Celebrity Chefs Reveal Their Favorite Stocking Stuffers—One Is Just $4
From Padma Lakshmi to Curtis Stone, these affordable pro-approved gifts are guaranteed to get used.
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Stockings hung with care typically carry silly little gifts, like tchotchkes and candy, that make people smile. But this year, we found a way to make the smallest gifts have the biggest impact on your loved ones’ kitchens, asking celebrity chefs for their favorite tools, spices, and surprising culinary-centric stocking stuffers. Home cooks of any level of skill can utilize these small-but-mighty presents and feel like a pro when they whip up holiday recipes and kick off 2026 with a new bag of tricks!
“My go-to kitchen tools are the heroes of every cooking project,” shares Chef Ayesha Nurdjaja, Executive Chef and Partner of Shuka in New York City and a judge on Food Network shows, including Chopped and Bobby's Triple Threat. “These are the workhorses that I use every time I cook, whether in my home kitchen or at the restaurant. They are practical, indispensable, and tuck easily into a stocking, making them great gifts for the season.” Read on for recommendations from Chef Ayesha and other food TV stars.
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“I love a microplane; it's a tool I use almost daily at work or home. There are few things more satisfying than using a sharp, fresh microplane for zest or finely grating cheese, so out with the old and in with the new.” —Brooke Williamson, Chef and Co-Owner of Playa Provisions in Los Angeles and winner of Top Chef Season 14
Editor’s note: Three other chefs also recommended a Microplane for this feature, so if you grab one gift from this list, it should probably be this!
“Chinese five spice is one of those ingredients I reach for all the time. A little in cookie dough, a little on roasted veggies—it just makes everything taste more fun. If you want to give someone a stocking stuffer they’ll actually use, this is it.” —Stephanie Izard, Top Chef Season 4 Winner and Chef and Owner of Girl & the Goat in Chicago and Los Angeles
“A good Y-shaped peeler with a swivel blade makes short work of potatoes, apples and carrots, or to shave thin ribbons from hard cheeses, chocolate, and citrus zest. I love sticking these in holiday stockings because it’s a huge upgrade to the old-style peelers.” —Chef Ayesha Nurdjaja, Titan on Food Network’s Bobby’s Triple Threat
“I’ve gotten into the habit of enjoying a half or whole bar of chocolate before bed. These bars from Hu are made with very clean ingredients, so I feel no guilt in enjoying such pleasures for myself or as a gift.” —Padma Lakshmi, longtime host of Bravo’s Top Chef and author of Padma’s All-American: Tales, Travels, and Recipes from Taste the Nation and Beyond
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A brown sugar bear is a small terracotta disk that you briefly soak in water and place in your sugar container; it slowly releases moisture to keep brown sugar soft and prevent it from hardening.
“I never knew I needed a brown sugar bear until I was gifted one a few years back. It’s the gift that continues to give. And I love gifting it to people who haven’t had the fortune of knowing this cute little bear’s power—no more rock-hard brown sugar ever again!” —Tiffani Thiessen, star of Saved by the Bell and author of Here We Go Again: Recipes and Inspiration to Level Up Your Leftovers
“I love using a tea strainer or spice ball strainer to infuse spices into my curries and sauces. All you do is put the whole spices you need inside, lock it, and let it stew in whatever liquid you’re infusing. Then you can just toss the spices and not have to fish them out of the finished dish! It can also be used for tea or mulling spices for cider or wine.” —Maneet Chauhaun, judge on Food Network’s Chopped and Chef and Owner of Chauhaun Ale and Masala House in Nashville
“A warming mat is a brilliant idea for the holidays—perfect for keeping food hot whether you're serving a buffet or setting dishes out on the dining table. I especially love using it to keep all my breakfast items warm while my kids make their way downstairs in the morning.” —Curtis Stone, host of TLC’s Take Home Chef and Chef and Owner of Gwen in Los Angeles
“I love the versatility of a paring knife. The small thin blade can handle a wide range of tasks and a comfortable handle makes it feel like an extension of my hand. My favorites from Victorinox come in a range of bright colors to match my personality.” —Chef Ayesha Nurdjaja
“This is such an underrated tool. It’s simple, sturdy, easy to clean and just works every single time. I love how compact it is—the kind of tool you don’t think about until you need it, and then you’re glad it’s there.” —Chef Mei Lin, Top Chef Season 12 Winner
“I bought honey from Andrew Cote at the Union Square Greenmarket for years before he finally convinced me to build an apiary on my terrace (which has been a huge boon for my garden as well). I use it in numerous ways throughout my kitchen of course, but it also makes a great face and skin cleanser as well.” —Padma Lakshmi
“Perfect for ginger, garlic, or even daikon, this ceramic grater creates a really fine paste that mixes effortlessly into sauces and marinades. It’s small, beautiful, super easy to clean and surprisingly useful—one of my favorite stocking-stuffer gifts!” —Chef Mei Lin
RELATED: 15 Single-Use Kitchen Tools That Are Actually Worth the Drawer Space
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