We all know at least one person who is a whizz in the kitchen, and could spend hours a day experimenting with food. Whether it’s trying out new dishes or introducing new ingredients into the mix, it’s easy to get caught up in the creativity – especially when it comes to the festive season, and in particular, Christmas dinner.
If you’re looking for a luxurious gift for the chef or cook in your life, then there is no shortage of great ideas. From simple, quality essentials to state-of-the-art electricals, the right item has the power to make or break a meal – and having the right tools for the job can make cooking up a Christmas feast easier than ever.
Unsure where to start? We’ve rounded up three please-all gifts that they are bound to thank you for – whatever their level of proficiency in the kitchen.
A quality bread knife
Starting with the essentials, a good quality bread knife is an item that should feature in any self-respecting chef’s kitchen. The ideal type of knife that will cut through stacked sandwiches and crusty bread, as well as slice squishy tomatoes and split cake layers, has a serrated blade and should slice through loaves and cakes with ease without making a mess.
Any sharp knife can cut through bread and cakes. But there are specific qualities that are technically suited for slicing through such foods. This is a good guide to get you started.
Every knife should have a firm and comfortable grip, be it a paring knife or bread knife. It should also have a sharp blade – if you have tried slicing bread or cake with a dull knife, then you understand how frustrating and annoying it can be, more so because the bread crumbles inward as you force the blade through.
The bread knife should also have an adequate length for an effortless sawing or cutting. Anything with a blade that is between seven and nine inches or longer is perfect. A serrated cutting edge makes it easier to saw through loaves, cakes, or tomatoes for neater slices.
For best results, keep your knife sharp. You can get the sharpening stone in a variety of sizes, and you will work with the one that matches the serrations sizes of your bread knife. Below are the steps to take when sharpening your bread knife.
If you’d like to know more about how to slice bread, there are plenty of good tips online.
A kitchen aid
The ultimate kitchen prop for those who enjoy cooking everything from scratch, the Kitchen Aid is bound to be every kitchen whizz’s Christmas gift list.
The Artisan Series 5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer allows you to make up to 9 dozen biscuits in a single batch, featuring ten speeds to thoroughly mix, knead and whip ingredients quickly and easily.
Available in a variety of colours ranging from fun and quirky to all-out chic, it’s a great opportunity to show the recipient how well you know them.
For even more versatility, there is a Power Hub available which allows you to turn the stand mixer into a culinary centre, with over ten optional hub powered attachments. From pasta makers to food grinders, the options are endless – making this the perfect starter gift for any cookery enthusiast.
Automatic pan stirrer
The ideal gift for the multi-tasking cook I your life, the automatic pan stirrer could well be the hero of this year’s Christmas dinner. Making sure whatever is in your pan – whether it’s bread sauce or gravy – is consistently stirred and free of lumps and skins, it even comes with a timer – allowing you to truly be in several places at once on the big day.
A simple yet handy gift that can make all the difference when cooking for large groups of family and friends, you might want to crack this one out first thing in the morning, allowing them to get full use out of it on the most important day of cooking in the year
There are hundreds of great gift ideas out there this year for those who enjoy spending time in the kitchen, but these simple choices are bound to put a smile on their faces. So, if you’re looking forward to Christmas lunch this year, then you know what to do.
