Cost: $179.99

A KitchenAid Stand Mixer is the fundamental kitchen appliance. Every gentlemen could use one whether he realizes it or not.

It does what one would expect: mixes, stirs, beats, and kneads. But, what distinguishes it is how it does what it does. This machine is a draft horse. It’s sturdy, brawny, and industrious.

It glides through basic tasks like mixing pancake batter and beating eggs. It dominates tough jobs like kneading pizza dough. And, it does this without catching fire. A claim some other brands cannot make.

Equally impressive, the KitchenAid lets a home cook harness its power for non-mixing activities. We use the meat grinder attachment to make fresh hamburger and sausage. We also have the fruit and vegetable strainer attachment. It transforms our Roma tomatoes into tomato sauce. And, after infusing liquor with fruit, we use the attachment to filter out the drinkable concoction.

If you are gifting a KitchenAid to a special gentleman in your life, consider letting him open it early. Those holiday cookies aren’t going to make themselves.