Christmas is almost here, and coming up with gift ideas is hard. Unfortunately, buying for a cooking enthusiast can also be a little difficult. Many kitchen tools are unnecessarily expensive or overhyped and not actually that useful. I was super excited to get my spiralizer about six years ago, and I think I’ve used it three times since. Spiralizers are great… just not for me I guess. Lots of our kitchen tools are like this!

With that being said, here’s a list of gift ideas that, in my opinion, everyone should have on hand (maybe with one or two exceptions). Peruse this list if you’re shopping for the home chef in your life. Or if you’re the home chef, send this article to someone who might shop for you!

Custom Apron: Aprons are a great way to avoid ruining your shirts and pants. They’re also a good way to show some personality. Every good apron should be durable enough to get splashed by sauce or water without getting you soaked beneath, and a good apron will also have strong pockets for holding towels and tools you frequently use. However, your favorite apron might be hot pink and have a picture of John Travolta. My grandparents have a pair of aprons embroidered in Polish that I don’t understand, but it’s meaningful to them (they spent three years living in Poland). My wife has hinted that a special apron is coming my way this year, and I’m excited!

Digital Kitchen Scale: A useful kitchen tool, and not just for bakers. Use your kitchen scale to get the perfect amount of salt on your meat, and measure out the perfect ratios for mirepoix.

Molecular Gastronomy Kit: This is a departure from the usual and a brief foray into the fun and interesting. Molecular gastronomy is where food meets unusual science, resulting in some peculiarly delicious treats. Would you like a ball of milk with that cookie? How about some caviar made of garlic? A molecular gastronomy kit might turn your kitchen into a playground again.

Oven-Safe Meat Thermometer: If you regularly read my articles, you’re probably sick of hearing this from me, but for good reason! You cannot beat a good thermometer if you want to kick up your cooking to the next level. There’s no replacement for having precise control of your food temperature.

Culinary Torch: I’m shocked at how often I use my torch. In fact, we ran out of butane for our torch several months ago, and I’ve shaken my fist at the sky several times since then when I’ve needed more torch and haven’t been able to use it. Your torch is perfect for creating an amazing crust, whether it be the browning on a slow-cooked steak, the caramelization on top of a cheesecake or creme brulee, or your latest experiment with gourmet s’mores. Plus, there’s something really satisfying about cooking with fire.

New Chef’s Knife: The next few gifts are a bit more pricey if you have a larger budget, but are worth it if for the right item. That is especially the case with knives. Here’s a general rule of thumb: kitchen items bought in bulk are (usually) not worth it. Knife sets on sale at the local superstore tend to be of terrible quality—they don’t hold an edge, have an uncomfortable handle, and are damaged easily. But a single-good chef’s knife will last you your whole life.

High-Quality Pot: A large stock pot will run you up into the triple digits of your price range. It will also change the life of your home chef. Soups will get a major upgrade and stocks will become more plentiful. My grandma got me a small, high-quality saucepan for Christmas last year, and I’ve used it almost every time I’ve cooked since then.

Sous Vide Precision Cooker: Sous vide cooking is a slow cooking method where you seal your food in an airtight bag and immerse it in water that is heated to exactly the cooking temperature you want. The thermal density of water holds temperature more reliably than anything else. And you know I’m a sucker for slow cooking methods; nothing creates a more succulent slice of meat than slow and precise temperature control. If you know anyone like me who doesn’t mind some long cooking times on a lazy Saturday, a sous vide precision cooker might be the perfect gift.

Did I miss any gift ideas you would find super useful? Let me know in a comment below; maybe I can finally surprise my grandma with something nice this year.