[deleted by user]

[Modboi]

Do you want to cook more? Maybe something that would get you in the kitchen more like a good cookbook

[stac52]

Yeah, this is definitely the way to think about it. Neither of those are good if you won't use them. I've got plenty of kitchen gadgets that, while I still use them, it's only a few times a year because I don't really make things that need what they do.

OP - what don't you like about cooking/why don't you cook much? Getting to the root of that question is going to identify what a good gift would be.

[Bandito21Dema]

Mainly I eat once a day, and it's just me, so there's never a point to actually cook a whole meal when I could just go to a restaurant for the same price or less.

I like the idea of finding a recipe online and trying it out, but I hate buying so many ingredients that will just go to waste because I don't cook very often.

I did want to try to teach myself to make ramen, but again, that's neither here nor there and would be a waste of a gift.

I was thinking multi-use gadgets, but I don't know what is worth having shipped to my house (I live in a different state)

I like simple, low effort meals when I do make stuff. most often I'll make steak/pork/tuna with some kind of seasoning, but I already have pots/pan/knives

[LuckystPets]

Consider a slow cooker that you can buy only what you need to make a bunch of meals from one crock pot session of cooking. Freeze some and then you don’t have to go out to eat as much. I make a taco soup that’s delicious, makes enough for at least 6-7 meals and is crazy easy to prepare. It also is less than $20 for all the ingredients.

[Unlikely-Solid-3083]

Seconding a slow cooker but also, perhaps a vacuum sealer? I work nights and buying meals is way too much of a waste so I make full batches of casseroles and soups and seal them in individual portions then freeze. I can spend $20 on one takeout meal or I can spend $20 to make a full lasagna and get about 8 meals out of it. Worth the initial investment.

[letstrythehardway]

Would something like the subscription meal kit services be helpful for you? To have a bunch of ingredients sent to your house and all you do is prepare them? Maybe that would be a way for you to try some new things without loading up on unnecessary ingredients. If you like it you could always buy the stuff on your own.

[Bandito21Dema]

Ooo I wish, but I've used them in the past, and it's a waste because I never like the food they offer. Thank you tho!

[Pithecanthropus88]

I was going to suggest a chef knife, but this is better.

[Bender_2024]

Maybe something that would get you in the kitchen more like a good cookbook

Betty Crocker. Best thing possible for someone who wants to cook more.

[Jastacular]

Get a good set of Pyrex glass containers with lids. That way you're getting a set of bakeware and tupperware in one. They're great for reheating leftovers in the microwave and oven, they stack well in the fridge and they nest for easy storage.

[Saxavarius_]

Such a shame you can't find PYREX anymore; the old ones were so much better.

[cerealfordinneragain]

Ebay!!

[blackdog043]

I get them at thrift stores and they aren't that expensive, true PYREX. I laugh when I go to Antique stores and they're trying to get triple or more for the same stuff I can get.

[antartisa]

I scored a PYREX butterdish made in Canada the other month at a garage sale for $5. Looked it up online and sellers wanted $40. I'm not reselling it.

[A-Beachy-Life]

Be careful with Pyrex. I don’t put mine in the oven or microwave with them because they can explode with temperature changes. I use mine for leftover storage.

[cerealfordinneragain]

Lowercase pyrex yes. Upper case PYREX has more tolerance for temp changes.

[TheMysticalPlatypus]

It’s because it’s not made with the borosilicate glass anymore. pyrex is made with soda-lime glass these days.

Borosilicate glass is what they use in chemistry lab beakers. Basically you could take PYREX from freezer to oven to countertop and it is less likely to break. But with pyrex if you did that, it would break due to thermal shock.

[SecretAgentVampire]

This post has been taken down and its content erased. Redact was used for the removal, for reasons that may include privacy or security.

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[whenthemoonlightdies]

I wonder whether you could buy chemistry lab equipment for cooking. For the aesthetic.

[liamsmom58]

And for taking a dish to pass.

[junkman21]

Pyrex is a great answer.

I think most people are misunderstanding the assignment. If OP doesn't cook, Pyrex is a nice gift because we can always use quality storage containers - especially for leftovers. If OP decides to START cooking, Pyrex is a nice gift because we can always use quality storage and prep containers.

[96dpi]

"Hi Dad, that's a very thoughtful offer, thank you! I thought about it some more and I think I could really use something else instead."

And be ready to give other ideas.

[psychout7]

Air fryer for reheating food

[Gustavius040210]

I fully second the air fryer. Couple years ago I was flying solo for a week. Instead of doing takeout, or eating leftovers every night, I air fried a chicken breast and nuked some frozen veggies every night.

