Spice Gift Set: A few new directions for dinner

Choose for their cooking, not the jar count

A spice set can move a familiar dinner in a new direction: a warmer seasoning for roasted vegetables, a blend for beans or an ingredient they have wanted to try. It works best when you can picture a few meals they would actually make.

Individual spices suit someone who likes adjusting recipes themselves. Seasoning blends put several ingredients together for a particular dish or style of cooking. Read the contents before assuming a box of grilling rubs will suit a cook who rarely grills.

What earns a place in the cupboard?

• Choose a useful mix with clear ingredient lists, not several near-identical blends.

• Compare the weight in each jar and the total quantity. Small amounts can suit unfamiliar flavors.

• Salt, sugar, chili and allergens can be part of a blend; check the label rather than judging by its name.

Recipe cards or clear serving suggestions help when a seasoning is new to them. If they already have a well-stocked cupboard, a focused selection they have asked for is often more useful than another starter assortment.

Fresh supplies, sensible storage

Check shelf life and whether the spices come in containers that close properly. Follow storage instructions; a cool, dry cupboard away from the stove is usually a better home than a sunny windowsill.

An olive oil tasting set offers something to try straight on bread or a finished dish. Choose a hot sauce gift set when their interest is in ready-to-use heat rather than seasoning during cooking.