The product recommendations in this post are recommendations by the writer and/or expert(s)
interviewed and do not contain affiliate links. Meaning: If you use these links to buy
something, we will not earn a commission.

Finding an affordable gift for that food-obsessed friend or family member can be daunting, especially this year. Food prices are insane right now! The same goes for many of the baking, cooking and grilling tools that aspiring gourmands adore.

Don’t stress, however. We have scoured the internet for good deals and found some great things, things that will please even the most discerning foodie you know—yes, the one who hates the term “foodie”—all priced lower than a nice cookbook.

RELATED: 5 Up-and-Coming Celebrity Chefs You’re About to See Everywhere

What better way to commemorate 2022 than a novelty mug featuring the culinary world’s man of the year? We’re talking, of course, about actor Jeremy Allen White’s tortured sexpot cook from Hulu’s hit series The Bear. Yes, chef!

Totally out of ideas about what to make for dinner tonight? Let’s roll the dice! This cutesy set of nine cubes, labeled with various proteins, veggies, grains and cooking methods, will inspire new creativity in the kitchen—or, at least help to pass the time until the delivery guy arrives.

There’s nothing quite like a fresh plate of fajitas: the sizzling sounds, the mouth-watering aromas. Recreate the Tex-Mex restaurant experience at home with this pre-seasoned cast-iron plate, complete with wood tray and protective mitt. Careful, it’s coming in hot!

The perfect gift for that friend who haphazardly employs his butane lighter to crack open beer bottles. You know that guy. This electronic two-in-one device can fire up the grill and open beverages easily without jeopardizing personal safety. Win-win!

Tackle all kinds of kitchen tasks with this sleekly designed scraping and scooping marvel. Constructed of silicone with a fiberglass core, the part-spoon, part-spatula workhorse will not scratch cookware or melt in the pan. Simply put, it will not let you down, and it looks really great in red.

Leafy greens are about the best thing you can eat, but all that washing and drying is a hassle. Traditional salad spinners work great but they’re bulky and hard to clean. Save time and cabinet space with this fabric sling that absorbs the wetness from your lettuce while you swing it around the kitchen. Ole!

Ideal for the pizza lover in your life who really won’t eat anything else. This unique blend of tomato powder and spices from popular chefs Sohla and Ham El-Waylly can make everything taste like pizza: eggs, pasta, popcorn. Just don’t put it on pineapple, unless you’re looking for an argument.

If you think insects are the protein of the future, well, the people of Oaxaca would like a word. They’ve been eating chapulines forever! Not fancy protein bars packed with pulverized-bug powder. We’re talking whole grasshoppers, toasted with lime, sea salt, and garlic. Healthy, tasty, and totally auténtico.

A big risk with skewering meats and veggies for grilling is the very real potential for casualties: precious chunks of delicious food lost to the flames. These smartly designed steel baskets will help to keep dinner intact and make flipping a breeze.

Nobody likes avocado toast when the fruit is as brown as the bread. Keep those unused avocado halves fresh for days with this handy air-tight container.

Purists will tell you this is the best way to prepare your morning cup of joe—and it’s a heck of lot more affordable than some highfalutin espresso machine.

The only way to achieve a perfect paella with that sought-after caramelized crust is to use a real paella pan, like this wide, short-sided carbon steel beauty. Now get stirring. And keep stirring.

Did we say keep stirring? Nevermind. This handy yet hands-free device will do all the work for you. Just set the timer and carry on with your life.

The biggest beer aficionado you know will surely appreciate this fuzzy plaid koozie. Because you know that person has a shirt just like it.

Your home brewer friend will need something to do during Dry January. This kit includes all the sassafras extract and other ingredients necessary to make delicious homemade root beer.

Keep the mixing bowl in the cabinet and whip up the smoothest pancake batter in seconds with this easy-to-pour, easy-to-clean shaker and dispenser. Apologies to Lionel Richie, but Sunday morning has never been easier.

Keep countertops pristine with this protective work surface, helpfully detailed with diameter guides and conversion charts: a baker’s dream come true.

For the price of about four supermarket pints, you can create endless amounts of homemade ice cream with this compact machine, capable of churning out a batch of frozen dessert in just 30 minutes.

There is no shortage of options when it comes to hot sauce these days. Almost too many to choose from. This combo pack is a good way to hedge your bet, offering samples from both sides of the spicy spectrum: one mild, one palate-melting hot, both endorsed by UFC fighter Dustin Poirier, so you know they pack a punch.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

Have fresh herbs on hand year-round with this easy-to-manage hydroponics system using attractive vintage glassware. Very on trend.

Take all the guesswork out of your next wine party. This collection of fine chocolates has all the pairings picked out: milk chocolates for light whites, dark chocolates for big reds.

Derby day is months away, but that’s no reason to pass up this classic piece of barware. A more versatile vessel than you probably think, the copper mug will keep any iced cocktail well-chilled. Not just your Mint Julep.

Maybe you know someone who loves waffles, but doesn’t love all those carbs. Here’s the solution: this cute, compact waffle maker creates four-inch rounds that will satisfy, without all the extra heft. Bonus: it’s even small enough to fit in a stocking.

Shredding meat with a fork is a total slog. These sharp, specially designed tools promise to make it easy, so you can quickly move on to the fun part of the barbecue: eating.

Anyone can grab a jar of salsa from the shelf. Not everyone has the patience to grow the tomatoes, jalapeños, cilantro, and other ingredients, and whip up their own batch from scratch. This kit includes everything to get started: seeds, soil, and a recycled egg carton to incubate all the seedlings. Everything but the chips. Which you will also need. Eventually.