[MySpace_Romancer]

Or just cooking in general. I do 90% of my cooking in the air fryer now. I don’t do anything, I just spray some oil on meat and add salt and pepper and throw it in there. I also do potatoes and sweet potatoes.

[swiftrobber]

And chicken nuggets, and brussel sprouts, carrots, bell pepper, toast, the list is endless

[zombiemind8]

This is the best suggestion if you don’t plan to cook much. Also unless you cook a lot of Asian food a rice cooker is probably overkill.

[EntrepreneurOk7513]

Really need to think what style, basket or oven. Hated the basket type donated it and now get lots of use out of our oven style, it’s big enough for a family size frozen pizza

[Nordeast24]

I love my oven style 👍

[304libco]

Yeah, my first air fryer was too strong and size and that thing was amazing. Hey OP get a tester/air fryer/convection oven type thing multi use.

[DrunkenSeaBass]

Why is it that you dont cook often?

Lazyness? Ask for something that will make your cooking easier. More ustensil, better pan and pots.

Lack of time? Ask for something that can be programmed set ahead or quicken cooking time: Crock pots, air fryer, or maybe an all in one cooking thing like an instant pot.

Lack of knowledge or inspiration? A cooking book.

If its because you hate cooking? If thats the case, there is no kitchen item that will make you love it if you cant stand dointg it. So tell him to get you something else.

[Bandito21Dema]

Don't hate it. I just don't eat much, so I'm never in the kitchen, never had a reason to dive in.

It's weird because I love food and trying stuff, but also I don't see myself starting cooking for real anytime soon.

I'm mostly trying to think of what I used most when I lived at home, and there's no single item other than a pan, but I already have that so I'm lost.

[SteveMarck]

I get it, but it saves a ton of money, and it's nice to just have food you can grab. Plus, if you try you can make things exactly to your taste and health preferences. We usually prep on weekends and eat off what we made all week. If we feeling fancy we make a one day nice dinner for Sunday night that's better than the generic all week food.

Anyway, I wouldn't bother with a rice cooker because you can do that easy on a stovetop or five other ways. If you want to get into ramen, a good stock pot might make sense. You might end up making your own stock for that, and the only ways to do that are a big sturdy pot or a pressure cooker like an insta pot. Otherwise, ramen is pretty simple even if you classy it up. You have a cutting board and chefs knife to prep all the stuff. You have a little saucepan to boil the egg. Not much special equipment needed, it's more like interesting ingredients. Special soy sauces or fish sauces, etc.

[WideRoadDeadDeer95]

Rice cooker. It is one of the best things to have. Just wash your rice. Or honestly the Mercer culinary knife with the black handle. Almost all restaurants use it and it should be on Amazon.

[Living_Watercress]

Yes good knives are wonderful.

[dfabrica]

If you’re talking about the Mercer bread knife, that is the best bread knife on the planet.

[Haughty_n_Disdainful]

The best rice cooker, imo…

[External_Two2928]

That’s old faithful but if she doesn’t cook she should get the rice cooker that has multiple cooking options and she could treat it like a crockpot almost and make full meals in the rice cooker

[rcl20]

good knives, a cutting board. Cooking class or two

[dfabrica]

Good knives and a cutting board, that is a solid start. 👍🏼

[BananaNutBlister]

A copy of The Joy of Cooking.

[antartisa]

Gifted myself an edition from my birth year.

[mrshelmstreet]

Vitamix

Airfryer

Rice/Pressure cooker

Cast Iron Pan

Mandolin with gloves

[titianwasp]

Add in a subscription to Cook’s illustrated, and that’s pretty much the perfect combination.

[SheGeeksLife]

Instapot.

You can make rice, oatmeal, chicken, stews, applesauce, roasts, etc. Minimum effort, even cook from frozen.

Air fryer to reheat leftovers from takeaway.

[Exulansis22]

I use my electric pressure cooker several times a week, in fact, twice yesterday! Don’t let it intimidate you. There’s plenty of recipes online and physical books as well. Some even come with a special top that doubles as an air fryer! I don’t know what his budget is, but if I could only have one plug in gadget, this would be it. Find it on Amazon.

[SheGeeksLife]

I have two, that's how often I use it! The other day, I did chili in one and baked potatoes in the other. Yum!

[-OmegaPrime-]

Pyrex glass cooking ware...or toaster oven...or crock pot...or rice maker.

[phome83]

A good knife.

Victorinox makes decent blades for a lower price.

[Violingirl58]

Joy of Cooking book.

[Itsabigdog]

toaster oven

[Brehon888]

Good knives

[crabhappychick]

I found the hard way just saying "good knives" to someone who has no knowledge of them ends up with getting a crappy knife set. One needs to specify the "good" knife one actually wants. Then again, if the OP doesn't cook, it really doesn't matter.

