Natural Kitchen Essentials: The Tools I Can’t Live Without

After I wrote about what I maintain in my purse, I had a number of requests for the same submit about what my kitchen appears like. Whereas it’s modified some over time, I’ve discovered what works finest and a few new favorites. Right here’s the checklist I want I’d had earlier than having my own residence. The whole lot from pots and pans, to water filters and different crunchy mama instruments. 

Pure Kitchen Objects

To start out off, take into account that until I’m travelling we normally prepare dinner 2-3 occasions a day and don’t use a microwave. The children are sufficiently old to make household dinners and might deal with their very own breakfasts and lunch prep. So there are numerous us utilizing the kitchen at completely different hours of the day!

All my kitchen objects are heavy obligation and have a number of makes use of. A lot of this stuff are dear, however I fastidiously budgeted for them and lots of have prolonged warranties. And since I’m continually experimenting with new recipes for the weblog, I’ve some instruments I wouldn’t have initially thought to buy.

Home equipment/Large Objects

Moreover the standard fridge and oven/range, I’ve quite a lot of small home equipment that I take advantage of regularly.

1. Blender

I’ve had a Vitamix for a few years now and it’s been used a number of occasions a day! We use it each day for smoothies, sauces, mixing espresso with wholesome fat, chopping, and many others. If I may solely have one of many home equipment on this checklist, I’d maintain the Vitamix. Whereas I actually suppose a Vitamix beats all different blenders, listed here are my experiences with different blenders that additionally cross the take a look at.

2. Meals Processor

I didn’t get this meals processor early on as a result of I didn’t suppose I’d use a machine that simply chops and mixes. Seems, I take advantage of it lots. I assumed it will be enjoyable to cut every thing by hand, which was true for a number of years. Now once I prepare dinner for a crowd (simply the household, to not point out visitors) the meals processor is basically useful. I additionally typically use this for chopping objects for soups, slicing cabbage for sauerkraut, pre-chopping salad objects for the entire week, and many others.

3. Stand Mixer

One other merchandise that I didn’t purchase for a very long time as a result of I didn’t suppose I’d use it a lot. Particularly since I don’t bake that usually. Whereas my stand mixer doesn’t get as a lot use because the blender, I do use it for issues like whipping home made marshmallows or mixing grain-free biscuit dough. 

4. Dehydrator

I went by way of a number of, cheaper plastic dehydrators earlier than I discovered this one. Excalibur model is taken into account the gold commonplace of dehydrators. It’s nice for drying fruits and veggies, making beef jerky, home made fruit leather-based, and extra. My youngsters particularly like fruit chips produced from dehydrated apples and strawberries. We use our dehydrator probably the most in the summertime when there’s extra produce that wants preserved.

5. Ice Cream Maker

Not one thing I assumed I might use on a regular basis, however surprisingly we do. We use this ice cream maker for recipes like strawberry gelato, or butter pecan ice cream. It’s additionally simply an effective way to get wholesome fat and vitamins into my youngsters with out a combat. I may even merely mix watermelon and pour it in to make a sorbet. For ice lotions, I go for coconut milk, egg yolks, and butter for good fat.

6. Sluggish Cooker

That is the Crock Pot I’ve. I truly went by way of a number of cheaper ones that wore out earlier than I lastly sprung for a high-quality one. This specific Crock Pot can also be imagined to be examined to be freed from lead (which is current within the crock of some sluggish cookers).

7. Air Fryer

I take advantage of the Marvel Oven from Our Place. It’s straightforward sufficient for my youngsters to make use of and it’s multi-functional so I can even use it as a toaster, oven, and many others. I’ve used it for effectively over a 12 months now and it really works seamlessly with something I put in there. The inside is chrome steel (which is tough to search out in an air fryer) they usually are available many alternative colours to coordinate with any kitchen!

8. Immersion Blender

I take advantage of my immersion blender on a regular basis for pureeing soups within the pot, mixing pancake batter, and many others. It’s a lot simpler than transferring scorching liquids to a blender pitcher and I like that the half that touches the meals is chrome steel.

9. Water Filter

Not an equipment per se however we use this water filter each day to filter our water for cooking and ingesting. The 14-stage filter is one of the best one I’ve discovered that does an intensive job. If you need an possibility that’s not underneath the counter, listed here are my evaluations on different filters we’ve tried over time. 

Cookware and Bakeware

I prepare dinner on a regular basis, so high quality cookware is basically vital to me. I solely use cookware that’s pure/eco-friendly and likewise pretty straightforward to wash. This left just a few choices, however these versatile items get used on a regular basis!

1. Prompt Pot

Whereas this common strain cooker has been across the block for some time now, it’s nonetheless a staple in my kitchen. The Prompt Pot makes soups, stews, and casseroles. It could possibly additionally hardboil eggs, ferment yogurt, and makes probably the most tender cuts of meat you possibly can think about. 

Meals is prepared in about an hour or much less, and you may saute proper within the pot earlier than pressurizing, saving additional soiled pans. I even make elderberry syrup in it. Try my full assessment on Prompt Pot fashions (and why it’s a wholesome technique to prepare dinner).

2. Caraway

I take advantage of Caraway’s 3 qt. saucepan a number of occasions per week in addition to their frying pan to make eggs, crepes, or fry up veggies. They’re straightforward to wash and are protected for the household with none poisonous chemical compounds leaching into your meals. I additionally use their bakeware when making desserts or breakfast muffins.

3. Xtrema Pure Ceramic

Xtrema’s skillets prepare dinner evenly and are very easy to wash (when used correctly). The one draw back is that they’re breakable so I’ve to watch out when cleansing them. I take advantage of these particularly for eggs since they don’t stick, but additionally for stir-fries and meats. 

