Many recent college grads will soon be moving into their first apartments—but unlike newlyweds, they don’t get a registry to stock their kitchens with everything they need. Instead, when it comes to kitchenware, most freshly minted graduates are starting their next chapter from square zero. Perhaps we’re biased, but we’d argue that the best graduation gift is some basic kitchen equipment. Skip the gift card, sentimental photo book, or lifetime membership to the school’s alumni association, and go for one of these practical college graduation gifts.
Whether the graduate of honor loves to cook or is just getting started in the kitchen, these essential tools will set them up for success. All of the items on this list—including starter spice kits, tool sets, and a few big-ticket appliances—are heartily endorsed by the recent grads and experienced gifters on the BA staff. But not every great gift has to be functional—we’ve also included a few fun kitchen accessories to make their new space feel like home.
Help the new grad build a solid culinary foundation with this 10-pack of essential spices from Spicewalla. It has all the basics like pepper, garlic powder, and cumin. Or upgrade to the 18-pack, which also includes ancho chili powder, ground turmeric, and more.
As the new grad enters the workforce, a coffee subscription is guaranteed to make their life easier. We love this 6-month gift subscription from Trade, which delivers a new bag of coffee sourced from indie roasters across the US directly to their door each month. They may be spoiled on good coffee for life, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing: They can always extend their membership. VP of video June Kim attests, “I’ve gotten 54 bags of coffee delivered to our home, and truly, I’ve never received a bag of coffee I didn’t enjoy.”
Every cook needs good knives, and this three-piece set from BA-favorite cutlery brand MAC covers the bases. The paring knife, bread knife, and chef’s knife are all made from durable alloy steel that’ll hold up for years. The chef’s knife in particular is a favorite of food director Chris Morocco due to its durability and design (it has dimples that allow the knife to more easily slide through tough potatoes or squash), but all three are staples for any kitchen.
A recent poll among BA staffers revealed that a rice cooker is at the top of everyone’s gift list—specifically, the 3-cup Zojirushi rice cooker, which you can order on Amazon. With only one setting (“on” or “off”), this straightforward model from our favorite rice cooker brand is pint-sized, making it ideal for starter apartments with precious counter space.
There are bowls and there are plates. And then there are shallow bowls, a far superior species. These wide-rimmed workhorses are ideal for noodles, stir-fries, salads, and just about anything. We like these basic ceramic ones from Year & Day, or check out more of our favorite pasta bowls.
When commerce producer Alaina Chou moved into her first apartment post-college, her parents gave her two sets of these handmade glasses from Our Place as a grad gift. “They’re so pretty that I have them on display in a windowed cupboard, but that’s not the only reason I like them,” she says. “I love that I can stack them (in ombre order, of course), and that they’re sturdy enough that I don’t need to be too precious with them.” Choose from warm or cool-toned ombré cups, or get one of each.
Gently but firmly nudge the new degree-holder to graduate from ramen dinners to slightly more built-out meals with Omsom, an Asian pantry brand beloved by senior commerce editor MacKenzie Chung Fegan. The squeeze-pouch starters come in flavors like Korean spicy bulgogi and Thai larb, providing the foundation to a quick meal; just add protein and veggies. This bestseller bundle, which includes Southeast Asian and East Asian samplers, will set the new grad up for 36 dynamic dinners.
This Nespresso coffee maker is an upgrade from the dorm-room Keurig they cohabitated with for the last four years. It produces higher-quality coffee than many of its pod-eating counterparts, but it’s just as convenient. “Coffee at the click of a button is the primary appeal to me,” says digital production assistant Li Goldstein, whose roommate received a Nespresso machine as a gift (which means Li has reaped the benefits). Go the extra mile with a set of pods—the Odacio is a powerful dark roast, while the Hazelino Muffin is a fan favorite—or pair with a travel tumbler to make the morning commute to their new job slightly more tolerable.
A food processor is one of our essential kitchen tools: It’s great for making quick sauces, chopping veggies, or blitzing ginger and garlic into a paste. This miniature Cuisinart is easy to use (the only settings are “chop” and “grind,” which is really all you need) and doesn’t claim too much countertop real estate.