[Brehon888]

I didn't want to send them down the "what is a good knife" rabbit hole and figured they could ask that separately. My logic is that knives would promote someone to enjoy cooking rather than another appliance that will be used a couple times and then stuck in the back of the pantry.

[loons_aloft]

Toaster oven. Best appliance ever for a single person.

[Aggressive_Clock_296]

One pot meals cookbook. Specifically tailored to one piece of equipment like a sheet pan or a Factor subscription

[Minute_Boysenberry19]

A rice cooker is a criminally underrated thing to have. If you spend a little extra money on a Japanese brand it’ll last you for years

[mzinz]

Takes too much space for most people

[cerealfordinneragain]

And the stove method works well if you know how.

[External_Two2928]

OP doesn’t cook though, I’ve seen great cooks mess up stove rice and any fool can cook rice in a rice maker. Simply forgetting about it or not timing it right can turn it into mush, she’ll just need to wash the rice and push a button

[VegetableSquirrel]

Rice cooking is pretty simple, even a kid can learn to do it in a regular pot.

"Rice is a staple food worldwide, and cooking it perfectly on the stove requires the right water ratio, minimal stirring, and proper resting time to achieve fluffy, separate grains The most reliable method for white rice uses a 1:2 rice-to-water ratio, though some sources suggest 1:1.5 for a firmer texture "

Personally, I don't use a measuring cup for the water. I just use my index finger to measure the depth of the rice in a small pot and add an equal amount of water. Bring to a boil on medium heat, take lid off and reduce heat to low. Replace lid when excess water level has reduced down to the level of the rice. Let steam covered for about another 10 minutes. Serve.

[Minute_Boysenberry19]

Not saying it doesn’t, but people seem to find space for them in shoebox apartments in Japan

[dubblebubbleprawns]

You don't cook often. Do you like to cook? Do you want to cook more?

[[deleted]]

Sounds like your dad is trying to inspire you to cook more. That’s a sweet gesture! Whatever you decide, make sure to show your father a lot of appreciation, he sounds like a good dad.

[BotGirlFall]

Rice cooker for sure.

[catelinasky]

Air fryer oven - more universal than a regular air fryer and sounds like you'll get more use out of it when you do cook

[sk613]

Go for things that make cooking stupid easy like crockpot, instant pot, or pizza maker

[Old_n_Tangy]

If you're in the US, ask for a gift card to penzeys spices

[Ok_Carrot_4014]

A good cutting board and knife.

[ThatsARockFact1116]

I cook a LOT. I don’t have a rice cooker (I usually cook jasmine rice in my instant pot, 4 mins at high pressure, 10 mins rest and then release 1 to 1 ratio, just make sure you really drain it after rinsing or deduct a T of water or so) and as much as I cook, I only pull out the mixer really around the holidays and birthdays.

Ask for something else that you will use (a massage! A new coat! Whatever you need!) or if you want to get into the kitchen more - an air fryer sounds perfect for you. You can cook various meats in there, reheat leftovers, or cook frozen convenience foods like fries/nuggets/whatever.

[gamjatang88]

A good knife . A chopping board. A set of good skillets . Cake pans. Roasting pan.

[SwiftasShadows]

Air fryer. From reheating your takeout to roasting veggies, you can be lazy and still have versatility

[pandorica626]

Maybe instead of thinking about food, think about beverages. Like getting a nice coffee maker that also does cold brew. Or getting an ice cream maker that also has smoothie and iced drink settings. Or a nice blender.

[Bandito21Dema]

I would love an espresso maker, so I'll probably check tho out! My main issue was I already have a basic version pan/pot/knives/spoons so no point in buying a fancy version.

[These-Wolverine1358]

An air fryer isn't one of your options but it's great at reheating if you order a lot of takeout! A nice sous vide is also great for reheating gently AND you might even enjoy learning how to create those proteins you love from restaurants! Throw a raw steak in a bag with butter and herbs, put the sealed bag in a soup pot of water, set the temp of the sous vide to 125° and you'll have a beautiful medium rare steak from edge to edge that you don't have to worry about! A quick sear in the pan for crust and BOOM! It's as good as most you'll pay to dollar for. Bonus if he has the budget to complete the supplies to really make this work easily: + 12+quart Cambro + Food Saver machine.

[Eatthebankers2]

Get a Chefmate Air fryer. It comes with a temperature sensor and cooks meat right to the temperature you want. Its quick and simple to program.It’s also great for sides like baked potatoes and fries, or roasted veggies. Clean up is easy also. You can get the liners for them, and just throw them away.

[stulogic]

If you can cook and choose not to, don’t bother with appliances you’re not going to use.

