Having the right kitchen tools can inspire and motivate healthy cooking and eating. Here is a kitchen essentials list for healthy eating and non-toxic living.
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Not only do these cookware, appliance, and gadgets help you save precious time in the kitchen, they are elegantly designed and eco-friendly too.
Whether you are a beginner cook or an advanced chef, you can find kitchen tools here to suit any budget.
15 Must Have Kitchen Essentials for Healthy Eating
1. Cast iron skillet
I use my versatile cast iron skillet for searing steaks and seafood, roasting pork tenderloins, sautéing vegetables, and even frying eggs.
This highly used cookware is lighter and shallower than a traditional cast-iron skillet, making it easier to maneuver. So unless you’re into deep-frying your food, this skillet can do most of your cooking job in the kitchen.
Cast iron is a great alternative to nonstick cookware when used and cared for properly. One way to maintain or restore its seasoning, or nonstick coating, is to strip it and apply this natural oil that helps make cast iron surfaces smooth, hard, and even. You can find the details on how to season cast iron here.
Another benefit of cast iron is that it is safe past 500 degrees and can go under the broiler.
This highly versatile kitchen tool is a great investment that is affordably priced and so durable, it can last generations!
2. Soda Stream
Are you addicted to sparkling drinks but worry about all that sugar and calories? I was helplessly hooked on them in my previous job as they were offered for free in the break room.
Giving up on soda is hard! But did you know you can get the dancing bubbles in your drinks without the artificial sweeteners and calories?
With Soda Stream, you can make your own homemade bubbly sparkling water in seconds.
The key to how to use this product for weight loss is to SKIP the flavored mix packets that come with the unit and add your own whole fruits, herbs, and spices to make sparkling detox water.
My kids love a simple plain sparkling water with a squeeze of lemon or a splash of apple or orange juice.
This eco-friendly kitchen gadget is great for those of us that are environmentally conscious too, as we dramatically reduce the use of metal cans and plastic bottles.
3. Instant Pot Pressure Cooker / Slow cooker
Homemade bone broths, soups, and stews are on my go-to menu for quick and easy meals for weight loss and healthy eating.
This versatile digital pressure cooker doubles as a slow cooker for fast prep and amazing flavors.
The Instant Pot brand is known for innovation. I have the 6-quart Duo which is perfect for families that requires up to 6 servings per meal. Their latest Duo Plus model cooks up to 70% faster!
Air Fryers are all the rage these days and Instant Pot now offers a Duo 6-Quart Air Fryer Lid! This smart design is great for saving precious countertop space.
4. Vitamix Blender
Drinking green smoothies completely changed my life with healed nearsightedness, glowing skin, high energy level plus many more health benefits.
I learned about green smoothies from Victoria Boutenko, the green smoothie pioneer behind the groundbreaking book “Green for Life”.
According to Boutenko, our stomach loses its ability to absorb nutrients over time, and a powerful blender can do a much better job than our teeth to break through tough plant cell walls, making it easier for our bodies to extract nutrients and assimilate them.
My Vitamix blender allows me to make my green smoothies quickly, and the easy cleanup helps me to sustain this healthy habit!
The initial investment may seem high, but the resulting health benefits are priceless! Vitamix blenders are incredibly durable too – my unit is still going strong after 10 years of almost daily use!
5. Ninja Blender / Food Processor
This is a powerful and versatile essential kitchen toolset that I use almost daily.
I originally purchased it to make purees for my twins when they started eating solids. The purees always came out with an even, smooth consistency.
The chopper bowl saves time to prep vegetables and herbs for cooking.
The pitcher for frozen blending and smoothie makes for a budget-friendly alternative to the high-end blenders.
6. Espresso Maker
Who doesn’t love a good cup of coffee with a caffeine boost?
Most of us want quality espresso, cappuccino, or lattes at home, but don’t want a giant espresso machine that takes up your precious kitchen countertop space.
This space-saving stovetop espresso maker takes less than 5 minutes to brew a warm, rich, and velvety espresso.
Espresso originated from Italy, and most Italians have one of these at home!
Use a quality milk frother to add some frothed milk and you’ve got yourself a homemade latte or cappuccino.
7. Electric Tea Kettle
This stainless steel tea kettle gets water boiling in just 3 minutes!
