The lowdown on kitchen gadgets
When I first started out trying to eat healthier, it felt daunting. My husband’s and my food shopping list contained exotic items like Nalley Chili, Kraft Mac and Cheese and Rice-A-Roni.
I didn’t know where to even begin and less did I know what I would need to get there. This also meant that I didn’t know what kitchen items were really essential and what items were just faddie clutter (I abhor clutter like some people abhor brussel sprouts). So, after some trial and error and spending a few bucks, let me give you a leg up that I didn’t have.
- High Powered Blender
Yes, yes and YES! I use this everyday for everything from blending soups, to making up smoothies, and whipping together a new dressing in a flash. And unfortunately, you do need a good one, otherwise you will blow out the motor. There are a lot of very good options out there. So save up for the quality deal (Vitamix, OMNI Blend, etc), the basic ones you get at the store are designed to blend you a margarita, not make killer soups. Always hand wash your blender container, the dishwasher is too hot for its little tooties. - Food Processor AKA the “Cuisinart”
Not growing up with something amazing like this in my own mother’s kitchen, I had no idea what it could possibly be used for. Now… **sigh!** A food processor has made my grocery list less expensive because I can now: make my own peanut and almond butters, flours, yam rice, shred veggies in a heartbeat that normally cost more pre-shredded, and making comfort foods like hummus for just pennies. This also by definition makes the prepping those veggies move at lightning speed. - Electric Pressure Cooker
My memory of pressure cookers was potatoes rumbling, watching the hat prattle on in a raucous manner, my mother (knowing her precocious daughter) making it clear to not open the lid under any circumstances. As you can imagine, when my grandmother gave me an electric pressure cooker, this little imp sat in the pantry for months quietly mocking me. I finally got up the nerve to figure it out. First, I’m embarrassed to say, it’s dead easy. Other points that sold it for me: it’s safe (it feels safe, it **is** safe), I can buy dry goods in bulk for pennies per lb (which makes my pocketbook and husband happy) and I can transform dry goods from dry to ready to eat in a fraction of the time. The ultimate leveling up for me was not needing to remember the day before to soak the dry product. I would get stuck by this all the time. - Dehydrator
This is lower on my list but nice to have if you got it. At least get a 4 or 5 layer dehydrator. I use this to dry bulk raw nuts that I flavor in a myriad of ways (I also use these to make homemade nut butters), veggies chips, nut meat options like walnut based taco meat, Kale chips (yum!), bars for on the go snacks when I am crazy busy and various granola concoctions for breakfast and late night snacking. - Rice Cooker
I use this to make everything from oatmeal, to millet and quinoa. It stores nicely for a few days if you get a quality unit from an Asian market. I have the Tiger brand. You just load it up with broth and/or water and the grain, hit the button and forget about it til you are ready to eat. I use it to quickly build Monk bowls for lunches. - Microwave
This single item has been controversial for me, and I fighting the good fight, went probably 8 months without it when ours bit the big one and honestly I was ready to pull my hair out. I want my hair. You will need to heat up all that good food you just made and honestly if it took you time to make it, just being able to sit down and eat it will make it easier for you to stay the course. There are no points for making it harder on yourself. I found myself being put off from even making food just because I didn’t want to figure out how I was going to heat it later. Practicality wins. - Spiralizer
This little gem takes vegetables and makes them into beautiful things like pasta. It’s makes taking out gluten and rice viable since often the place that gluten usually holds in the meal is in the material basis that makes up the foundation (pasta, rice, etc). There is something super awesome about a spiralized carrot, zucchini or yam. Be sure to get one with a metal blade. Not all Spiralizers are built the same. - Kitchen Aid Mixer
My last item on the list I use less often only because I am not a big baker. Being gluten free and vegan instigated a shift away from baked goods and so this got put away farther in the back. But, when you gotta need for it, it does free up your hands beautifully. Be careful about using it when making vegan/gluten free baked goods because you don’t want to overmix the dough. That said, it is excellent for making dips, toppings and sauces, not to mention the clean up beats cleaning up a hand mixer anyday.