Gifts

The best cooking gifts under £25, £50 and £100

The short answer: under £25, a wood fibre chopping board or a ceramic honing steel; under £50, the Season Whetstone (£35) or a Tri-Ply frying pan (from £50); under £100, the Season S4 Chef's Knife or a 26cm cast iron casserole, both £100. The best cooking gift at any price is the thing they will use every day and would not buy for themselves. Everything below is designed by Season in London, and every price is the real one.

Under £25

Season Cast Iron Frying Pan, from £12. Gets better every time it is used. Pair it with how to season a cast iron frying pan.
Season Wood Fibre Chopping Board, from £15. A natural board that goes in the dishwasher, can be sanded and lasts a lifetime.
Season Ceramic Honing Steel, £25. A few strokes before cooking keeps a good knife cutting cleanly.
Season Pull Through Sharpener, £20. A working edge back in seconds, no learning needed.
Season Chopping Board Oil, £10, for anyone who already owns a good wooden board.

Under £50

Season Whetstone, £35. 1000 grit to sharpen, 6000 to polish. With the Knife Sharpening Guide (£6) and the Leather Knife Strop (£10), a complete sharpening kit for £51. See what whetstone grit do I need?
Season Tri-Ply Milk Pan, £40. For custard, sauces and hot chocolate, with pouring rims.
Season Tri-Ply Frying Pan, 22cm, £50. Fully clad stainless steel: no coating to wear out, oven safe to 240°C, 10 year warranty.
Season S2 Santoku, £50. German steel with a 15 degree edge and a full tang: tough, forgiving and a big step up from a supermarket knife.
Season S2 Bread Knife, £50, for the home baker.
Season Pre-Seasoned Griddle Pan, £38, for steak, halloumi and charred vegetables. See how to use a griddle pan.

Under £100

Season S4 Chef's Knife, £100. Our one pick. 67-layer Damascus steel around a 10CR core hardened to 61 HRC, a 15 degree edge, full tang and a triple-riveted rosewood handle. Lifetime guarantee.
Season Cast Iron Casserole, 22cm £80, 24cm £90, 26cm £100. Enamelled cast iron for stews, braises and bread, in colours you will not find anywhere else.
Season Cast Iron Shallow Casserole, 26cm £80, 30cm £90. For browning, focaccia and one-pan suppers.
Season Teak End Grain Chopping Board, from £70. Kind to knives, heavy enough to stay put, beautiful on the counter.
Season S1 Chef's Knife, 16cm £80. Lighter, with the traditional Japanese design, in Japanese VG-10 steel.
Season S3 Bread Knife, £90, with a black pakkawood handle.
Season Cooking Class Gift Card, from £65. A class in one of our London shops, delivered by email.

How to choose

Think about what they cook most. Knives for someone who preps a lot; a casserole for the slow cook; a pan for the one who sears.
Upgrade the thing they use every day. A better version of an everyday tool beats a gadget.
If they already have the kit, give them a way to look after it (whetstone, board oil) or a class.

Questions people ask

What is the best cooking gift under £100? A proper chef's knife such as the Season S4 Chef's Knife (£100), or a 26cm Season Cast Iron Casserole (£100). Both are used constantly and last for years.

What is a good cooking gift under £50? The Season Whetstone (£35) for anyone who already owns a good knife, or a Season Tri-Ply Frying Pan (22cm, £50).

What is a good cooking gift under £25? A Season Wood Fibre Chopping Board (from £15), a Ceramic Honing Steel (£25) or a Cast Iron Frying Pan (from £12).

Can I give a knife as a present? Yes. Knives are sold to over-18s only in the UK, so the person who takes the delivery will be asked for ID. See is it bad luck to give a knife as a gift?

What if I do not know what they have? The Season Gift Card (£10 to £100) or a cooking class gift card, both delivered by email.

For gifts by person, from the beginner to the person who has everything, see the best Christmas presents for someone who loves cooking.