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Why compile a list of the best gifts under $50? Well, at one point or another, you might find yourself involved in a Secret Santa or other gift exchange with a spending cap. Or maybe you just have a strict budget when it comes to holiday and birthday presents and are determined to stick to it. Whatever the reason, $50 seems to be a kind of sweet spot price point for gift giving.
As experts and enthusiasts in the area of cooking equipment, we know it can seem like kitchen gifts either fall into the category premium appliances or inexpensive gadgets like Microplanes or paring knives. And sure, a gift card might be an easy go-to gift. But there are plenty of great gifts—gifts that feel much more personal—in that mid-tier price range.
Keep scrolling to find our favorite gift ideas at $50 and under. Find the perfect gift for your loved ones, your food-loving coworkers, or your best friends. And check out our other gift guides if you need further inspiration for your holiday shopping.
Reader favorites
There’s nothing wrong with the classics. Some of the most no-brainer holiday gift recommendations we can make are the items that we know our readers love. The Victoria cast-iron skillet is a favorite among Epi readers, and for good reason. It has won our product test several years in a row and is very reasonably priced at $30. A tofu press is the life-changing kitchen tool your friends—vegetarian or not—didn’t know they needed. And who wouldn’t want the precious Dash mini waffle maker that was trending on TikTok (and that pleasantly surprised the Epicurious staff with its performance in our waffle maker testing)?
Stylish stuff
Because I live in New York, my family members always expect me to bring Christmas gifts that “they couldn’t find back at home.” Little do they know...I buy almost all my gifts online, and by nature of making gift guides for a living, have gotten pretty good at finding unique gifts that seem hip or special enough to have been handpicked from a New York store. Graf Lantz makes beautiful and practical felt products, and the coasters below are a highlight. They come in an array of colors, and won’t stick to the bottom of your glass and then clatter down onto your table. Digital director Maggie Hoffman is a big fan of All-Clad measuring cups, which have a pleasing weight to them and are basically little saucepans (you can heat things up in them over the stove!).
Also consider handmade ceramic coffee cups, succulent planters, trendy cocktail accoutrements, a marble serving board for all your cheese board needs, and a well-constructed, heavy-duty farmers market tote.
Sustainable gifts
At Epi, we’re always trying to think of ways to reduce single-use waste in the kitchen. Silicone food bags, or a nice water bottle for hydrating on the go (this one was crowned the best water bottle in our testing last year) make thoughtful, sustainable gifts. Bee’s Wrap is made from beeswax, which makes it a pliable and water-resistant just like plastic wrap, and the Final Straw is an easy-to-transport reusable straw; it collapses into a tiny key chain (this also makes it a great stocking stuffer).
Beloved cookbooks
A list of the best gifts under $50 for home cooks should always include cookbooks. Maybe you have a friend who’s always looking to expand their already extensive cookbook library—who never makes the same thing twice and is always on the hunt for new recipe inspo. Or, maybe you know someone who’s just starting a well-curated cookbook collection. Either way, each year we do a thorough survey of all the new cookbooks hitting shelves in the spring and fall. Below are some of our favorite picks from the last few years, which include cookbooks for baking, vegetarians, and cocktail books.
For the morning drink lovers
Whether it’s coffee, tea, or that fancy mushroom water, almost everyone enjoys a morning dose of liquid energy; sipping something hot can be an essential self-care ritual or just a cozy way to start the day. Find recommendations for every kind of beverage lover below. There are actually quite a few quality coffee makers you can get for under $50. For even more ideas, we have specific gift guides for coffee and tea lovers.
For the vegetable patch
If someone on your list has developed a bit of a gardening habit or has simply always had a green thumb, here are some practical gifts that would be great on their own or packaged together as a nice little horticultural gift set. For more ideas, retailers like Bloomist and Rejuvenation are great places to find luxurious gardening gifts. You can also check out our gardening gift guide and check out our gardening column, Digging In.
