29 Game-Changing Tools and Gadgets That Make Great Holiday Gifts (We Love Them All!) 

Having your own mini pizzelle maker is super fun, especially around the holidays, but this little gadget has an extra function that makes it useful year-round — you can use it to make your own petite waffle cones! This would be perfect for ice cream lovers who adore nothing better than fresh waffle cones (well, except for ice cream).

If you’ve got a dumpling-lover on your holiday shopping list, they’ll be super into steaming their frozen or homemade dumplings in a proper bamboo steamer. This 10-inch steamer fits over most pots and woks, and includes two trays for steaming a bunch of dumplings at once. For an extra-thoughtful touch, throw in a pack of bamboo steamer liners, so they can get steaming right away!

For kitchens that lack an effective range hood, the innovative AirHood filters the air to help remove grease and eliminate food-related odors. The compact size means it'll fit in cozy corners, but the modern design is too slick to hide in a cabinet. Note that this is best for electric and induction stoves, as there is no open flame.

This is Ina Garten's favorite knife sharpener, so you already know it's good. Sharp knives are key for slicing and dicing, yes, but they're also essential for safety — dull knives can easily slip off food and cause injury. This tiny-but-mighty electric knife sharper is a super practical gift idea for home cooks.

Our Place's game-changing Always Pan is so versatile that it can replace 10 (count 'em — 10!) different pieces of cookware. Plus, it's gorgeous as far as cookware goes. It's often sold out, so we bet it's been on their wish list for a long time.

Marley Spoon was the one meal kit subscription that changed our contributor and meal kit skeptic's mind. The Martha Stewart-approved recipes are sophisticated and delicious, and are a thoughtful and practical gift during the hectic holiday season.

They'll never have to drink wine that's gone bad with this game-changing wine preservation system. After uncorking a bottle like normal, they slip in the Coravin pivot stopper and device, and then pour as usual. The system uses argon gas to displace the wine that's poured out of the bottle and help prevent oxidization, so your wine stays fresh for up to four weeks. There's an aerator attachment as well to open up the wine as you pour.

The perfect gift for quick but nutrient-rich solo meals, plus it's really pretty! The handle makes carrying from the microwave to the couch a piece of cake.

This tabletop-worthy measuring cup is one of the prettiest tools we've seen, but it's also super practical and durable thanks to the borosilicate glass and clear measurement marks.

Don't leave your favorite griller in the dark. These grilling tools have LED lights that provide a helpful light on the grill — and are easier to find after sunset.

This brilliant popcorn bowl sifts out the unpopped kernels so they can snack while fully absorbed in their favorite show. This stoneware has just the right amount of heft and pulls double duty as a fruit bowl when it's not holding popcorn.

Show your favorite tea drinker that you really get them with this double-walled glass mug. Infuser? Check. Lid? Check. Extra large 16-ounce capacity? Check, check, and check.

Lots of editors here are big fans of the best-selling Holy Sheet. It performs beautifully, it doesn't warp, it's nonstick, and it's stunning. The only thing that could make the Holy Sheet better is having more than one. This collection includes the classic half-sheet pan and two quarter-sheet pans, so there’s plenty of room to roast veggies, bake cookies, and more.

No doubt, a huge part of this toaster's appeal is its touch-screen display and sleek design. But, you'll also be pleased to discover that the appliance browns your bread in way less time than it would take with a traditional toaster. (You can even defrost frozen bagels, waffles, pastries, and more.) Cleanups are also made simple with its removable crumb tray.

It's already been established that Vitamix is the Rolls-Royce of the blender world. Well, its 12-cup food processor is no joke, either — this smart machine cuts prep time in half by mixing, chopping, and mincing ingredients in no time.The processor is also programmed to adjust its settings based on what type of container you're using. It's actually kind of genius, and your giftee is bound to be impressed.

Help someone set up a new kitchen or replace their hodgepodge collection of pots and pans with this Instagram-famous set. Available in a variety of beautiful colors, this cookware doesn’t just look good; it performs beautifully, too. The ceramic-coated interior provides a nonstick surface that is free of PTFEs (that’s the bad stuff you’ve read about in the news), it’s oven-safe, and it’s surprisingly lightweight.

This cast-iron skillet gets made with a special triple seasoning process, which means the pan will arrive perfectly seasoned out of the box, ready to take on anything. This feature eliminates the learning curve many beginners need when first starting to cook with cast iron.

Breville's smart oven air fryer looks like it belongs in a professional chef's kitchen. In addition to air frying, this product has 10 other cooking settings, as well as a dual-speed mode for quick results.

This pasta maker is a truly novel idea for anyone who can't resist homemade spaghetti, fettuccine, or penne — so, everyone. This powerful machine makes 10 types of pasta in about 10 minutes It's so easy to use once you get the hang of it, and the final product tastes unequivocally better than store-bought noodles.

You might be thinking, Food storage containers? As a holiday present? But, whoever receives these will truly appreciate them. This set comes with a variety of colorful silicone bags, cups, and dishes that will hold up no matter how many times they go through the fridge, freezer, or microwave — unlike wasteful plastic baggies. Plus, they're completely nontoxic.

Our team swears by Yamazaki, so trust us when we say that this magnetic organizer will upgrade any kitchen, especially ones that are short on storage space. Simply stick the organizer onto the fridge — no assembly or drilling required — and revel in all the extra shelving that suddenly appears. And, we can't ignore how chic that wood and white steel design is.

There are tons of innovative and space-saving dish racks, and this rack by OXO is particularly great because you can fold it flat for when you just have cookware and glassware that needs drying. For plates, though, the aluminum frame pops up, giving you an extra surface. And, this item is rust-proof, so it's built to last.

Stick blenders are unsung kitchen heroes. They do just about everything a regular stand blender does and make it possible for you to puree soups and sauces right in the pot. Plus, these easily fit in a drawer without taking up any counter space.

A microplane grater is perfect for gifting because whoever you get it for will keep finding more uses for it over time. It starts as an occasional tool for zesting lemons and limes, then quickly becomes an everyday essential for garlic and cheeses. This one is dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning, too!

Help upgrade their entire cooking arsenal with this one "do everything" pan. It offers the even heating and durability of a Dutch oven but with a shallower, easier-to-clean design. Take it from stovetop to oven and choose between vibrant colors like red or blue.

Opening the fridge and realizing you've run out of cold brew is the worst. Help replenish their iced coffee stash with this foolproof cold brew maker. The pitcher is BPA-free and fits easily into most fridge doors. If you're feeling indulgent, introduce them to a bag of your favorite beans.

This expandable wooden shelf is the next best thing to booking someone a private consultation with Marie Kondo. It's versatile enough to fit inside cupboards or stay on countertops, and the wood construction adds a calming touch to anyone's kitchen.

No kitchen sponge is as hardworking or self-reliant as this refillable soap-dispensing scrub brush. It's the kind of practical gift that people will appreciate more and more over time, and they will love letting you know how game-changing it is.

This is a dream gadget for home cooks who need some extra help in the kitchen. The electric handle can grind dried spices with the push of a button, and they can easily swap between the refillable containers for any spices that their dish needs.