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It’s that time of year again when you start planning your weekend getaway, but before you do, it’s time to get a little something for your dad. Father’s Day is June 16th, so there’s still plenty of time to get something shipped and wrapped. Here’s a list of gifts for parents who appreciate handy kitchen tools and get excited about tasty treats.
Gift ideas mentioned in this post:
Good apron
Before I went to culinary school and was a professional chef, the first apron I bought myself was beautiful. It was a floral apron from Anthropologie, but it was more for looks than for cooking. For dads who spend time cooking, get them a quality, practical apron. There are many different styles, so consider not only their body type but also how much they enjoy cooking. For example, I like bib styles. Other options include a sturdy canvas apron with a few easy-to-reach pockets.
Coffee Drip Kit
I think the jury is still out on whether coffee is a food group, so until that’s out, we’ll treat it as such. If your dad has recently grown out of his Maxwell House shell and discovered the burgeoning world of boutique coffee, now might be a good time to gift him a drip coffee kit. Because drip coffee is a calculated dance of time and temperature, it’s even better if your dad is a scientist sometimes (or always).
Kitchen scale
Your science-loving dad needs a kitchen scale to measure out water and coffee grounds, but really, anyone who cooks should have access to one. This is a classic example of buying a gift that someone will use often but would never buy for themselves. Look for one with a large weighing base and a large (or light-up) display.
Meat jerky sticks
Some dads already have the most essential appliances and gadgets in their kitchen, so we recommend consumables. If your dad loves to cook, there’s a pretty good chance he loves to eat too. One of my go-to snacks when spending more time outdoors or traveling is portable jerky sticks. The dehydrated meat is flavorful, shelf stable, packed with hunger-suppressing protein, and individually packaged to easily fit in tight spaces like a backpack or pocket. I love Chomps sticks because they come in a variety of flavors, including beef, turkey, and venison, as well as jalapeño and taco flavors.
Barbecue sauce
Father’s Day may be the day most associated with grilling and barbecue, as June brings with it cravings for burgers and grilled chicken thighs. Barbecue sauce may not look glamorous, but it’s sure to be used and your dad will love it. This exhaustive list of barbecue sauces goes well with pizza (including grilled pizza), but the taste tips will help you choose the right sauce for whatever your dad likes most for his grilled dishes. For a sweet, garlicky, umami-packed barbecue sauce, we recommend Bachan’s. It’s a little thinner than most barbecue sauces, so try it a few times.
cooking class
Great for beginners, but even if your dad is a seasoned chef, he’ll enjoy a one-off cooking class. It’s great for a bit of socializing and you’ll enjoy a fantastic meal at the end of the session – not to mention that adult cooking classes usually have wine at the end. I’d recommend checking out extracurricular courses at culinary schools (such as my alma mater, ICE), which have professional instructors from the industry and usually provide high-quality ingredients.
Juicer
Juicers are expensive items, but if your dad goes to the local juice shop every morning, they can save you money in the long run. Depending on your budget, choose between a centrifugal juicer, which will cost around $40-70, or a master-kissing juicer (also called a cold-press juicer), which usually costs over $100 but provides more nutritious juice.
New Generation Air Fryer
Air fryers aren’t new to kitchen gift features, but every year they get more powerful, more intuitive, and more cleverly designed. If you bought your dad a small basket air fryer five years ago, it’s time to upgrade. Try one with dual cooking zones or a window in the basket. If he’s tired of the basket model, try an oven model (or vice versa). You can start off your summer days with a gift your dad will look forward to using all year long.