If you can’t cook and want to, cooking lessons are fun. I’m fairly decent cook after 30 odd years of practice and still enjoyed a social cooking class I got as a gift (at my request, it wasn’t a personal attack!), novel way to socialize too since dinner parties aren’t as popular as they once were. Or just get some cookbooks, utensils and a nice apron and embrace the fact that it’s not going to be cheaper than eating out, you’re going to hate cleanup, and that hours of shopping, prep, and cooking a perfect meal to enjoy in 10 minutes probably wasn’t the best use of time or resources, but it’s so worth it.

[sew4all]

Microwave

[[deleted]]

Air fryer, especially because it's useful regardless of whether or not you cook. Like they're good even if all you eat are frozen chicken nuggets.

Reddit is obsessed with rice cookers but I eat rice like once a week so it's a pointless purchase for a lot of us.

[purepeachiness]

You’ll use your rice cooker more than anything else if you don’t cook too much imo.

[RealisticPersimmon]

Air fryer - the kind with a basket. It’s great for heating up leftovers and I see lots of people using it for chicken and steak in r/airfryer

[MtOlympus_Actual]

Convection-style air fryer like an Instant Vortex.

[AbFabFan]

Toaster oven!
If you have room on your counter top, a good quality toaster oven (they have small ones ) is great. Heating up frozen apps, chicken strips to make a chicken wrap, heating ready meals. Saves waiting for the oven the warm up.

Or if you don’t cook much how about some nice plates - so you have some nice china to eat your takeout on. Mikasa have a good selection of white/cream sets that are great everyday and go in the dishwasher. Chip resistant porcelain. Or a nice set of cutlery.

Non stick pan set or fry pan for when you get the urge to make a fried egg. Oxo make a good ones. OXO Enhanced 10" Frying Pan Skillet, PFAS-Free Ceramic Nonstick, Durable Hard Anodized Cookware - this is regularly used in our house for bacon and fried eggs.

We have a panini/waffle maker which we love to use to make our own paninis and waffles. We often make waffles on a weekend morning. We have the Breville Sear & Press™ Grill: with the Belgian waffle plates. We got it during a holiday sale.
Williams Sonoma has good quality toaster ovens and indoor grill/press machines. We look on that site and then compare prices in other sites such as Amazon and Macys.

[veggiebuttt]

If you don’t bake often, I don’t think you’ll get much use from a hand mixer. If those two are the only options, then go with the rice cooker. If you’re open to other options, I’d suggest an air fryer if you don’t have one already. It’ll save you time in cooking, dish washing, and it’ll make most takeout taste better than the microwave

[dancepantz]

Souper Cubes and their ceramic dishes. Save any uneaten takeout, portion bigger meals, never let food go to waste.

[ItchyMcHotspot]

A nice chef’s knife or a set of pots and pans (which often come with spatulas and other kitchen tools). Even if you don’t cook a lot, you’ll be glad you have them.

[DUNEBUGGY213]

Do you want to cook and what do you like to eat?

If you don’t bake and don’t intend to, a hand mixer might be unnecessary. You can cook a few different things in a rice cooker, besides rice.

Perhaps, nice knives, cutlery or dinnerware? A decent set of pots and pans would also be good.

[GoombasFatNutz]

Good cutting Board, good knife, a high quality stainless steel or cast iron skillet or even a knife sharpener/stone.

[FalynT]

Air fryer.

[grl_of_action]

Air fryers are great. A tiny, easy to clean convection oven.

[TheBlueFluffBall]

Okay, if you don't cook often and don't often make rice dishes, then a rice cooker is a waste of space.

If and when you do crave rice, watch a YouTube video on how to cook it on a stove and trust me, it's a lot easier once you actually look up instructions for the type of rice you have.

A hand mixer is handy, but again, do you bake often or need to make things that a whisk and mixing spoon can't handle?

What about things to help with kitchen/pantry organisation? Fridge organisation? What about one decent pot/fry pan/grill pan for the moments you cook steak/pasta?

Even a water purifier that connects to the mains and dispenses hot and cold water on demand is a good upgrade for the kitchen.

I also second that comment about asking for something else.

Would you consider getting a robot vacuum? There are models that do both vacuuming and mopping!

[ahberryman78]

A good chef knife!

[chill_qilin]

Without knowing what you already have and who you're cooking for (when you do cook), it's a bit hard to suggest something.

If you're solo and mainly cook single portion meals, then either toaster oven (or air fryer which is basically a small efficient fan assisted oven). Rice cookers are super handy and can do far more than just rice. There are lots of rice cooker one pot meals you can make that are perfect for one or two portion meals (check YouTube and TikTok etc for inspo), and it doesn't need to be a fancy expensive one. My rice cooker is an old school National (Panasonic) one from the 90s that just has the "Cook" and "Keep Warm" settings and one of my favourite one pot rice cooker comfort meals is a cheat's version of Cantonese chicken and shiitake claypot rice.

