, this little gadget is guaranteed to impress!
Meal Prep Containers
Great for storing pre-prepped ingredients and for portioning out meals! Find containers that are versatile and stackable to easily store and save space. I recommend a combination of glass and plastic containers. See my post on effective meal prepping!
I use Tupperware hand-me-downs from my mom – they look good and work great – but the models get discontinued quick.
These are my top options from Amazon:
Salad Spinner
My ultimate meal prep tool is my salad spinner. I use it to wash, soak, dry my veggies – see my ultimate veggie meal prep post!
Cutting Board
A sturdy cutting board makes a world of difference in the kitchen! I like using a large cutting board, this way I can do batch meal prepping without having to clear the board each time. Getting one with grooves to catch any liquids will help to keep things less messy too.
Wooden is my material of choice, as its gentler on knives, although I also like having a separate plastic cutting board dedicated for meat.
Blender or Food Processor
My main processing tool is my trusty blender! Whenever any aromatic base paste is involved, I take out my blender for smooth paste in a flash.
From grinding peanuts for satay sauce to making curry pastes and marinades, a food processor is a kitchen workhorse that saves time and effort. It’s especially helpful for chopping ingredients for Asian sauces and spice blends. Find a blender with a spice miller for better value.
Holiday Shopping Tips 🎁
- Black Friday Deals: Many of these items will go on sale, so keep an eye out for discounts on kitchenware, cookbooks, and ingredients.
- Bundle Up: Combine items like a cookbook with a mortar and pestle, or pair a rice cooker with spice packets for a thoughtful, well-rounded gift package.
These gift ideas offer everything a home cook needs to explore and enjoy Asian cooking, from staple tools to efficient meal-prep essentials.
Here’s to a holiday season filled with warmth, flavour, and good company. Happy gifting, and happy cooking!
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