Hiya Fabulous Foodies,
I love sharing special prezzies with you, and I want to make sure you know about your awesome gift. I’m giving all of my readers free Cooking Classes! 13 videos, over 1.5 hours of training with me and the fabulous Chef Chad Sarno. If you’ve already started watching the videos, I hope all the step-by-step tutorials, recipes, and handy kitchen tips are helping you feel more excited and confident in the kitchen. When I started cooking with confidence, holiday prep changed from dreaded to celebrated and I want the same for you!
(UPDATE: this offer has expired, but you can still get a sneak peek of Crazy Sexy Kitchen below!)
And since we’re on the subject of feeling confident in the kitchen, this list of basic tools will really help. If you want more details, check out the “Know-How” section in Crazy Sexy Kitchen. We walk you through all the lingo, equipment, and how-to info you’ll ever need to be a star chef in your own home.
My 7 Essential Kitchen Tools
It took me years to build up my cooking tool repertoire, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t have everything on this list. These are just the ones I use daily, but you can still make phenomenal meals using just a few of these… (Hint: these also make great gifts for the cook in your life!).
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- Strainer & Salad Spinner: Need I say more? They’re kinda essential for all things Crazy Sexy (aka veggies!).
- Sharp Knives: High-quality knives separate the amateurs from the ninjas! You don’t have to get super fancy or buy an entire set. Just make sure your knives are high quality, the right weight, and comfortable in your hand. I recommend at least having a chef’s knife and paring knife at the ready.
- Peeler: Ya gotta have one. When shopping around, look for a sharp blade with a substantial handle—easier to hold and use.
- Cutting Board: If you already have this kitchen item—terrific. If not or if you’re in need of an upgrade, try bamboo. For wooden and bamboo boards, you want to make sure to hand-dry them after washing to avoid drying out and cracking. Solid wood boards may need to be seasoned with neutral oil (food-grade mineral oil, or walnut, almond, or coconut oil) every now and then. They’re easier to clean and more eco-friendly than plastic. Also, if you’re using a plastic cutting board, keep in mind that tiny pieces can break off and make their way into your cuisine. Yuck.
- Cookware: Say sayonara to regular Teflon, aluminum, and other nonstick cookware. Their lining can break off at high temperatures, adding carcinogenic chemicals to your otherwise healthy meal. Although there are nontoxic, nonstick options out there such as Greenpan, which is made of 95 percent silica, the best choice is cast iron if you take the time to give it a little TLC and season it properly. Stainless steel, copper, or any heavy-bottom pans are all great picks as well.
- Blender: A powerful blender will change your life. It’s one of the most important tools in the kitchen. We use our beloved Vitamix daily. While it’s on the pricey side, it’ll last forever. Use it to make healthy smoothies, sauces, desserts, dressings, batters, and dips. Blendtec makes a great model too. But if a high-speed blender isn’t in your near future and you have a food processor or run-of-the-mill blender, you can still cook amazing food—it just might take a little longer.
- Juicer: Picking a juicer is like picking a mate! With so many on the market it can be hard to commit. In the Crazy Sexy Kitchen there are two types of juicers that will be useful—centrifugal force and twin gear. Centrifugal force juicers are easier to clean and use, take up less counter space, and are perfect for making your daily health elixir. Twin gears make juice that will stay fresh longer, but they take a little more time to clean and can cost more. However, they’re more versatile, since they also make wheatgrass juices, nut butters, ice cream, and veggie pâtés. You don’t need both types of juicers to get these jobs done. Check out the Breville Juice Fountain Multi-Speed and Hurom (my personal favorite!) juicers to see what works for you.
Your turn: What’s one kitchen tool you couldn’t live without? Let me know in the comments!
Peace & cooking,
good article,i would say food processors and blenders are a must appliances to have in the kitchen.I have seen you have mentioned heavy duty blenders like vitamix,which model?
