Super stocking stuffers for the cook at Christmas.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year: a time for giving and for receiving. Unfortunately, the giving can sometimes be a source of stress. Kitchen gadgets can make great gifts, especially for the foodie in your home or for your Secret Santa at the office.

Here are some great ideas for affordable gadgets that we’ve tested and found to be useful and fun. Joyeux Noël!

1. Individual meat thermometers. One of your dinner guests likes her steak rare; another—medium well. Multicoloured thermometers made by CDN eliminate all the guess work. They come in packages of four, and indicate when the meat has reached rare, medium or well done. cdn-timeandtemp.com. $20.

2. Egg poacher. Check out this poaching tool from Cuisipro (see bottom left); it's unique because it hooks on the edge of your pan and has holes that allow the water to circulate around the egg—poaching it very gently. Holes at the back allow for easy draining. cuisipro.com. $12.

3. Tapi tap fountain. This unique device (see right) turns the faucet on any sink into a drinking fountain. Simply slide the rubber spout over the end of your faucet, turn on the tap and squeeze the Tapi to create an upward stream of water—just like a drinking fountain. The Tapi doesn’t obstruct regular water flow, so it can be left on the faucet for convenience. Think of all those water glasses you won’t have to wash. dreamfarm.com.au/products/tapi. $6.

4. Chobs. The name is an acronym for Chop On Both Sides. The product is a group of four rubber discs that slide onto the corners of any wooden cutting board to make it non-slip (see above). They also elevate the board so it can be flipped for use on both sides, keeping your counter clean and uncontaminated. Symbols for meat and vegetables help you remember what you’ve used each side for—and eliminate the possibility of cross-contamination. dreamfarm.com.au/products/chobs. $13.

5. Apple corer. The Cuisipro apple corer (see right) has a unique lever that allows the device to be opened so you can easily remove the core. Bonus: a large diameter so no core gets left behind, and an ergonomic soft grip handle. cuisipro.com. $13.

6. Decorating pen. Cuisipro’s decorating pen (see above left) is perfect for writing personalized messages on your Christmas sugar cookies, cakes or on any desserts or pastries. It can be filled with chocolate sauce, icing, honey or berry sauce—whatever your imagination fancies. It writes in both fine and broad strokes and is easy for kids to use. cuisipro.com. $12.

7. Cupcake corer. What’s better than a cupcake? A filled cupcake! Insert this device (see above) into the centre of a baked cupcake and twist; it removes the core, leaving a well to be filled with icing, cream, jam or another delectable treat. cuisipro.com. $5.

8. Fresh & Frugal. Okay, it’s not technically a gadget, but Craig Flinn’s cookbook, Fresh & Frugal, will help any home cook have success in the kitchen. Flinn demonstrates how economical ingredients can be used to create amazing dishes. Each recipe is broken down by cost per person and includes shopping tips and pantry stocking ideas. Formac Publishing: formac.ca/Book/1445/Fresh-Frugal.html. $24.95.

9. Blueberry balsamic vinegar. A unique shop called Liquid Gold in the Hydrostone Market, in Halifax, and on Queen St. in Charlottetown, offers pure extra virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars from around the world. Its blueberry balsamic vinegar, in particular, is terrific on salads or can be made into a reduction—best served on French vanilla ice cream. Decadent. allthingsolive.ca. 200 mL: $11.

10. Measure Mate. This product is small but hugely convenient! It’s a tiny measuring cup designed to measure both liquids and solids up to 4 tbsp (60 mL)—particularly handy when baking. Perfect as a stocking stuffer or tied onto a gift bow. Available at Panhandler stores or joieshop.com. $3.99.

11. Kitchen tongs. Many chefs will tell you that they cannot live without their stainless steel tongs. This exceptional version, from Lee Valley, is made of thick, 20-gauge, stainless steel; arms lock for easy storage. Available at Lee Valley stores. leevalley.com. $9.95.

12. Table Topics.  Again, not technically a gadget, but a great tool in the kitchen or dining room. If you’ve got a ready answer to: “What foods do you remember from childhood?” you’ll enjoy this box of “conversation starters.” Great fun at family gatherings and dinner parties, Table Topics—Family Gathering Edition is sure to keep the conversations lively. Hundreds of questions designed to encourage conversations between family members. You never know what you might learn about the people around you! tabletopics.com. $25.