Kitchen gadget gift for new cook

[Chuckiegg]

Hello

My adult DS is quite into cooking these says so would like to get him something for up to £20.
He's got all the basic pots and pans etc.
Any suggestions please for a useful item/gadget that he can use as he cooks more variety of things.

Might be over budget but a meat thermometer. Very useful not just for meat but fish, poultry, cake etc

This is handy little gadget:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/OXO-Mandoline-Slicer-Stainless-Standard/dp/B000YDO2LG/ref=mpssa111sspa?crid=U2ZQ4G2P0RI1&keywords=oxo+mandoline&qid=1670265790&sprefix=oxo+msndolin%2Caps%2C335&sr=8-1-spons&spp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRm&psc=1

Thank you both!

Does he have a wok? A proper, big one?

I'm not sure. I'll ask his girlfriend!

A stick blender for soups etc.

I second the thermometer. One of the most useful kitchen items I own, and small. Does he have a kitchen scale, as if not then that’s a pretty essential item for me. I don’t have one, but a lot of people swear by their bench scrapers.

Yes, thermometer is really helpful. Or things like a garlic press, microplane, or potato ricer for making really nice mash.

That's what I was going to recommend. I use mine a lot for soup. Much better than a free-standing blender, which I used to have. Far less faff, easier to wash, quicker, works very well. Mine was the cheapest possible model from Argos, so would come in well under budget, I expect!

Does he have a really good chef's knife?

Metal immersion blender, so useful and takes up less space.

One of my fave things is this garlic crusher from Joseph Joseph

Unlike the usual garlic-press type ones, it doesn't crush it so fine that it burns immediately, it's much easier to clean, and it is also a beautiful piece of design, so nice to give as a gift.

Thanks for all if the suggestions. I'm going to get some of them for me aswell!!