Skip the Tin of Cookies: Here Are 8 Under-$25 Host Gifts They’ll Actually Use

Including a garlic press, foldable knife, and more.

Published December 18, 2024 03:00PM EST

grating parmesan cheese with a blue microplane — Serious Eats

Sure, you can thank your party hosts with a tin of cookies or a bottle of wine. But you can also delight them with a kitchen gadget that will save them time and effort for years to come. As people who believe that kitchen tools make for thoughtful host gifts, we gathered eight of our tested favorites under $25, from silicone spatulas to citrus zesters, to inspire your gift-giving this season. Our picks include an easy-to-use OXO garlic press, Lodge cast iron skillet, KitchenAid citrus squeezer, and more.

The Best Host Gifts Under $25, at a Glance

The Best Cast Iron Skillet: Lodge 10.25-Inch Cast Iron Skillet
The Best Garlic Press: OXO Good Grips Garlic Press
A Great Handheld Citrus Squeezer: KitchenAid Citrus Squeezer
A Super Sharp Rasp-Style Grater: Microplane Premium Classic Series Zester
A Portable, Foldable Knife: Opinel No.08 Stainless Steel Folding Knife
The Best Mini Mortar and Pestle: Fox Run Granite Mortar and Pestle
Our Favorite Small Spatula: Get It Right Premium Silicone Spatula
A Bucket of Flake Salt: Maldon Salt Company 20-Ounce Tub

Lodge 10.25-Inch Cast Iron Skillet
Amazon
$34 $17 at Amazon
Nothing says “thank you” quite like a 10-inch cast iron skillet. Lodge’s 10-inch skillet has been our favorite for years thanks to its even heat retention and distribution. Now, it can be your host’s new favorite skillet, too. It’s also great for camp cooking if they have a penchant for adventuring outdoors.
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OXO Good Grips Garlic Press
Amazon
$18 $12 at Amazon
This garlic press is simple to use and swiftly produces minced garlic with a squeeze of the handles. It’s also easy to scrape off the garlic and the press cleans up quickly. For the host who loves bold, garlicky flavors, this $12 press is a great gift.
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KitchenAid Citrus Squeezer
Amazon
$25 $21 at Amazon
Whether your host loves to add citrus juices to pasta, sauces, or cocktails, this KitchenAid citrus squeezer is efficient and easy on the wrists. It has a pour spout for controlling the flow of citrus juice and can stand on a table for added leverage when pressing down.
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Microplane Premium Classic Series Zester
Amazon
$17 at Amazon
Speaking of citrus, this Microplane rasp-style grater excels at zesting citrus and even produces fluffy grated parmesan to top off pasta. This is a great gift for the detail-oriented host who appreciates the finishing touches on a dish.
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Opinel No.08 Stainless Steel Folding Knife
Amazon
$16 at Amazon
Great for picnics, camping, or snacking on the go, this staff-loved Opinel knife folds up to the length of an iPhone to easily slip into a backpack or tote bag. The sliding lock ensures that fingers stay safe whether the blade is open or closed.
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Fox Run Granite Mortar and Pestle
Amazon
$26 $23 at Amazon
Easy to hold yet heavy enough to crack through hard spices, this mini mortar and pestle is an ideal host gift for the handmade sauce lover. During our tests, it was able to grind whole black peppercorns without trouble and made a smooth garlic paste.
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Get It Right Premium Silicone Spatula
Amazon
$13 at Amazon
For the host or hostess who can’t resist a good jam, grab this silicone spatula that’s designed specifically for getting into all the nooks and crannies of a jar. During our tests, this spatula’s strongly tapered head got into all the tight spots of a blender to scrape out every last bit of smoothie.
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Maldon Salt Company 20-Ounce Tub
Amazon
$17 at Amazon
An excellent finishing salt thanks to its pyramidal shape that makes it brittle and crunchy, Maldon salt is a great gift for the foodie host who loves the finer things in life. This 20-ounce resealable tub is only $17 and will last them a good while.
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Why We’re the Experts

An Uong is a writer at Serious Eats.
An has been testing kitchen equipment for Serious Eats for two years and loves to gift kitchen gadgets to the foodies in her life.