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20 Best Kitchen Gifts Under $30

These handy kitchen tools are budget-approved and perfect for a home cook or happy hour host.

David Watsky
David lives in Brooklyn where he's spent more than a decade covering all things edible, including meal kit services, food subscriptions, kitchen tools and cooking tips. David earned his BA from Northeastern and has toiled in nearly every aspect of the food business, including as a line cook in Rhode Island where he once made a steak sandwich for Lamar Odom. Right now he's likely somewhere stress-testing a blender or tinkering with a toaster. Anything with sesame is his all-time favorite food this week.
David Watsky
cocktail
1 of 20Viski

The 20 best kitchen gifts under $30

There are thousands of kitchen tools, special ingredients and sharp pieces to buy a lover of cooking and many of them won't break the bank. 

Put down the pricey appliance and find something small but soulful like an olive cruet or cast-iron skillet.

We've rounded up 19 great kitchen gifts under $30. A mix of must-have gadgets and cooking classics, these tools never go out of style and will enhance your next happy hour or dinner party.

person holding white mug
2 of 20Stanley

Stanley

The Stanley cup is so last season. The classic camp mug is better for hot beverages and goes seamlessly from around the house to your next wilderness adventure.

microplane with yellow handle
3 of 20Amazon

Microplane

This is many a pro chef's favorite kitchen tool, great for zesting citrus and a quick grate of parmesan.

cast-iron-pan-seasoning-14
4 of 20Tyler Lizenby/CNET

Lodge cast-iron skillet

If you're living in a home without a cast-iron skillet, it's time to change that. Cast iron is durable, gets screaming hot and sears meat better than any other material. 

Plus, it's cheap and lasts forever. This $27 Lodge pan is a truly iconic piece of cookware and an excellent buy any time of the year.

cutting board
5 of 20H&M

A stylish board

This luscious $30 wooden board is space-saving and stylish.

kitchen shears
6 of 20Henckels/Screenshot by CNET

Kitchen shears

Kitchen shears are my pick for most underrated and underused kitchen tool. This pair of Henckel's shears is a steal at $15.

olive oil cruet
7 of 20Bollaer

Olive oil cruet

Olive oil and vinegar look as harmonious as they taste with this clever duet of a cruet.

viski glasses
8 of 20Viski/Screenshot by CNET

Viski lowball glasses

These lowball whisky glasses are both moder and classic and will level up that next happy hour.

le-creuset-cerise-gold-heart-knob-stoneware
9 of 20Amazon/Screenshot by CNET

Le Creuset mini cocotte

A miniature version of Le Creuset's iconic cookware for just $22. Use it for sauces, dips, individual soups or simply to charm the pants off of anyone who sees it.

silver slicing knife
10 of 20Cuisinart/Screenshot by CNET

A good slicing knife

All chefs need a good slicing knife and you don't need to spend a fortune to get one. This Victoronix will serve you well, just as long as it stays sharp.

granite pestle and mortar
11 of 20Figmint/Screenshot by CNET

Pestle and mortar

A pestle and mortar is not only useful for crushing herbs, spices and alliums like garlic and onion, it also presents a charming vessel in which to serve sauces and dips for dinner party guests.

wooden knife holder with two knives attached
12 of 20Hoshanho

Knife holder

If there's a giftee on your list with knives jangling about in the drawer, save their fingers, space and fine blades with this $30 wooden knife holder.

ice cream scoop beside three scoops of ice cream
13 of 20Zeroll/Screenshot by CNET

Zeroll ice cream scoop

Zeroll is the first and last name in ice cream scooping. They're crafted with no weak points that could bend or break, and the handle is filled with heat-conductive liquid that warms the scoop to get out even the most frozen chocolate or vanilla.

rice cooker being opened
14 of 20Aroma Housewares/Screenshot by CNET

Rice cooker

I use my rice cooker almost every day. This Aroma Housewares model works well for basic white and brown rice and costs less than a night of takeout.

grilling tool
15 of 20BBQCroc/Screenshot by CNET

3-in-1 grilling tool

This $30 grilling tool is three tools in one. It functions as a sturdy spatula, tongs and grill scraper and it's built to withstand long summers of abuse.

fluicer juicing lemon into bowl
16 of 20Dreamfarm/Screenshot by CNET

Fluicer

The Fluicer is a serious upgrade over clamshell juicers. This clever bend-and-squeeze juice gets about twice the amount of juice with half the effort.

Schmidt Brother cutting board
17 of 20Schmidt Brother/Screenshot by CNET

Cutting board

This cutting board is as beautiful as it is functional. It's just $30 and makes a perfect addition to your stack of blocks.

hyperchiller
18 of 20David Watsky/CNET

Hyperchiller beverage cooler

This simple device uses multiple chambers to cool warm and room-temperature beverages quickly without watering them down. Make iced coffee from hot in under a minute or bring warm white wine to chill in seconds with this handy device.

griddle top
19 of 20Lodge/Screenshot by CNET

Lodge griddle top

This simple piece of cast iron turns any grill into a griddle for making smash burgers, flaky fish or even scrambled eggs and bacon cooked outside.

Marta Wine Glasses in four sizes, one with whiskey and ice in it.
20 of 20CB2

Marta wine glasses

Rustic Spanish-style wine glasses are easy to wash and hard to knock over. They're an especially good gift paired with a wine or wine subscription.

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