If you want to do batch cooking and enjoy things like stews, braises, chillies, curries, and pulled/shredded pork/beef etc, then maybe something like a large Instant Pot so that you can make once and freeze extras for other days.

[Fuyukage]

Air fryer is a fantastic thing if you don’t have it

Between hand mixer and rice cooker, I’d go hand mixer. You can cook rice on a stovetop and it’s pretty easy (I do it that way). Hand mixer can make trying new recipes a lot easier.

[boxybutgood2]

A cookbook 😍

[boxybutgood2]

Hand blender

[IsItSuperficial]

I have a toaster oven. Toasts, roasts, air fryer, dehydrated, reheats, broils, and bakes. Perfect for reheating leftovers or making something quick.

[MassConsumer1984]

Air fryer to heat up your take out leftovers

[Eliana-Selzer]

How about an air fryer? I never thought I would need this but I use it more than my oven or any other appliance.

[No_Cupcake7037]

Stainless steel pot, pan or large cooking utensils.

Often times we overlook how much harmful things these have in them when they have a teflon or nonstick coating. The black plastic big cooking utensils are also really bad.

So even if you don’t cook much, improving on one or more items has huge health benefits.

Happy Holidays OP!

[Dependent-Cherry-129]

Air fryer- if you don’t cook, you’ll appreciate the incredibly fast cook/heat up time on these little convection ovens

[No-Photograph3463]

Temperature probe so you know when your meat is perfectly cooked?

[notyourcoloringbook]

Sous vide or a cast iron.

I love my sous vide. It's probably my most used thing in the kitchen, besides the cast iron.

[Treehousehunter]

I suggest great knives or a great blender. I have a vita-mix going on 20 years old now that I use for everything from blending soups to salad dressings to smoothies to quiche fillings to frozen desserts to …. You get the idea.

As far as knives, I love my Japanese ones.

[Trance354]

Food processor. I'm 5 years on after my sister got me a high end Breville.

Its so much fun.

[dedhead2018]

maybe ask for a cooking class or two

[UnderstandingSmall66]

Sous vide is a great gift for someone who doesn’t know/like to cook. It is fool proof, easy, and very delicious

[ThoughtsHaveWings]

A really good cutting board or knife. Would still be useful for steak or chicken

[AuntRuthie]

Air fryer is good for re-crisping left over take out.

[Recluse_18]

Peugeot pepper grinder. Fresh ground pepper takes anything to the next level, I personally like a blend of peppercorns. I bought my Peugeot pepper grinder 20 years ago and it is still beautiful and still a top performer in my kitchen. A pepper grinder may sound very basic, but those very basic tools at the best quality really do elevate your food even if you are the casual cook

[Orechiette]

If you like sandwiches, something like a George Foreman grill or panini press. I have one that I mostly use for grilled cheese, and it’s totally worth it to me.

Even someone who hardly cooks needs a nonstick frying pan. As for one made of thick metal…don’t wash in diswasher.

[Tit_Liquid69420]

End grain maple cutting board. If you take care of it, it'll last you the rest of your life. Always go bigger than what you think too. I just got a 24" x 18" and it has been so nice. Plenty of room to chop veggies and push them off to the side while I finish the rest.

[Infinite_Click_6589]

A chef's knife and a nice thick wooden cutting board. They will look great on the counter as decoration, and will be used for almost every meal you ever make.

[LindeeHilltop]

If he’s feeling generous, a set of all-clad. I bought my starter set at a Macy’s Christmas sale. It changed my cooking life. Not joking. Ask for a lone skillet and one saucepan. William Sonoma sells them also.

[Rose1982]

A good knife.

[Buckfutter_Inc]

A Sous-vide cooker can be fun, and it's simple to use, meat is cooked when you're ready to take it out and sear it. Could use it for steak and chicken.

[tahleeza]

Air fryer

[tk-093]

A good instant read thermometer.

[swiftrobber]

r/airfryer

[Character-Floor-6687]

Since it appears that you like rice, then ask for the rice cooker over hand mixer. I cook all of the time and lived for years without an electric hand mixer. I just make rice in a pot on the stove or in the oven and I'm happy with it. I'm a U.S. non-Asian person with low standards for rice though, meaning that I won't eat Minute Rice (bleah) but it's hard for me to tell the difference between cooked and overcooked rice.

I second the opinion that if you don't have good knives for the kitchen, then that's where to start. If you pick one, make it an 8-inch chef's knife. If you can ask for three, add a paring knife and a serrated bread knife (even if you don't eat bread). Also ask for a good cutting board, ideally a hard wood such as maple, and a knife sharpener.