Every kitchen needs its accessories. This striped oven mitt from Dusen Dusen is so much more fun than the basic one they would’ve bought at Target. Just remind them to wash it every once in a while, yeah?
At just 3.5-inches-wide, this tiny cast-iron skillet cooks eggs in perfect circles—a niche use, sure, but charming nonetheless. (Because yes, even grown-ups can find satisfaction in a highly specific gadget.) It’ll be the source of many hungover bagel sandwiches in the graduate’s future, as well as a way to learn cast-iron care in case they want to level up with a larger pan later on.
This colorful cutting board is destined for much more than just chopping vegetables, though it’s pretty great for that too. Budding hosts can use it as a serving platter or a charcuterie board—and if they’re the type to document all their meals on Instagram, it doubles as a great background. “I can confirm it has the power to make any dish ready for social media prime time,” writes associate food editor Zaynab Issa.
If cared for properly, stainless steel cookware can last a lifetime. This high-quality All-Clad set is an investment, but hey, might as well start them with the best. The 7-piece collection includes a fry pan, saucepan, sauté pan, and stock pot, plus lids. It has everything they need and nothing they don’t, making it a great graduation gift idea.
Unlike so many of the murky “Mediterranean blend” oils at the supermarket, this olive oil from Graza actually tastes like… olives. Endorsed by BA staff writer Ali Francis, the duo of cooking oil (“sizzle”) and finishing oil (“drizzle”) comes in convenient squeeze bottles, ideal for squirting into a hot pan or garnishing dips. You can even set up a subscription, so the recent grad can receive fresh olive oil to their new apartment each month.
The KitchenAid stand mixer is the pièce de résistance of any well-equipped kitchen, especially for enthusiastic bakers. Don’t let the sticker shock settle in; this is the kind of quality, keepsake kitchen appliance they’ll probably use for the rest of their lives. We love this pale blue color, but pick a hue that matches their vibe for a personalized gift.
Kick off the graduation party—literally. For the just-turned twenty-one-year-old, here’s a cute, functional bottle opener they can display proudly on their new bar cart. Pair it with a six-pack of their favorite beer, which might be their favorite gift of all.
The recent grad can use this mesh bowl to hold all the fresh farmers market produce they’ll never actually use (welcome to adult life!). It’ll make even withering, brown-speckled bananas that were supposed to be banana bread two days ago or the dozen limes that’ll soon turn to margaritas look good.
Those first months of learning to cook can be messy, so might as well clean in style. Outfit the post-grad’s kitchen with this mix of colorful ombré kitchen towels, which are cute enough to do double-duty as napkins for the table.
Instead of collecting subpar ladles and spatulas on a need-now basis, set the aspiring cook up with everything they’ll need with this streamlined collection. GIR’s spoons and spatulas are made of silicone, a non-stick, dishwasher-safe material that is safe to use on most pots and pans. Plus, the crock is included.
When you’re working with limited space, it’s helpful to stock up on multi-purpose tools, like these nested storage bowls. Use them as mixing bowls or food storage containers. Bonus: They’re also microwavable.
Give the thoughtful gift of dinner on demand—no grocery run required—and a little luxury with this bundle. It has everything they need: pasta made with ancient grains, a spicy tomato sauce, a multi-purpose herb blend, and oregano flowers. All they have to do is assemble.
“One of my favorite graduation gifts to give is this Le Creuset spoon because it is so multifunctional and easy to clean,” says senior cooking editor Kelsey Youngman. This straight-edged silicone spoon is versatile enough to use for stir-fries, scrambled eggs, or scraping the brownie batter bowl clean, and Youngman often includes it as part of a custom utensil crock bundle as a kitchen-warming present.
Move on from the 2 a.m. drunk Cheetos—ah, the life of a college student—to this top-tier snack subscription box, which you can customize based on dietary preferences (there are vegan, gluten-free, and paleo options). It showcases a bunch of emerging food brands that check all the sweet, salty, and savory boxes. We love the Best of the Best box not only for stocking our cabinets but also discovering our new favorite snacks.
