The Best Father's Day Gifts for Dads at Home
For dads who love cooking, eating, tinkering, and futzing.
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As with Mother's Day, we're expecting Father's Day to look a little bit different this year. Many families may be keeping gatherings small or won't be getting together at all, which is all the more reason to make this year's gift a little extra special.
While everyone's circumstances are different, there are a few universal truths that I've integrated into this guide. First, all dads love gadgets, so I've been sure to include lots of fun tools and equipment that make futzing in the kitchen even more fun. Second, the way to their hearts will always be through their stomach. So expect lots of tasty treats on here, too: some small and some splurgy—all of which would make any dad smile during these strange quarantimes.
For Cooking, Baking, and Grilling
High-Output Torch
There is nothing, and I mean nothing more fun for my dad than a doohickey to futz with. One that makes fire? Well, that's really the doohickey to end them all. Of course, high-output torches are no toy. They can be extremely dangerous and should be used according to their instructions. If dad can handle that, then he has wok hei to achieve, crème brûlées to brûlée, and lots of steak to char.
Carving Knife
Whether he likes his time in front of the grill or prefers cooking meat indoors, dad will love a good, sharp carving knife. This one was the winner in our review of the best carving knives. It's balanced, comfortable, and flexible—carving through meat like butter. It may not be an absolutely essential knife, but a useful gift it will make.
Belgian Waffle Maker
If your dad is a breakfast guy, there is no better way to upgrade his mornings than with a good-quality waffle maker. Trust us: A good waffle iron is the difference between soggy, sad waffles and crisp-on-the-outside, fluffy-on-the-inside ones just begging for maple syrup. Speaking of maple syrup, make sure he has the good stuff at home. No one wants perfect waffles paired with brown corn syrup. No one!!
Dual-Probe Thermometer
This ThermoWorks thermometer has long been a favorite for everything from backyard barbecues to holiday feasts. It offers two probes so Dad can monitor the temperature of whatever he's cooking and the ambient temperature of his oven, smoker, or grill. Plus, a wireless remote will let him monitor the temps up to 300 feet away, so he can cook and chill on the couch at the same time.
Cast Iron Combo Cooker
If your dad is living the bread life, consider picking him up a cast iron combo cooker. This one creates a nice steam chamber, so that your bread gets a nice crust (without the cost of a professional bread oven).
Meat Grinder Attachment
Whether or not your dad can participate in grilling season—we see you, apartment dads—he can expect a vastly superior burger if he simply grinds his own meat. This grinder attaches to a KitchenAid stand mixer for super-simple at-home grinding. Then all he needs is a killer recipe. We have that, too.
Ice Cream Machine
Warm weather calls for ice cream. But trips to the grocery store are few and far between these days. That's why grabbing an ice cream machine for dad is a very good idea. With his own machine, he can make his way through all of our ice cream recipes. They may even be better than his local ice cream truck.
Food Dehydrator
The doohickies continue, this time with a food dehydrator. With this big boy, dad can experiment with all sorts of dehydrating, whether he wants to make his own jerky or replicate Trader Joe's dried mangoes, which are the best quarantine snack we've discovered thus far.
Mortar and Pestle
There is no question that grinding up your own herbs, spices, and pestos makes for more a vibrant flavor. A mortar and pestle (plus some elbow grease) can make quick work of all of that—in an attractive, counter-friendly package to boot. While there are lots of different mortar and pestles out there, we prefer this Thai granite model because its stone-on-stone action can break down even the most fibrous of ingredients.
End-Grain Cutting Board
There are a lot of cutting boards out there, but only some stand the test of time. In our review of the best wooden cutting boards, the end-grain model from The BoardSmith came out on top for its quality, durability, and ability to protect your knives. And if your dad is a *real* Serious Eats fan, you can grab him a custom Serious Eats cutting board, complete with our logo and custom specs direct from our culinary team.
Scale
Owning a scale will do wonders for any dad who loves to cook and bake. This one by OXO has long been a favorite of our team because it's easy to clean, it's incredibly accurate, and it has a pull-out display to make weighing simple even if you're using a big bowl.