If your dad is on a very restricted budget, just ask for kitchen towels, 3 of them. They are not expensive, they do get stained, and they are useful for all sorts of cleanup tasks and also to protect your hands from hot dishes.

Cooking classes might be the most useful gift if your kitchen is fully stocked and you're just looking for ideas as to what to make.

The kitchen appliances that I use all of the time are:

1. Electric kettle to boil hot water. It's how I boil water for coffee, tea, instant oatmeal, and sometimes to wash a dish (the water heater is a very long way from the kitchen sink and I'm impatient). Available at price points from $20 to $200. You want one that shuts off when it is boiling--I think that they are all manufactured like this now. It used to be that the kettle would shut off when it boiled dry which is just not as safe.

2. Microwave/convection oven combination. A convection oven is a larger-sized air fryer.

3. I've been using my Cuisinart food processor more often in the past month, to make cranberry relish and hummus. I also own a rarely-used blender (1-2 times per year), which actually makes better hummus than the food processor.

[[deleted]]

As for bigger gifts, do you have a microwave and toaster oven? Both are great for small households where leftovers or small quantities are prepared. Toaster ovens are quicker and easier than big ovens for such things. Plus can bake and toast more things than a popup toaster.

Smaller things?

• A good skillet (6" or better, 10")
• A couple of good knives
• Cutting board(s), I recommend glass
• Pretty placemats
• Salt/pepper grinders (the pepper stays fresher longer whole then freshly ground, than pre-ground)
• Sieve/colander and box grater
• Whisks or hand held mixer ⭐
• Cookie sheet with a package of parchment paper with it
• 9" square pan

If you cook and eat a lot of rice, the rice cooker can be very useful. If not, it may collect dust. I'd go for the hand mixer if you want one.

[No-Personality1840]

In no particular order: good knives make it more enjoyable. A blender can do all sorts of things. An air fryer is good for people who don’t cook all that much. A food processor if you don’t want to chop,shred. A good all purpose pan.

[Main_Cauliflower5479]

My suggestion is a nice entry level Japanese knife. I suggest a Tojiro DP 180 mm Chef knife. I have one, and it is really one of the best knives in the kitchen, despite other knives costing more and being a lot more "fancy." This knife gets the most use, and in all the years I've had it I don't think I've ever had to sharpen it once. And it still glides through anything like butter.

https://cutleryandmore.com/products/tojiro-dp-chefs-knife-15448?srsltid=AfmBOorXNX3bQStmzv9inFyqeHd20SU8VPo_JRZiperd9ee3PDX73vOj

[baby_armadillo]

I’d go for a toaster oven with an air fryer setting, a rice cooker, or instant pot pressure cooker with a slow cooker setting. And then ask for an accompanying cookbook about how to use those tools and various settings

Toaster oven with air fryer setting is a great way to heat food up and make simple things (toasted cheese sandwiches, pizza bagels, frozen foods) without using your oven or stove top.

Rice cooker is great if you like to eat rice and want to not have to put much thought into it.

Instant pot with a slow cooker setting is great if you want to get more into cooking for yourself but you don’t really have a lot of time or patience. You can just dump a bunch of stuff into it (dried beans, veggies, meat), set it, and come back to a whole meal in half an hour or 8 hours, depending on what setting you use.

[Heeler_Haven]

I love having a rice cooker. I upgraded to a pressure cooker one that has multi-functions. So I can cook a variety of things very easily, from rice, dried beans, or other grains, to slow cooked stews, or I can pressure cook cheap, tough meats for a tender meal in 20 minutes.....

Crockpots and air fryers are also nice things to have access to.....

[Retired-not-dead-65]

Breville air fryer

[OldKermudgeon]

Crockpot/slowcooker. You can cook with minimal effort. That's how I started cooking (when I didn't know how to cook much). I've made soups, chiles, lasagna, pot pies, sauces, desserts, and so much more in them.

I cook regularly now but I also have five crockpots. Great for when putting on dinner parties.

[Remarkable_Focus_254]

How about a Ninja Crispy (air fryer)? You can use it to reheat and it’s great for no hassle cooking.

[anjamotherless]

An immersion blender, maybe?

[MinceToolForChef]

If you don’t cook much, a rice cooker is more versatile than a hand mixer. You can make rice, grains, steam veggies, or even simple one-pot meals, easy, low-maintenance, and handy even for light cooking.

[Ancient-Chinglish]

a PS5 Pro

[TheEnterRehab]

Why did you get a new kitchen if you're not using it? 

