There are so many tools out there and special gadgets, but honestly, I’m all about minimalism, even in the kitchen! These are my top tools that I recommend, in order of necessity.
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- THE BEST knife is this Aicok knife, and it’s so cheap on Amazon! I have been using mine multiple times a day for over 2 years and it is still sharp (I’ve never even sharpened it). It is pretty much the only knife I use, unless I need a small paring knife. Best of all, it’s only $13 right now. Can you even believe it?
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2. This cutting board is fantastic, because it catches juices and saves your counter from getting messy. It doesn’t dull your knife like a glass cutting board does. I use my bamboo cutting board every day, almost every meal.
3. If you don’t have a food processor yet, you need to get with the program, my friend! I use a food processor for hummus, cookie dough, nice cream, and so many other things! I highly recommend every kitchen have one. This Cuisineart one is commonly known to be the best, and I do love mine. I also had this cheaper Hamilton Beach one for many years and it was great, too! If you’re just starting out and don’t want to spend a lot of money, it would be perfect.
4. High-speed blender. Ok, I have a lot to say about high-speed blenders. They are expensive. I am cheap. I also make green smoothies every day. We bought a Ninja which is on the cheaper side of the nice blenders, on the expensive side of the cheap blenders. It was a bad idea. We chew our smoothies which is just not right. Save up for a Vitamix or a Blendtec. They are both amazing in my opinion. This one is on my wish-list (although I would buy it at Costco where its usually about $275).
5. Glass containers. I have these Pyrex containers and love them. They will last forever and have the perfect variety of sizes. It’s a good idea to replace your plastic containers with glass, especially if you tend to microwave leftovers. This article explains some of the dangers of plastic containers.
Glass containers like these are essential for batch cooking–make a big batch of rice, beans, quinoa, roasted veggies, lentils, etc. on one day, and store it in these containers in the fridge (or the freezer, these freeze well). Cooking healthy meals will be fast and easy for days.
6. I’ve been very happy with this ceramic Green Life 12-inch skillet. Ceramic cookware can get pricey, but this one is very affordable at $25. I’ve been using mine for 2 years and don’t use oil to saute in it. If you have Teflon skillets, throw them out and order ceramic! Teflon may cause hormone imabalance, cancer, and flu-like symptoms if overheated.
7. Bench Scraper.I use it for cutting dough, on occasion, but mostly for scraping my counters and even my floor of stuck-on food (toddlers throw a lot of food on the ground!). It comes in handy for the oddest things and I find myself using it very often! If you make homemade bread often, this is great for scraping your counters after kneading dough, or dividing dough into even pieces for rolls, loaves, etc.
8. Garlic Press. For so long I tried to save money and just cut up my little cloves of garlic. Now, I don’t dread minced garlic in recipes because it only takes a second to have fresh garlic! This is the one I have and it is worth every penny because it is heavy and durable. Do yourself a favor and just get one before you waste more of your life away mincing garlic any other way.
9. Cheap vegetable peelers are so frustrating! I have been using this Kitchen Aid peeler for 4 years and counting…..it is easy to use and so durable.
10. Silicone Baking Mats If you find yourself using a lot of parchment paper, these silicone baking mats will pay for themselves with time. You won’t have to grease your baking sheets or use parchment paper. They make oil-free roasted vegetables more crispy, too. They are easy to wash. HIghly recommend!