1. Vitamix → I don’t know what I’d do without my Vitamix! I used to have a Ninja and it doesn’t even compare when you’re making things like green smoothies, “nice” cream, almond butter, nut milks, and more! If you think it’s too expensive, it’s actually not when you consider it as an investment in your health and consider it’s lifespan; it’s totally worth the price! However, if the price is a concern, you can save a lot by buying a certified refurbished one which comes with a brand new pitcher and 5 year warranty and works just like new. A brand new A2500 Vitamix is $519, but this summer sale lets you get a certified refurbished one for ONLY $279! Personally, I’m currently using the S55 personal sized Vitamix, but only because it’s smaller so I could pack it in my suitcase to bring to Iraq. It’s a good option if you’re just blending for 1 or 2 people and don’t want to take up a lot of counter space.
2. Vegetable Knife → I waited too long to buy a good knife. Having a high quality knife will save you a lot of time and make meal prep much easier! The one I use and love is by Global.
3. Instapot → This pressure cooker, slow cooker in one, plus yogurt maker.
4. Spice grinder — Most coffee grinders also serve as a spice grinder, but you probably want to have a separate grinder for spices. In addition to making fresh curry powders, I use mine for grinding seeds, such as toasted sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, and/or flax seeds to add to my oatmeal (and you should always buy the whole flax seeds and grind them yourself to avoid oxidation, unless you’re buying sprouted flax — which is my go-to as I also prefer the taste; check out my post about flax seeds to learn why you should have at least 1 Tbsp a day). I also use it to make my go-to plant-based parmesan “cheese” by Minimalist Baker (which is ground cashews and nutritional yeast with a little salt and garlic powder).
5. Microplane zester → I use this for grating ginger to add to various dishes from oatmeal to stir fries, but most mornings I grate some fresh ginger and squeeze the pulp through my fingers to add fresh ginger juice to my lemon water. The microplane is also excellent for grating lemon and other citrus peel, which have 5-10 times more vitamins than the citrus fruit itself and citrus peel has been linked to cancer prevention. You can also freeze your citrus peel for later use.
6. Spiralizer → The spiralizer I’ve linked to is great because of its compact size. If you haven’t yet tried zucchini noodles, they are a great way to add more veggies to your diet; just spiralizer and lightly saute then toss with some pasta sauce, such as this lentil bolognese sauce. You can also use the spiralizer for carrots and other veggies to make nice garnishes
Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means if you purchase through my link I’ll get a small kick-back, while the price will be exactly the same for you (thanks for supporting me by using my links if you’re interested in purchasing any of these items!)
Additional reading:
- Lemon Peel Benefits: https://www.wellandgood.com/good-food/lemon-peel-benefits/