Glad you put “sharp” in the knives 🙂
It’s a great article I’ve read ever about kitchen tools. Thanks for this and keep doing great.
Much obliged to you so especially for this great blessing Kris. As usual… you shake! Glad bubbly season to you and yours. I contemplate covers it, however I will include: Glass blending bowls. I have a considerable measure of them from little prepare bowls up to extensive blending bowls. I favor glass bowls for warming things up in the microwave, for doing sustenance planning, stirring up hitters for preparing, putting away remains in the ice chest, and so on. Glass bowls likewise work for conveying to the table for introduction, and on the off chance that you get ones with fitted tops, they additionally work for conveying dishes to potlucks! A super multi-utilize thing!
I plan to purchase a Blendtec for my mom. Thanks for nice post.. 🙂
Nice, I will be sharing with my friends.
I have a Vitamix, but I was wondering if it’s worth it to purchase a food processor as well. For some desserts it seems like maybe a food processor would be better. Thoughts?
Excellent site you’ve got here.. It’s difficult to find good quality writing like yours these days.
I seriously appreciate people like you! Take care!!
It’s going to be end of mine day, but before end I am reading this wonderful
piece of writing to increase my know-how.
Great article Kris! So many of my clients don’t know where to start with gadgets!! Thank you 🙂 xo
Is a steamer (electric) one a good tool to add to my kitchen? I am contemplating getting a small one for quick steaming… Thank you.
Hi,
I really need Sharp Knifes. I hear they cut down on prepping! And I’ll be replacing my board + pan. It’s funny how little you actually need to run a kitchen.
I think a spiralizer would be good too because I can use to make great spagetti like noodles with vegetables.
Only problem … I hate cleaning it!
Nathalie
Nice article. These are indeed essential tools for us in kitchen!
Oh, Since I’ve been reading about Kris and following her example (you’re awesome, Kris!!) , I bought a juicer and though my budget is not super high, I had to get something on the cheaper side but so happy to be producing delicious juices!!!
So is my pet rabbit, who I think now sees me as more like him and likes to eat with me. lol.
I have been lucky enough to find a small and large stainless steel vita mixein a thrift store. $45 for both. If you are on a budget a thrift store can be a goldmine. They are in fantastic shape and are American made so they are fixable if anything should ever go wrong. Can’t see it happening they work like a charm. Have also found a Brevelle juicer reg $399 for $30.
It absorbed liquid, so to boil water, Native Americans would create a cooking basket out of large leaves.
Preparing for two is a great method to get your partner involved in the cooking procedure.
Do you end up throwing away fruits and vegetables that
have spoiled before you get to use them. Further, it would be a good idea to initial consider from
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shelves together with other storage spaces. – Crisp, dry white wines are ideal for seafood soup and shellfish dishes.
There are ample of cake decorating books available that contain pictures and provide step by step instructions of carving varied shapes and designs for cakes.
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Million thanks for the gem of info kriss ! 🙂
Sooo informative….million thanks kriss !!! 🙂
Yes, I’m a cowgirl, but a cancer survivor cowgirl who is now battling another health threat but not cancer for now. I found an awesome juicer last night and I will be a juice maven all Christmas weekend. lol. I began with a delish juice that Kris does and goodness that was so tasty.
My pet bunny had a few sips and I htink he wanted to have the whole glass to himself. lol. At least I now eat more like him and I think he is very happy about that. So am I 🙂
Thanks Kris! I love your Crazy Sexy Cancer Tips book too!!!
This is great! I am committing to feeding my body with nourishing foods in 2015… and ever since I have said “I’m willing!” I’ve stumbled upon many amazing things to help guide me on the path —- this being one of them! Thanks for doing what you do and inspiring the world to fuel their bodies with the good stuff!
The best kitchen knives out there are Cutco!! We love them and are still building our set. We have the main essentials though. I also love my garlic peeler!! All it is is rubber – you place the clove of garlic into it and roll the clove back and forth. Presto!! Garlic is peeled!
