Great Gifts For Gardening and Cooking – My Favorite Items In 2023

It can be hard to come up with great gifts for those who like gardening and cooking. With so many different products out there and so many recommendations, it’s hard to know what is actually useful or what is simply a plug for a product.

That’s why I decided to put together a gift list of my favorite gardening and cooking items for 2023. These are all products that I personally use and fully recommend.

They are not just items that I think would make great gifts – even though they definitely will! They are products I actually use on a regular basis while working in the garden or in the kitchen.

There are items on this list for almost everyone. They range in price from simple stocking stuffer items to big-ticket purchases that should last the long haul.

Even if you don’t purchase the specific items I mention on my list, hopefully they will give you a few ideas to think about if you are on the hunt for Christmas gift ideas for your friends or family (or yourself!).

Great Gifts For Gardening And Cooking – My 2023 List

Plant Labels – Great Gifts For Gardening And Cooking

A great stocking stuffer for that gardener in your life is small plastic plant tags. These tags are very inexpensive but they are great for use in all sorts of gardening situations. They also come with a permanent marker that is mostly waterproof. The ink will wear eventually, but it is usually great for as long as you need it. (Product Link: 4″ Plant Labels)

I like to use these labels when I am starting my garden seeds indoors. It can be extremely easy to sow seeds in your seed-starting trays and then forget what you planted where. Most seedlings look a lot alike early on! I have tried using popsicle sticks before, but they quickly became moldy and gross. These plastic labels work perfectly.

I also use these labels out in the actual garden to help remind me of different varieties and where I plant them. When I go to clean out my garden in the fall, I just toss them in the trash or recycling. While plastic isn’t always my first choice, it works well in this situation.

Micro Pruners

There are many times when I need to deadhead blooms or prune tomato plant suckers. That is where these tiny Fiskar Micro pruners come into play. (Product Link: Fiskars Micro-Tip Pruning Snips)

They are small, easy to carry in my back pocket (with the tip guard on, of course), and are perfect for those smaller pruning jobs around the garden. And with a brand like Fiskars, you know you are using a quality product that lasts the test of time.

If you are looking for a great stocking stuffer, these micro-pruning snips are a must! There are other Fiskar gardening pruners and loppers that I also use as well, but these little 6-inch pruners will forever be my favorite and most often used.

Weck Glass Jars For Sourdough Starter

These Weck jars are a must-have if you use a sourdough starter. They have flat sides and very wide openings, which make them perfect for adding flour and water to a starter. I use the 1-liter sized jars for when I have a big batch of starter. I also have the half-liter jars for smaller batches of starter or when I need to rest my starter for a while in the refrigerator. (Product Link: Weck 1 Liter Tulip Jars)

I love how they are glass jars that come with glass lids as well. The lids create a nice seal around the top without being so tight that the starter cannot expand if needed. I know you can use regular Ball canning jars for sourdough starters. However, the wide opening and straight sides make working with sourdough super easy and mess-free.

Cut Resistant Gloves – Great Gifts For Gardening And Cooking

Cut-resistant gloves are a must for anyone who plans on preserving or canning their garden produce. They are made of a durable material that helps protect your hands and fingers from sharp objects. Even though they are strong, they still allow you to use your hands without adding a ton of bulk. (Product Link: NoCry Premium Cut Resistant Gloves)

I made the mistake once of not wearing these gloves when using a mandolin to slice pickles for canning. Let’s just say there was a bit more than pickles and brine in one of the batches! I now wear these gloves every time I need to use a mandolin when cutting vegetables from the garden. Lesson learned the hard way!

One of the best parts of these gloves is that you can just throw them into the washing machine after use. While the gloves might become a little stained after a while, they still work as well as the first day I got them. And they provide me with a little peace of mind when using a sharp knife or my mandolin.

“Freeze Fresh” Book – Great Gifts For Gardening And Cooking

One of my favorite and most used resources for preserving all my garden goodies is the book, “Freeze Fresh: The Ultimate Guide to Preserving 55 Fruits and Vegetables for Maximum Flavor and Versatility” by Crystal Schmidt. (Product Link: “Freeze Fresh” book)

I have followed Crystal on Instagram for a long time and love her personality and way of gardening and preserving. She and her husband mainly use freezing as their form of food preservation.

In the cookbook, she tells you how to freeze all sorts of garden goodies from tomatoes to blueberries to zucchini. However, the reason why I love the book so much is because she also gives you recipes to make with those preserved items. It’s the perfect guidebook for anyone who wants to preserve vegetables and fruit by freezing and then actually use the products once frozen.

COSORI Dehydrator

One of the big ticket items on my list is my dehydrator. I purchased this COROSI brand dehydrator since I already had their air fryer and liked it. So when Amazon had one of their (many) Prime Days, I snatched one up! (Product Link: COSORI Food Dehydrator)

This specific dehydrator has multiple positive reviews, includes 6 good-sized trays, and doesn’t completely break the bank like some dehydrators can. It’s the perfect size and price for those just starting out with dehydration. While it is a bigger ticket item, I consider it to be a great investment.

I am still learning how to use my machine, but so far we have loved everything that has come out of it. Some of the items we’ve tried are homemade beef jerky, dehydrated banana slices, and dehydrated apple slices.

I look forward to using it more to help me preserve many of the items from my garden in the future. For example, I want to make garlic powder using the leftover garlic that has started to sprout. I also want to try dehydrated marshmallows, “sun-dried” tomatoes, homemade onion flakes, and so many other things! (Look for a dehydration cookbook likely for next year’s holiday gift list!)

Hopefully, this gift list will at least give you a few ideas for those in your life who like gardening and cooking. Again, all of these are items that I use and highly recommend. So if you have any questions, feel free to message me and ask away!

Happy Holidays!

Until next time, thanks for stopping by!
– Chelsea

*This post may contain affiliate links. These are products I have used personally and highly recommend. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases if you purchase items through my links. These links and the ads on this page help to support my family and our semi homestead, so Thank You!