Multi-tier electric food steamer
An excellent choice for preparing healthy, nutrient-rich meals by gently cooking vegetables, fish, and dumplings.
Kitchen & Coffee
Food cookers & steamers
8 kinds worth knowing, 7 picks, and what to check before you buy.
Countertop cookers tend to go to people who cook often but are short on time: new homeowners setting up a kitchen, couples who batch-cook for the week, and parents feeding a busy household. The ones that get used every week solve a problem the person already has. A rice steamer suits someone who makes rice or vegetables most nights. A programmable slow cooker suits someone who wants dinner ready when they walk in. Before you buy, think about how the person cooks now, how much counter space they have, and whether they would rather have one appliance that does many jobs or one that does a single job well.
Kind 1 of 8
Rice steamers for everyday grains and vegetables
A rice steamer cooks rice and often has a basket on top for vegetables, fish or dumplings, so a simple meal comes together in one appliance. It suits households that eat rice several times a week, and anyone who likes plain, lightly cooked food. Tiered electric steamers go further, letting you cook several foods at once without mixing flavours. Before buying, check the capacity against household size, whether the baskets and inner pot go in the dishwasher, and how much space the stacked tiers take up in a cupboard.
Kind 2 of 8
Programmable slow cookers for hands-off dinners
A programmable slow cooker lets you set a cooking time, then switches to a keep-warm setting when the time is up. That matters for anyone out of the house all day, since dinner won't sit on high for hours after it's done. It's a good fit for parents, commuters and anyone who likes stews, chili, pulled meats or soups. Check the size first: small models suit couples, while larger oval pots fit a roast or a family batch. A removable crock that can go in the dishwasher and a clear, simple control panel make it far more likely to get used.
Programmable slow cooker
This appliance is perfect for busy individuals who appreciate a warm, ready-to-eat meal after a long day.
Kind 3 of 8
Bread makers for fresh loaves at home
An automatic bread maker mixes, kneads, rises and bakes a loaf in one pan, and many can run overnight on a timer so the bread is ready by morning. It suits people who already buy good bread, people who like knowing what goes into their food, and anyone curious about baking who finds kneading by hand a chore. These machines are bulky and fairly tall, so check that there's somewhere to keep one. Look at the loaf sizes it makes, whether it has a dough-only setting for pizza or rolls, and whether it has a delay timer.
Automatic bread maker
Perfect for anyone who loves the aroma and taste of fresh, homemade bread with minimal effort and mess.
Kind 4 of 8
Electric multi cookers that replace several appliances
An electric multi cooker combines functions like pressure cooking, slow cooking, sautéing, steaming and rice cooking in one pot. It suits someone in a small kitchen, a first apartment or a new home, where one appliance takes up less room than four. It also suits cooks who want quick weeknight meals from tougher cuts or dried beans. Before buying, find out whether the person already owns a slow cooker or rice cooker, since overlap is common. Check the pot size, whether the inner pot is stainless or nonstick, and how easy the lid and seal are to clean.
All in one cooker
A versatile kitchen appliance designed to handle a wide range of cooking tasks, simplifying meal preparation for busy households.
Kind 5 of 8
Automatic rice cookers that switch to warm
An automatic rice cooker senses when the rice is done, then holds it warm so it's ready whenever everyone sits down. Some models have settings for brown rice, sushi rice, porridge or other grains. It's a practical gift for families who eat rice often, or for anyone who finds stovetop rice hit-or-miss. Check the capacity in cups of uncooked rice, whether the inner pot has a nonstick coating or is plain stainless, and whether the settings match the grains the person actually cooks. A detachable power cord and a measuring cup in the box help too.
Automatic rice cooker
A great addition to any kitchen, ensuring perfectly cooked rice and grains with minimal effort for everyday meals.
Kind 6 of 8
Sous vide cookers for precise results
A precision sous vide cooker clips onto a pot of water and holds it at an exact temperature, so steak, chicken, fish or eggs cook evenly all the way through. It suits keen home cooks who like getting a technique just right and don't mind planning ahead, since cooks can take a while. It's usually a better gift for an experienced cook than a beginner. Check whether it needs its own container, whether it runs from an app or from buttons on the unit, and whether the person has a vacuum sealer or is happy using zip-top bags.
Precision sous vide cooker
For culinary enthusiasts who desire perfectly cooked meats, fish, and vegetables with consistent results every time.
Kind 7 of 8
Slow cooker and multi cooker combinations
Some people want a slow cooker but like the idea of a few extra functions, such as browning meat in the same pot before the long cook. A combination unit covers that without the learning curve of a full pressure-cooking multi cooker. It suits someone replacing an old slow cooker, or a household that mostly does braises and soups. Check whether the insert can go on the stovetop or has a built-in sear setting, how the slow-cook results compare with a traditional crock, and whether the controls are simple enough to use without the manual.
Kind 8 of 8
Air fryers for crisp food with less oil
An air fryer circulates hot air around food in a basket, giving fries, wings, vegetables and leftovers a crisp finish with little or no added oil. It suits busy households, teenagers who cook their own snacks, and anyone who doesn't want to heat a full oven for a small batch. Basket size matters more than people expect, since overcrowded food won't crisp, so match the capacity to the number of people eating. Check the counter footprint, whether the basket is dishwasher-safe, and whether it's quiet enough for an open-concept kitchen.
Healthy air fryer appliance
This popular kitchen gadget allows users to enjoy crispy fried foods with significantly less oil, perfect for health-conscious individuals.
How to choose food cookers & steamers as a gift
- Find out which appliances the person already owns so you don't give a second slow cooker or rice cooker.
- Match capacity to household size: compact models suit couples, and larger pots suit families or people who batch-cook.
- Consider counter and cupboard space, especially for bread makers, tiered steamers and air fryers.
- Look for removable, dishwasher-safe pots and baskets, since hard-to-clean appliances end up in storage.
- Pick the kind that fits how the person already cooks rather than a style you hope they'll take up.
Usually safe to skip
- Single-use novelty cookers, like egg or hot dog gadgets, tend to get used once and then take up cupboard space.
- A sous vide cooker for someone who rarely cooks usually misses, because it takes planning and some interest in technique.
- Oversized multi cookers for a person living alone often feel like too much appliance for everyday meals.
Questions people ask about food cookers & steamers
- Is a rice cooker or a multi cooker a better gift?
- A rice cooker suits someone who makes rice often and wants a simple, reliable result. A multi cooker suits someone who wants one appliance for many jobs, including rice. If the person already has a pressure cooker or slow cooker, a dedicated rice cooker usually adds more.
- What size slow cooker should I give?
- For one or two people, a small slow cooker works well for soups and small roasts. Families and people who cook ahead for the week get more use out of a large oval pot, which fits whole cuts of meat and bigger batches.
- Is an air fryer a good gift for someone with a small kitchen?
- It can be, since it handles jobs that would otherwise need the oven. Check the footprint and height against the counter space under the upper cabinets, and choose a compact basket size if the person usually cooks for one or two.
Looking for one person in particular? Shop by person.
Everything else
All food cookers & steamers picks
Showing 1–7 of 7