5 Kitchen Gadgets for New Cooks

New cooks often have only the basic kitchen implements. Why not help the new cook on your holiday shopping list stock their shelves with one of these useful gadgets for the kitchen? Each item on this list is easy to use and sure to inspire the budding gourmand.

The Magic Bullet has, in recent years, become the king of television infomercials. Rarely do products live up to the claims made by infomercial actors, but the Magic Bullet is one gadget that stacks up. This versatile blender makes salsas, dips, smoothies, frozen coffee drinks, cocktails, and more in a matter of seconds. Also convenient for meal preparation, it chops veggies, minces garlic, and purees tomatoes. You can also use it as a coffee and spice grinder. It comes with two blades, a tall and short "bullet" cup, four mugs that can be screwed onto the base, shaker and steamer tops, two re-sealable lids, blender carafe and lid, and a juicer attachment. Right now, the website is offering a two-for-one deal on these blenders, so buy one as a gift and get one for yourself! ($99.99; www.buythebullet.com)

Make pie baking easy with the Back to Basics Apple Corer and Peeler. The suction base firmly grips the counter while this clever tool peels, cores, and slices all in one step. Can also be used on pears, cucumbers, potatoes, and other produce. Simplifies preparation of pies, salads, and much more. This durable cast iron corer is very heavy-duty, and easily washable. ($24.95; www.cooking.com)

Not so much a gadget as piece of stoneware, Pampered Chef's Pizza Stone is nonetheless a must-have for any pizza lover. Available in small, medium, and large round versions as well as a rectangular one, these stones bake pizzas, flat breads, and cookies to perfection. Pampered Chef will also replace them should they break ($15-26). I would also recommend the baking rack for easily moving the stones ($4.75; www.pamperedchef.com).

When I received the Santa Fe Quesadilla Maker last year, I was sure I would never use it. After all, who eats enough quesadillas to need an entire appliance dedicated to their production? It turns out that I do. Once I tried this handy appliance, I no longer questioned its usefulness. I now use it at least twice a week. The new cook on your list will be able to quickly prepare a variety of meals with the quesadilla maker, from breakfast quesadillas filled with egg, chorizo, and cheese to chicken, green chile, cheese, and salsa quesadillas to honey, cinnamon, and apple dessert quesadillas. The appliance produces a crispy, hot quesadillas in about five minutes and comes with a booklet filled with recipes ideas. ($29.99; www.kitchenemporium.com)

Help eliminate a new cook's mishaps caused by temperature inconsistencies with the Williams-Sonoma Remote Thermometer. Simply insert the probe into the meat you are cooking, and program the device with the type of meat and the degree of doneness you want. Carry the remote with you within a 100-foot radius, and it will alert you when your meat is done cooking. ($50; www.williams-sonoma.com)

New cooks sometimes do not know how much more flavorful freshly ground pepper is than the store-bought already ground pepper. Pepper begins to lose its potency after it has been ground, so for the absolute best flavor and freshness, a pepper mill is a kitchen necessity. There are many different pepper mills available, in acrylic, wood, and metal. They can be purchased separately or in a set with a matching salt shaker. Chef Specialties has a wide variety of pepper mills, salt mills, and sets. On their website, you will be able to find a pepper mill to suit any new cook's needs. Their handsome wooden sets are available in several finishes and sizes. ($18-54; www.chefspecialties.com)