If your holiday gift list includes a young cook, an aspiring chef or an adult who has started whipping up great grub in the kitchen, we’ve got some stocking stuffer suggestions for you.

We talked to local food experts who assured us that it doesn’t take much money (less than $20) to find a small holiday gift that will inspire a new cook.

Molly Ziegler, culinary instructor at Bend High School’s award-winning culinary program, and graduate of the prestigious Culinary Institute of America, suggested a good whisk, a pair of tongs and a gadget that cuts herbs, along with other tools. One of Ziegler’s students, Elizabeth Rainwater, would love to have a set of knives and a bench scraper.

We checked in with Jaime Aguirre, co-owner of Ginger’s Kitchenware in Bend, who always knows what’s new and what’s useful. He recommended a folding cutting board and a ceramic peeler, along with some classic tools that any novice cook would love.

Lauren Johnson, whose title is “head cheerleader” at the Newport Avenue Market, (having taken that title from her father, Rudy Dory), suggested a few of the fun and utilitarian kitchen tools that are available in her family’s grocery store wonderland.

Finally, Chef Thor Erickson, instructor at the Cascade Culinary Institute, who won the 2013 “Cooking Teacher of the Year” from the International Association of Culinary Professionals, told us about the inexpensive kitchen tools he finds at restaurant supply stores. Erickson had other great ideas for sparking the interest and creativity in chefs — and great home-cooks-to-be.

Lauren Johnson, “Head Cheerleader”

Newport Avenue Market, 1121 N.W. Newport Ave., Bend, 541-382-3940, www.newportavenuemarket.com

Under $20:

•  Lekue citrus sprayers: “It’s a sprayer that screws into a lemon or lime. You can spray that fresh juice in tea, over food, any time you want to freshen or brighten the flavor. We’ve reordered these sprayers six times,” Johnson said.

•  “The Food Lover’s Companion” paperback: “Everyone should own this. It’s a great go-to source of information, and nice to have handy when cooking,” Johnson said.

•  Microplane: “Versatile grating across the board, from hard chocolates, cheeses, to garlic. It works wonders on all of them. Go with the “Microplane” brand. They’re the original company. That’s important when you’re looking for a quality item.”

•  Paring knife: “A 3- or 3.5- inch paring knife is the most versatile tool in terms of fruits and vegetables — everyday stuff.”

Over $20:

•  6-inch chef knife with diamond stick to keep the edge: “Run your chef’s knife up and down a sharpener once or twice every time you use it to maintain the edge.”

•  Wood cutting board: “They make a great serving piece, as well as being utilitarian. We have two local companies making cutting boards. One company makes Oregon-shaped boards with a star where Bend is.”

•  Cookbook: “Asian flavors are big, global flavors, ancient grains, home cooking.”

— Reporter: ahighberger@mac.com