Shave precious minutes off whether you are making coffee, hot tea, oatmeal, soups, ramen noodles, baby formula, and more.
It is smartly and safely designed so that once the water reaches a boil, the kettle will automatically shut off.
The kettle can be easily lifted off its base for cord-free pouring.
Its simple polished stainless steel look will add visual appeal to any kitchen counter.
8. Tramontina Stainless Steel Cookware
Stainless steel is the most common metal used in the food services industry because it is non-reactive, resistant to rust, corrosion, and distributes heat evenly on its surface, making it a great non-toxic material to cook with.
Stick to quality food-grade stainless steel marked Type 304 or 18/8 and 18/10.
This set of Tramontina Gourmet 12-Piece Tri-Ply Clad Cookware provides solid construction at a great value and polished look for home cooks.
You can also purchase the individual cookware separately. I use the 2-quart sauce pan with lid and the 6-quart sauce pot most often.
Their ergonomically shaped handles are comfortable to hold, and they are not too heavy for lifting.
These cookwares are compatible with all cooktops, even including induction. They are oven safe for up to 500 degrees F.
9. Knife Set
I’ve had my set of J.A. Henckels knives for over 15 years and these all-purpose quality stainless steel blades are durable and lightweight so they are easy to maneuver.
This complete set even comes with sharpening steel to help keep your blades razor-sharp over time, plus kitchen shears for quick shreds of leafy greens and herbs.
10. Spatulas
I’ve gone through many spatulas during my home chef career and by far the so-called “fish spatula” performs the best. It may have fish in its name, but it’s really an excellent all-purpose spatula with just the right amount of flexibility and strength.
You can turn delicate fish fillets and flip burgers and fried eggs in an iron cast skillet with ease.
If you are looking for alternatives to metal spatulas, this inexpensive bamboo stir fry spatula is smartly designed to easily stir and scrape up food, even in hard-to-reach areas of the cookware.
11. Bamboo Cutting Boards
Both wood and plastic cutting boards can potentially develop bacteria where there are knife scarring and pockets that trap moisture.
Bamboo is one of the best wooden material to use for a cutting board. It’s superior for health and sanitation due to its high density which helps to resist knife scarring and naturally resist water penetration to prevent bacteria from settling and growing.
Make sure that the bamboo products are not processed using formaldehyde and glues, as these chemicals can leech into your food and gas out over time.
Check before buying a bamboo board that it is manufactured using non-toxic treatment methods or organically grown.
The organic Greener Chef bamboo cutting board comes with a replacement for life guarantee.
It’s best to treat the bamboo cutting board with a natural food-grade oil spray. Clean it by using hot water and soap.
Any cutting board should be replaced when it becomes heavily scarred.
12. Salad Spinner
This durable BPA-free salad & herb spinner is a pleasure to use with its fast and smooth rotations that dry effectively.
A simple press of a brake button stops the spinner immediately.
I actually use this spinner daily to wash and spin-dry fruit snacks like strawberries and grapes to pack them for my kids to take to school.
13. Mixing Bowls
These versatile Pyrex glass mixing bowls can be used in the oven, microwave or even to eat out of.
They are a great cabinet space savers as the 3-piece set can be nested together.
Pyrex glass is non-porous, so it won’t stain or absorb any color. Using clear glass mixing bowls means you can easily see what you are mixing too.
You can get this set at a great value and cleaning is a breeze as they are dishwasher safe.
14. Measuring Spoons
The simple and functional design of these stainless steel measuring spoons makes them easy to fit into small spice jars.
The spoon’s engraved size markers won’t wash off over time and can last you forever.
15. Mixer
For the home baker, a good electric mixer will save a ton of time and energy, not to mention perform tasks that would be otherwise impossible with just our own manual labor.
This robust 9-speed hand mixer is smaller and lighter than a stand mixer, yet packs a powerful punch.
Start the mixer with its 3 low speeds helps to prevent ingredients from splattering.
It comes with a snap-on clear storage case for easy cabinet storage that won’t take up much space.
If you bake often and are looking for a stand mixer, the best go-to standard is the KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer.
I hope you found this list of kitchen essentials helpful in your quest for healthy eating and green living.
Sharing is caring! What kitchen tools have you used that you can’t live without?