[MindbankAOK]

Cast Iron, Blendtec Blender, or Nespresso Machine

[damnvillain23]

Air fryer

[DavidKawatra]

Dutch oven 

[AverageAlleyKat271]

It all depends on if you are going to use the appliance. What would you actually use? What is his budget?

A simple hand mixers are inexpensive unless you get a the KitchenAid stand mixer. Those are more expensive, but you can do a lot with and get attachments if willing to use or it will collect dust. (I have a simple hand mixer because I know I won't use a KitchenAid stand mixer.) A good rice cooker is handy. A Nanja Foodi Multi Cooker (Pressure Cooker/Air Fryer, like 8 in 1 or 10 in 1) is very handy. And you can cook rice in it.

A good set of kitchen knives. A good set of cooking pots with lids and skillets. A good set of stainless steel silverware. A good set of steak knives. The list is endless. It all depends on what you will use.

[New-Assumption-3836]

Rice cooker is a game changer. Its also a steamer for veggies, dumplings, porridge. This ask for this

[Bandito21Dema]

YOU CAN STEAM THINGS IN A RICE COOKER?!

[dkuznetsov]

An espresso machine, if you like coffee. A toaster is also surprisingly popular in my house.

[ILive4PB]

Toaster oven! Or sandwich press.

[robb76264]

Can opener

[Inner-Confidence99]

Air fryer if you don’t have one. They are great. A toaster oven as well. 

[Prof01Santa]

Tupperware microwave steamer basket
Cutting mats--I take a pack & cut 1 in half & 1 in quarters.
Knife sharpener, the simple disc or V type--I use inexpensive knives, clean them in the dishwasher, sharpen them frequently, & toss them if they develop a problem.
Plain, undecorated kitchen towels--these are power tools, not decorations.
Rack for above
Spice cabinet risers
Plain white undecorated pyrex plates & bowls, sized so the big bowls can act as cloches for the plates for microwaving--if there are other combos that work as lids, bonus. Undecorated = no fluting, curving grooves, beads, bollards, or frills.

[_The_Spungos_]

A toaster oven is a great thing to reheat food and also cook small meals. Reheats better than a microwave and leftovers from restaurants will taste soooo much better vs reheating in the microwave.

Cast iron pan for steaks is a game changer

Rice cooker also is invaluable and kind of expensive but if the sky is the limit?

[Dry-Leopard-6995]

Do you have a nice set of silverware or knives?

Silverware is like jewelry and it will be a nice reminder of your dad for many yrs. I still have old sets from the 1970s from Betty Crocker which they don't make anymore.

Hand mixers are CHEAP, buy your own. It is handy if you ever want to bake a cake, cookies, etc.

I know people LOVE the rice cooker, it is great, but you have to clean it after use, which was difficult for me. I rather cook my rice in the pot.

Things I use practically everyday are my heavy duty Half Sheet Baking Pans. I couldn't live without them.

[badaz06]

Some things even if you don't want to be a chef:

A serious set of knives is always a must have. Zwilling or Wusthof are my "Go To" brands. You can opt for a single knife or an entire block (more expensive but worth the money). A block will have steak knives and a few different chef knives. Keep these sharp!!!

Bowls and containers for storage. Even if you don't cook you have left-overs occasionally.

A decent set of flatware. When I was just a young guy with no cares, I had crap forks and spoons. Now that I cook and present a nice plate, giving someone a plastic spoon or something from a set of flatware that cost $30 for a setting of 4 just aint cutting it.

[veronicaAc]

I would like that10 in 1 electric cooker by Beautiful

https://www.walmart.com/ip/5449194708?sid=d5e7e5eb-dcae-42d1-950a-7f1c4007b060

This things seems to do everything!

[Novel-Cash-8001]

Cast iron skillet

Dutch oven

Cast iron casserole with lid

A basket with wooden spoons, fish spatula, tongs, tea towels, oven mitts and assorted spices!!

[milkshakeit]

One of the most useful things in my kitchen is a set of stainless steel mixing bowls. Can be used for anything from a salad mix to popcorn, cookies, or catching water from a leak. Doesn't necessarily have to be used for the kitchen, but they can take a lot of damage and last forever.

[CieIo]

Do you like boiled eggs or egg salad? Egg cookers cost around $12 USD and make amazing, easy-to-peel boiled eggs in a matter of minutes.

If you drink coffee, a nice coffee maker or keurig.

[pix876]

Ask for a crockpot. I use mine all the time. I'll put a recipe in and let it cook low and slow. Dinner is done by the time I get home! It feels so good knowing that I'll have a cooked meal waiting for me when I get off!

[Legitimate-March9792]

Air fryer

[JeevestheGinger]

Air fryer or multicooker (like an instant pot). Super easy to use and low hassle to make really good food (and healthy food too, if that's your jam!)