Detroit-Style Pizza Pan
Perhaps dad hasn't been able to get out much to enjoy a slice from his favorite pizza joint. No matter, though. He can make his own at home. For crispy, chewy, perfect Detroit-style pizza that's loaded with brick cheese and pepperoni, he'll need a deep rectangular pan like this one.
Chef's Press
It was Sasha who first brought the Chef's Press to our attention and now we can't get enough of them. More specifically, I can't get enough of them. I use mine several days a week to weigh down a steak for the perfect sear, to get cheese extra melty in quesadillas, to get my hash all charred. What's more, Chef's Presses are small (for dads with limited kitchen space) and affordable (for those of us who don't want to spend an arm and a leg on a present). I'm planning on sending a few to my dad and highly recommend you do as well.
Honesuki Knife
One Serious Eats dad, Sho Spaeth, wrote a whole love letter to his honesuki knife. With light points, heavy blades, and single-beveled edges, these sleek little Japanese knives make cutting between joints and slicing through flesh and skin a breeze. If your dad is into butchering or if he wants to learn, this knife will quickly become his go-to.
Outdoor Pizza Oven
If you're looking to do a little splurge for your dad and are moderately competitive with your siblings, this outdoor pizza oven is a sure bet for child of the year. We recommend several different pizza ovens, and this newer Ooni model will make any pizza obsessive very, very happy.
For the Home
Dyson Vacuum
For those of us spending a whole lot more time at home, it has become apparent that more time at home means more mess. That's why treating dad to an actually good vacuum would be a very nice gesture. This handheld model from Dyson has all that Dyson power with a long, thin attachment to get all those crumbs from behind the oven and between cabinets.
Aerogarden
It wasn't abundantly clear, I am obsessed with my Aerogarden. It has allowed me to grow a true bounty of herbs (and even cherry tomatoes) in my small Brooklyn apartment. It requires minimal effort and returns maximum plant-parent pride. For any dad who has an unexercised green thumb or black thumb for that matter, an Aerogarden will provide him endless entertainment and better-tasting food.
Salt Box
Another office dad, Daniel Gritzer, has written at length about why you should own a salt pig and this one by Bee House is his new favorite. Unlike other salt pigs that have wide openings (for crumbs and drips to get in), this one features a nice cypress top to keep your salt fresh for whenever you need it.
Wireless Headphones
Hey! How did headphones get onto this gift guide? Well, you can blame Daniel once again for that. I'm just going to let him speak for these ones.
"I know, this doesn't seem like much of a cooking rec. But I've been using these in the kitchen more than I would have ever guessed. First, they're wireless, which is an important safety consideration when cooking: wired headphones can snag and pull on pots, knives, cabinet handles, and more. But they're also bone-conduction headphones, which means they don't block your hearing, instead sending the sound vibrations through your skull. This, to me, is key, because cooking isn't just a visual exercise—sounds matter, too. I can tell by the sizzle in a pan whether onions are about to burn or a steak isn't cooking hard enough, not to mention a potential hazard like a pot boiling over or a person passing behind me. This is the only solution I've found that allows me to listen to safely listen to whatever I want while cooking and still hear everything that's going on around me."
Sold!
Yeti Cooler
If you haven't been leaving home too often, a good cooler can still be remarkably useful. Sho uses his to store drinks that otherwise take up a lot of space in the fridge. And if dad does want to have a barbecue or leave the house, he can take his cooler with him, filled with all the drinks and meats and cheeses he could want for a tasty backyard party of one.
Air Fry Every Day Cookbook
While our team doesn't currently recommend any air fryers—we prefer a nice, hot convection roast in a toaster oven—Ben Mim's recipes work for both. And they look really good. So if dad already has all the gadgets he needs and just is in search of some inspiration, this cookbook will serve him well. Maybe he'll even cook for you the next time you're in town.
How to Cook Everything Cookbook
Perhaps dad is new to kitchen life. If that's the case, then this book by the legendary Mark Bittman is a perfect place to search for recipes. (Obviously, Serious Eats is also a good place.)