Xtrema additionally has a full line of bakeware, sauce pans, Dutch ovens, and extra. I like that they’re third get together examined for heavy metals and toxins so I be ok with utilizing them for my household. You may learn my full assessment of Xtrema right here. 

4. At all times Pan From Our Place

I like the At all times Pan once I’m making scrambled eggs, stir fry, or must steam some veggies. The pan may be very straightforward to wash and you may both wipe it down with a moist rag or throw it into the dishwasher. Our Place additionally makes the Marvel Oven (talked about above), however they’ve tons of wholesome cookware, bakeware, utensils, and extra. 

5. Forged Iron Skillet

Nothing beats forged iron skillet, which may final perpetually. These are those I’ve, however you possibly can typically discover them at vintage shops or property gross sales.  I take advantage of forged iron skillets for something that has to go from range to oven or for meats, bacon, sausage, and many others. One other benefit is that hint quantities of iron are left in meals to spice up the physique’s iron ranges.

6. Le Creuset 

These enameled forged iron dishes are dear, however effectively value it! I’ve a Dutch oven and soup pot which are coated forged iron and use these for range or oven roasting or cooking. 

7. Giant Inventory Pot

I’ve a restaurant grade 5-gallon inventory pot that I take advantage of for bone broth and for pre-cooking massive batches of meals. Even when your loved ones isn’t fairly as huge as mine, they’ve a number of sizes accessible for batch cooking. 

8. Glass Baking Dishes

I take advantage of these for on a regular basis cooking and baking. Whereas I’ve used Pyrex for years for his or her sturdiness, a number of of the above manufacturers even have some good baking dishes in numerous sizes (and colours!). 

9. Metal Baking Pans

Since we prepare dinner in bulk every time potential I’ll typically prepare dinner sufficient for a military, even for a single meal. These metal baking pans come in useful. I take advantage of them for roasting veggies, cooking massive quantities of meals, and serving to massive teams. They’ll additionally double as a roaster for giant cuts of meat.

Moreover the larger objects just like the home equipment above, I’ve quite a lot of smaller kitchen objects I take advantage of on a regular basis. I truly had much more of those smaller objects and have weeded out single-use objects, particularly those who took up numerous room. Those that made the reduce and that I nonetheless have:

1. A French Press

This chrome steel French press is nice for making espresso or tea with out them coming in touch with plastic like they’d in lots of espresso makers. I additionally like the flavour of espresso and teas made in a French press significantly better. Plus, it’s a lot smaller to retailer than a full-size espresso pot. 

We additionally often use a Chemex. You may take a look at my complete espresso setup on this submit.

2. Fermentation Crock

There’s typically one thing (or numerous one thing’s) fermenting on my counter. And my fermentation crock makes it a lot simpler. I take advantage of it most frequently for sauerkraut.

3. High quality Knives

Knives are nonetheless some of the used objects in my kitchen. From chopping veggies for omelets to meat or veggies for dinner, these get used on a regular basis. I’ve even invested in educating the youngsters to make use of them (with the assistance of this superior on-line course) because it’s a beneficial life ability.

4. Crinkle Cutter

This cutter isn’t too sharp and makes enjoyable shapes so youngsters can use them to assist with meal prep. When my youngsters have been little I saved this and a bamboo reducing board available so they might take turns serving to reduce veggies for meals. They have been additionally ready to make use of this for fast carrot or cucumber slices for a snack every time they needed.

Listed below are some extra instruments you’ll discover in my kitchen: 

Random Objects

Material napkins: I’ve written about how we attempt to keep away from paper merchandise in our kitchen and we use fabric napkins at each meal.

Huck Towels: I take advantage of these as an alternative of kitchen towels and paper towels. They’re super-absorbent and are even utilized in hospitals as surgical towels.

Giant Metal Bowls: For mixing and serving

Lunch Bots: For packing lunches or meals on the go. The massive ones are additionally nice for meals storage.

Stainless Metal Straws: Eco-friendly choices for ingesting smoothies and different drinks.

Metallic Water Bottles:  For sports activities, lengthy walks, or every time we’re away from dwelling.

Glass Water Bottles: To be used with smoothies, drinks, and many others. when not away from dwelling.

Stainless Metal Dinnerware for Children: My youngest youngsters love these enjoyable plates and cups. And I like them as a result of they’re non-toxic and freed from plastics.

Jars

I take advantage of jars for every thing so that they get their very own class. We use them for storage, ingesting glasses, fermenting issues like beet kvass or water kefir, and salsa, in addition to for second ferments of kombucha. I like glass jars and have a group of types in my kitchen:

Quart Measurement & Pint Measurement Mason Jars: We use these for ingesting glasses, storing meals within the fridge, packing salads, and meals for lunch, and many others.

Mason Jar Lid Alternate options: Convert Mason jars into ingesting cups for decent or chilly drinks. Additionally they have lids for pouring, sprouting lids (additionally nice for open ferments like water kefir), ferment weights, and extra that I take advantage of. 

Gallon Measurement Jars: I take advantage of these for fermenting or storing drinks within the fridge.

Giant Spigot Jar – This has a stainless-steel spigot and is ideal for steady brew kombucha.

Glass Storage Jars: I retailer many objects in my pantry and on my counter in these jars.

Uncommon Pure Kitchen Necessities 

Along with the usual kitchen objects, you’ll additionally discover the next uncommon objects on my kitchen counter:

There are many different further kitchen objects, however these are by far those that I take advantage of probably the most frequently.

What’s in your kitchen? Are there any nice kitchen instruments that I’m lacking out on? Do you might have a few of these similar objects? Share beneath!