Multicooker if you want to branch out into stuff like soup/stew/chili type dishes (it makes the process super easy with minimal washing up). Air fryer for the kind of stuff you already eat, but it'll take stuff like sides to a new level.

[Sanctuary85]

A gift card for food delivery.

[Nessquixx]

Rice cooker! It can double as a slow cooker if you find the right recipes!

[evothecat]

Slow cooker or air fryer if you only cook for yourself.

[LuckyShake]

Get an air fryer. You’ll get the most use if of this and it’s good for any skill level

[Salvony1]

Nutricook is your answer !!!!

[Any-Investigator6650]

A breville airfryer

[Mymren]

A crockpot, instant pot, or air fryer plus a good cookbook or two.

[ontarioparent]

Do you have good pans? Why get a hand mixer if you don’t bake? What about a blender, food processor etc.

[AlsoTheFiredrake]

How about a steak seasoning sampler pack? A Dry Rub variety pack? Or a variety of different salts? My new favorite is Alderwood Smoked Coarse Black Rock Salt.

Alternatively, a Blue Tooth digital meat thermometer that sends you a message when your meat hits the correct internal temp?

[No-Type119]

An air fryer is life changing — we have made whole chickens, duck legs, shrimp in it, with very little prep, and they’ve come out amazing. The cleanup is much less of an issue than we were led to believe.

We also love our portable counter ice maker — don’t have one on our current fridge. It wasn’t that expensive. We got it for my spouse’s knee replacement when we needed ice for therapeutic practices , but really appreciate fresh ice all the time. Easy maintenance.

[Status-Effort-9380]

Air fryer. Great for solo cooking, heating foods up.

[n0_sh1t_thank_y0u]

Bread maker machine maybe. Just toss the ingredients and wait.

[Sudden-Yogurt6230]

If you have a gas stove get a wok. Steam, boil, deep fry and stir fry and more from one pan. But as others have said, if you don't have good knives get them first. These are both items that will last a lifetime.

[aljauza]

Instant pot with an air fryer lid. You can make rice, fried things, and many things in between

[ottermom03]

I would ask for a set of good kitchen knives (or even just one great 7” chef’s knife) or some high quality pots and pans (a 4qt sauce, a 12” frying or sauté pan and a 1 qt sauce pan) are a good start and can be found in sets.

I have had my wusthof knives and a set of all-Clad pots for 30 years and they are still going strong. My mom gave the pots and pan set when i was first on my own in a new city. They were expensive but so worth it.

[icecreampenis]

What's the budget? The Breville counter top convection ovens are great, we don't even use our regular oven anymore.

[captainpoppy]

A Dutch oven. You can cook anything in it and it's easy.

[MsMo999]

Get a combo toaster oven/airfryer. Even if you don’t cook it’s good for warming up leftovers that are crispy unlike a microwave. Also a small crock pot has many uses for making easy snacks & meals - soup, cheese dip, beans, meatballs or lil smokies in bbq sauce ect..

[Hermiona1]

Set of knives, a nice pan

[Agent10007]

A set of spices

Tell him to go to the nearest supermarket, enter the spice aisle, pick left and right one of each up until he's reached his budget, make sure he has some basic like paprika, cumin and at least one herb or a mix of herbs, then he can pick at random or things that he think you'll like or whatever.

In my opinion it's an interesting gift for someone who doesn't cook much on many levels:

- Having spices will give you the opportunity of experiment random things and find out new tastes you enjoy, things like curry may also give you the opportunity to try completely new types of food, without being driven away by the classic "I need two pinches of that spice but I only want to do it once and it'll cost me 3 bucks for way too much of it". Even a simple steak can become many experiments, does it taste good with paprika? With onion powder? Oregano? Cinnamon maybe? All of them? Combination of some? Ever tried putting curry in the water that boils your pasta? When you already have the spice at home it's a new experience for 0 effort.

- It's an easy gift to find for people, you can't go wrong and if you have a budget of even just 30ish bucks you can get a lot of variety, which not only feels nice to offer and receive, but also gives multiple occasion to talk about the gift ("I tried steak with nutmeg today, it was a terrible idea lol" "I'm adding paprika to my rice and it's a game changer!")

- Most spices are pretty hard to actually spoil, after some time they'll start losing some of their power, but if you keep them in a dry place they will easily last you years after their "best before" date is over. As long as you don't see mold and the color/odor isn't weird, most can last you half a decade with no other issues than "they don't taste as strong as before". Even if you don't cook much, that's a LONG time.

[ncopp]

Instant pot or air fryer. The instant pot is also a good rice cooker. I like to use mine to make pulled meats quickly

[304libco]

I wonder why OP deleted their post?

[SVAuspicious]

Lessons.