Cooking gift ideas for Father"s Day
With Father's Day coming up, we thought we'd share some of our favorite choices for great gifts for dads who love to cook. Whether he's the grill master, the breakfast chef, or a collector of gourmet gadgets, any of these gifts are likely to whet his appetite for more time in the kitchen. Which is a gift for mom as well, right?
For a man who loves a good steak, the UMAI Dry Starter Kit will allow him to create steakhouse-quality steaks and charcuterie. The kit includes a FoodSaver 2400-series vacuum sealer, 3 UMAi Dry Ribeye/Striploin bags, 5 adaptor strips to use with the vacuum sealer, a practice packet, and detailed instructions. Just seal the meat as instructed and let age for 21 to 45 days. Cut away the "bark" exterior to reveal beautiful dry-aged steaks. Kits are also available for making charcuterie like pancetta or prosciutto, and salumi. The starter kit with the vacuum sealer is $135, with the additional packets starting at under $20.
Another idea for meat lovers: More »
If he loves to grill, but doesn't always have access to a charcoal or gas grill outdoors, T-Fal's OptiGrill is the next best thing. This high-tech countertop grill automatically senses the thickness and number of portions to adapt the cooking time for perfect results. A prominent indicator changes color to show the cooking process, from preheating to rare, medium, and well-done. A beep at the end of each cycle alerts you to the progress. Other features include six automatic functions; a frozen food function that defrosts, then cooks; and a removable drip tray. The OptiGrill sells for around $170 to $200, depending on the retailer.
Compare Prices on the T-Fal OptiGrill.
More on Countertop Grills: Indoor Grilling TipsMore »
He'll never suffer an overcooked (or undercooked) steak again with this impressive gadget. The SteakChamp 3-Color Ultimate Steak Thermometer is a little thermometer probe that is inserted into the steak before grilling or cooking. An indicator light flashes green, yellow, or red when the steak is medium rare, medium, or medium well, respectively. When the steak is removed from the heat, the LED light will continue to stay illuminated until the optimal resting phase ends, indicating that the steak is ready to be served.
Compare prices on the SteakChamp Thermometer.
More on thermometersMore »
Whether he's a fan of smoothies and protein shakes, or margaritas (or perhaps both?), he'll appreciate the BlendTec Designer Series 625. This blender has a high-tech touchscreen with preprogrammed functions for making smoothies, ice cream, hot soup, or whole juice, as well as a touch-activated bar for operating the variable speed manually. The 90-ounce plastic jar is BPA-free. Want to make sure you've gotten your money's worth? The BlendTec will count the number of times you've used it throughout its lifetime. Those daily smoothies quickly add up!
Vitamix vs. Blendtec: Which to choose?More »
If he hates to cook without his knives, equip him with this deluxe traveler's set for vacation rentals, camping, or trips to the in-law's. The canvas zipper case contains three knives (a 6-inch chef's knife, a 5-inch serrated utility knife, and a 3 1/2-inch paring kinfe), a waiter's corkscrew with bottle opener, and a keychain sharpener with two-stage sharpening capabilities.
Another cutlery option for a budget-minded gift: The Victorinox Swiss Classic Chef's KnifeMore »
If he's got a curious mind, he'll love learning the science behind cooking in this fascinating and entertaining compendium of food science facts. Culinary lore, equipment and ingredient recommendations, and easy-to-fathom explanations are interspersed with recipes that showcase various culinary reactions and processes. If he likes it, you'll be set for next father's day too: there's a sequel.
Compare prices on What Einstein Told His Cook
Related: Top Cookbooks for FamiliesMore »
1. For the Meat Lover: UMAi Dry Artisan Meat Kits
For a man who loves a good steak, the UMAI Dry Starter Kit will allow him to create steakhouse-quality steaks and charcuterie. The kit includes a FoodSaver 2400-series vacuum sealer, 3 UMAi Dry Ribeye/Striploin bags, 5 adaptor strips to use with the vacuum sealer, a practice packet, and detailed instructions. Just seal the meat as instructed and let age for 21 to 45 days. Cut away the "bark" exterior to reveal beautiful dry-aged steaks. Kits are also available for making charcuterie like pancetta or prosciutto, and salumi. The starter kit with the vacuum sealer is $135, with the additional packets starting at under $20.
Another idea for meat lovers: More »
2. For the Grill Master: T-Fal OptiGrill
If he loves to grill, but doesn't always have access to a charcoal or gas grill outdoors, T-Fal's OptiGrill is the next best thing. This high-tech countertop grill automatically senses the thickness and number of portions to adapt the cooking time for perfect results. A prominent indicator changes color to show the cooking process, from preheating to rare, medium, and well-done. A beep at the end of each cycle alerts you to the progress. Other features include six automatic functions; a frozen food function that defrosts, then cooks; and a removable drip tray. The OptiGrill sells for around $170 to $200, depending on the retailer.
Compare Prices on the T-Fal OptiGrill.
More on Countertop Grills: Indoor Grilling TipsMore »
3. For the Steak Perfectionist: SteakChamp 3-Color Ultimate Steak Thermometer
He'll never suffer an overcooked (or undercooked) steak again with this impressive gadget. The SteakChamp 3-Color Ultimate Steak Thermometer is a little thermometer probe that is inserted into the steak before grilling or cooking. An indicator light flashes green, yellow, or red when the steak is medium rare, medium, or medium well, respectively. When the steak is removed from the heat, the LED light will continue to stay illuminated until the optimal resting phase ends, indicating that the steak is ready to be served.
Compare prices on the SteakChamp Thermometer.
More on thermometersMore »
4. For the Health Nut (or the Margarita Buff): A BlendTec Designer Series Blender
Whether he's a fan of smoothies and protein shakes, or margaritas (or perhaps both?), he'll appreciate the BlendTec Designer Series 625. This blender has a high-tech touchscreen with preprogrammed functions for making smoothies, ice cream, hot soup, or whole juice, as well as a touch-activated bar for operating the variable speed manually. The 90-ounce plastic jar is BPA-free. Want to make sure you've gotten your money's worth? The BlendTec will count the number of times you've used it throughout its lifetime. Those daily smoothies quickly add up!
Vitamix vs. Blendtec: Which to choose?More »
5. For the Cutlery Connoisseur: Wüsthof Classic 7-Piece Traveler Set
If he hates to cook without his knives, equip him with this deluxe traveler's set for vacation rentals, camping, or trips to the in-law's. The canvas zipper case contains three knives (a 6-inch chef's knife, a 5-inch serrated utility knife, and a 3 1/2-inch paring kinfe), a waiter's corkscrew with bottle opener, and a keychain sharpener with two-stage sharpening capabilities.
Another cutlery option for a budget-minded gift: The Victorinox Swiss Classic Chef's KnifeMore »
6. For the Science Nerd: What Einstein Told His Cook
If he's got a curious mind, he'll love learning the science behind cooking in this fascinating and entertaining compendium of food science facts. Culinary lore, equipment and ingredient recommendations, and easy-to-fathom explanations are interspersed with recipes that showcase various culinary reactions and processes. If he likes it, you'll be set for next father's day too: there's a sequel.
Compare prices on What Einstein Told His Cook
Related: Top Cookbooks for FamiliesMore »
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