The items in this kit are designed to be inexpensive, functional, and adequate to comfortably help you cook for a couple people at a time. Think of it as a kitchen starter kit.

I've avoided the standard "toaster with built-in egg poacher" or "electric griddle sandwich maker" type items that might be convenient for a week or two but wear thin very, very quickly. Every item on this list is something you'll use nearly every single time you cook. Many of them are inexpensive and won't last a lifetime, but they'll last until your giftee decides to settle down for an upgrade.

Check out all my picks in the slideshow »

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About the author: J. Kenji Lopez-Alt is the Chief Creative Officer of Serious Eats where he likes to explore the science of home cooking in his weekly column The Food Lab. You can follow him at @thefoodlab on Twitter, or at The Food Lab on Facebook.