Tilit Face Mask
If your dad is heading to public places or maybe likes going for runs, you may want to get him a face mask. For all those commenters out there, this isn't a political statement. No one is forcing you to get one. These masks are made by Tilit, a company widely known for making excellent aprons. While the masks aren't FDA-approved surgical masks, they may help protect against the spread of viruses. What's more, Tilit is offering a buy-one, give-one program. For each mask you purchase, it'll donate one to a food service worker or medical professional in need.
For Eating
Tons of Pasta
When it comes to food gifts, I religiously turn to Gustiamo, an online marketplace for good-quality Italian ingredients. While we're all trying to limit our grocery store runs, Gustiamo has started offering items in bulk, including this five-pound bag of pasta. Gifting one to dad will work double-duty, allowing him to avoid the crowded grocery store and explore our many favorite Italian pasta sauces.
Tons of Olive Oil
This recommendation comes from our social media manager, Jina. Her dad is an olive oil fanatic and nerds out especially to California olive oils. She's picking him up a big container from Séka Hills for Father's Day. If you're also looking to treat dad to some good olive oil, be sure to read our guide to spotting the good stuff.
Really Good Bacon
If I could be with my dad on Father's Day, I am confident we'd kick things off with a bunch of crispy bacon. (While he generally eats pretty healthy, it has become clear over the years that bacon is one of his favorite foods and he can take down quite a bit of it.) Since we won't be together, I'm planning on sending him some from D'Artagnan. Maybe we'll cook it over FaceTime. More slices for us both!
Silk Chili
If your dad is working on his spice cabinet, I highly suggest picking up a jar of silk chili from Burlap & Barrel. This particular chili comes from Kahramanmaras, Turkey, and is botanically identical to the Aleppo pepper. I love it because it's not too hot—just warm enough with some roasty tomato flavor. I add it to all sorts of dishes, from Kenji's crispy kale hash to Daniel's vodka sauce.
Next-Level Parmesan
When you're stuck at home, there is nothing better than pouring yourself a glass of wine and enjoying some good cheese, especially when it's really good cheese. Such is the case for this vacche rosse from Gustiamo, which Sho describes as "so, so, so buttery and good, and well worth the price." Dad can eat it on its own or grate it into anything that might call for Parmesan, which is just about everything.
Good Grape Jelly
My dad eats a peanut butter and jelly sandwich at least once a week. And he keeps it really classic. Jiff peanut butter and Smucker's grape jelly. While he prides himself on being a traditionalist, I'm going to take a risk this year and send him some fancy grape jelly. This one is made from Zibibbo, a large grape that's native to North Africa and Pantelleria (a small island in the Mediterranean). When it's cooked down, it's sweet and tangy, a perfect foil to that supermarket peanut butter I'm sure my dad will use.
All the Mala
Mala Market is an excellent resource for Sichuan pantry staples, like dried chilies, doubanjiang, chili-broad bean paste, and Sichuan peppercorns. A gift box with all the essentials will keep dad busy (and tingly!) in the kitchen, as he makes bang bang chicken and mapo tofu. Better yet, pair this package with Fuchsia Dunlop's freshly updated book, The Food of Sichuan for an immersive Sichuan cooking experience.
New York's Most Fabulous Hot Sauce
If Dad is working on his hot sauce collection, then Shaquanda's Hot Pepper Sauce deserves space on the shelf. We met founder Andre Springer last year and got a behind-the-scenes look at his hot sauce set-up. His line of four fiery sauces pay homage to Andre's Brooklyn upbringing, his family’s Barbadian roots, and his identity as a drag queen.
Bonci Pizza Delivery
Ed's Father's Day recommendation is just as we expected: pizza! What he's hoping to receive this year (and what I imagine your dad would love, too) is pizza al taglia (cut pizza) from Bonci. The chain originally started in Rome and has spread to cities like Chicago and New Orleans. Now, you can order the pizza to be delivered anywhere, thanks to Goldbelly.
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.
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