RainyDayGiftGuide 2023: For Cooks

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Like previous years, this year we have put together some RainyDay-tastic Gift Guides for the 2023 holiday, full of suggestions for our readers.

As with every one of our Guides, each item described is something we have touched, reviewed, and think is worthy.

We hope our suggestions make shopping for those on your “Good” list more enjoyable this holiday season!

Cooking

A lot of cooking gear has passed through the RainyDayKitchen over the years, and not all of them make the RDK grade. For this year’s guide, we have rounded up a selection of RainyDayKitchen gear that have proven themselves over and over. They have been well tested, perform as expected, and shown themselves to be durable.

• Anova Nano Sous Vide Precision Cooker – Perfect cooking results every time
• ThermaPen – Fast, accurate, and durable

Sous vide is the only way we cook protein (steaks, chicken, shrimp, etc) now, whether cooking for one person or a dozen. The method is foolproof, labor-saving, and the Anova cookers (Pro, Nano) are what we use all the time.

While we absolutely trust the Anova cookers, we ALWAYS check the internal temperature of everything we cook. Why? Undercooked food is not just less-than-good tasting, it’s not safe. So we test with the ThermaPen. We have been using it a long long time, because it is fast, easy, and super accurate.

• Shun knife and scissors – Sharp, tough, and strong

Well-made knives are a pleasure to use. We have used Shun knives and shears in the RainyDayKitchen for well over a decade and they have always performed. We recommend them without hesitation or reservation. Buy them once, use them for the rest of your life!

• AnglePro Sharpener – Sharper knives are safer knives

Sharp knives are not only necessary, but essential. We have sharpened knives using traditional methods, but why bother when we can use the AnglePro? This particular sharpener makes sharpening simple, easy, and almost fool-proof.

• John Boos Walnut Cutting Boards – Edge grain, functional, and beautiful

We have had the good fortune of cutting/slicing food on quite a few of John Boos’ cutting boards over the years. While it is hard to pick a favorite, the walnut Tenmoku board is the one we bring out when we have company. It is just absolutely beautiful, even after years of use!!!

Accessories

• ChefWorks Morocco Chef’s Jacket – You don’t just look the part, you’ll feel the part.

Cooking with an apron is fine, but wearing a chef’s jacket…now that is function with a whole different attitude.

• Chef’s Leather Knife Roll Bag – Protect chef’s knives on-the-go

We love cooking in our own kitchen, but sometimes we don’t. When we cook elsewhere, we still like to have our favorite knives and utensils with us. A knife roll bag is the only way to…roll 🤓.

• Self-balancing wine holder – Functional fun

Why did we throw this wine holder in to this year’s gift guide? Fun with physics, or course!