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Kitchen Culinary For The Healthy Life - Gadgets Every Plant-Based Foodie Must Have

Wednesday, September 4, 2013 0:04

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At the time I started my transition to a healthier, plant-based lifestyle back in 2009 there were really only two key items I couldn’t live without—a pizza stone and an oversized cereal bowl. Tombstone® pizzas, Cocoa Pebbles, and Marie Callender’s® frozen dinners were pretty much the norm for me. I didn’t need a lot of kitchenware at my disposal because of this, and so I stuck to the basics of bachelorhood. While I still use my pizza stone and cereal bowl today, I’ve found that a few modern-day kitchen appliances make living a plant-based lifestyle much easier. Today I’ll show you how to save time and energy by stocking your kitchen with the essentials to make your transition to this healthier lifestyle much easier. Remember, spend only what you can afford, prioritize your needs as you proceed forward, and keep a wish list for everything else.

Must Have Kitchen Appliances

There are a few kitchen tools/appliances that are on my must have list when it comes to successfully adopting a plant-based diet. Yours may be different and that’s ok. My list includes a blender, a chef’s knife, a quality cutting board, and a nice line of cookware.

1) Blender

I’d be absolutely lost without my high powered blender. I use it everyday; sometimes multiple times per day. I make soups, smoothies, homemade dressings, sauces, and even banana “ice cream” with it. My blender is definitely my favorite kitchen appliance by far.

Shopping for a blender can make anyone crazy. There are so many different makes and models out there which further the confusion and complexity of the situation. However, I highly recommend you pony up the money to purchase a high powered blender. The reason for this is because they are extremely versatile allowing you to do multiple different jobs in the kitchen.

There are two high-powered blenders that fit into this category—Blendtec and Vitamix. Both are outstanding and will be able to do just about anything you ask of them. You can place rock hard frozen fruit or entire pieces of food (whole carrots, apples, pears, etc.) into these blenders and their 2-3 horsepower motors will grind right through them. These blenders are a little more expensive, retailing at approximately $450-$600 each, but they’ll last a lifetime and are well worth every penny. I value my Vitamix blender more than I value my kitchen stove so you can get a sense of just how important this appliance can be to someone.

If you are on a budget and cannot afford a high-powered blender then a mid-grade or budget-friendly blender can get most jobs done. Smoothies, dressings, sauces, etc. are easy to make with these blenders. Just don’t go putting whole pieces of frozen food in them or trying to make your own nut butters. You may end up overheating the motor and finding yourself buying another blender.

Important items to look for when purchasing a budget-friendly blender is to purchase one with stainless steel blades and a metal drive socket/coupling at its base. This will provide for a very durable product that will stand the test of time better. Don’t go overboard on all the fancy options and settings. A blender with 2-3 basic speeds does just as good of a job as one with 10 speeds and half a dozen automatic timers on it. Some reliable names to look for are Cuisinart, Oster, KitchenAid, and Hamilton Beach.

2) Cutting Board and Chef’s Knife

The next thing I’d recommend putting on your must have list is a good quality cutting board and chef’s knife. You’re going to be preparing, chopping, slicing, dicing, and mincing a fair amount of fruits and vegetables so having the right tools to do so is essential. Without these items you’re going to feel like a carpenter without a hammer.

Cutting boards come in all shapes and sizes. They can be made of all types of materials as well. I’ve found that a decent size (12” x 18”) cutting board works just as well as any professional grade butcher block board. Cutting boards are available in hardwood, bamboo, composite material, plastic, and glass. Composite, plastic, and glass boards can be a little rougher on knives but they are usually easier to clean. They can also be thrown in the dishwasher. Hardwood and bamboo boards are much easier on knives but have to be hand washed. They also need to be treated every so often to prevent drying and cracking. You’ll have to find out what suits you best when purchasing one. I personally love my $20 bamboo board. It’s not a big deal for me to hand wash it after each use and treat it every 3-4 months to prevent it from drying and cracking. I just spread a small amount of oil over it using a paper towel. By the way, this is also the only time cooking oil ever gets used in my kitchen as it has been shown to be detrimental to heart disease if consumed (see video here).

As for chef knives I would recommend splurging a little. Purchase a high quality chef’s knife. It will perform better and last longer than a cheap one. To do this, you’ll probably end up spending a minimum of $50-$100 or more, but you’ll be happy you did so. This may seem like a lot of money for one knife but understand that this is one of your primary tools to get the job done in your new plant-based kitchen. Many people who live on theStandard American Diet use a barbecue grill to prepare their food. I did when I used to eat this way. It was one of my main tools I used to cook my food every day. Like many Americans, I would think nothing of spending hundreds of dollars on the latest and greatest barbecue grill. Now, my chef’s knife and blender have taken the place of my barbecue grill. I use them in the preparation or making of almost all of my meals so I have no problem investing the money upfront necessary to obtain high quality products.

There are a number of great brands to look at when purchasing a chef’s knife. Do your research before buying to ensure that you are purchasing a knife that meets your specifications. Some well respected names in the field include the Wusthof Classic line, Victorinox Swiss Classic line, and the Zwilling J.A. Henckels line of knives. A knife sharpener is also a must to keep the blade of your knife sharp at all times.

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