I think your list just about covers it, but I will add: Glass mixing bowls. I have a lot of them from small prep bowls up to large mixing bowls. I prefer glass bowls for warming things up in the microwave, for doing food preparation, mixing up batters for baking, storing leftovers in the fridge, etc. Glass bowls also work for bringing to the table for presentation, and if you get ones with fitted lids, they also work for bringing dishes to potlucks! A super multi-use item!
Would love to here how and with what you season cast iron with in a good and healthy way.
The Nutribullet is great because nothing gets wasted – all the fiber from the fruits and veggies gets pulverized – easy to clean too.
Thank you so very much for this wonderful gift Kris. As always… you rock! Happy festive season to you and yours 🙂 xx
Microplane ZESTER! Citrus! Ginger!
My number one kitchen tool is my Vitamix. I can’t make a smoothie without it! A sharp chef’s knife runs second…
I wanted to say thank you for this gift, much appreciated!
Blonde Santa! I bet Santa would lose some pounds on a plant-based diet 😉
My favorite kitchen tool is the vitamix, closely followed by the latest addition — our new electric pressure cooker is the InstantPot DUO 6, which we have affectionately dubbed “Insty.”
Thanks for another helpful article Kris.
A mandolin!!! the slicing kind 🙂 all kinds of veggies taste totally different when they are sliced paper thin on a mandolin…and they are very inexpensive!
Ooh I’m happy to say I have all seven. Couldn’t live without them.
I already have everything I think I need (at the moment 😉 ) but what’s REALLY REALLY missing is a real good, no, the best!! Food processor!
Please… Any advise???
Thx so much!!
Totally agree with these but have to add… jalapeño/pepper deseeder! I use it almost every day. Throwing jalapeño into my green juice adds a nice pop!
I have to agree with you on the salad spinner…one of my all-time favorite kitchen essentials.
All I need is a big, giant, fat wood cutting board and a really good chef’s knife and I’m good. Of course I HAVE everything else. 😀 😀 But I only USE my knife and board. Time to pull out the Vitamix and give it a good workout.
I could not live without my sharp knives and my cast iron pans.
Kris, I was just curious if you might know anything about the NutriBullet? Any feedback would be appreciated! Thanks so much
I have been NutriBullit for a couple of years and it is fantastic. I can put in frozen fruit, leafy greens like spinach and kale, protein powder, as well as nuts like walnuts. I find it has so many more uses than a juicer.
Dearest Kris
You must hear this several dozen maybe hundreds of times a day…YOU helped change my life. I met you briefly at the HayHouse “I Can Do It” conference in NYC back in Sept. I listened to your story and immediately connected the dots to the young woman I met via her documentary, “Crazy Sexy Cancer” a few years before. You were diagnosed on my 40th birthday. I often wondered what ever happened to that amazing young girl, I got my answer that afternoon. I’ve tried so many times to find the right path to a healthier body/life, but reverted back to less wholesome ways within weeks after starting. There was something different that day, something that really connected me to the absolute truth of my life…here was a beautiful young woman before me, a sick girl living a well-girl’s life, and I was (for all intention purposes) a well-girl living a sick girl’s life. WHAT’S WRONG WITH ME?! And at that moment, my journey began and I’m happy, no wait…ELATED to report that I haven’t looked back since. I juice 3-4 times a day, eat whole plant-based meals (fish/chicken 1x wkly if the urge arises) and am working through my emotional demons related to the poorer choices I’ve made in the past. I’ve now become a part of Joe Cross’s Rebooters community (upon your FB intro) and love all that I’m learning about food from these wonderful people. My husband jumped onboard a few weeks ago and we’re discovering a love beyond the 4 walls we became so accustomed to in our home. I thank you for being so brave, so open, and so generous to share your story with everyone and for how hard you & your team work to keep us all informed and connected. Cheers to you and your Crazy Sexy Life! Much love, Krys
Wow! Thank you for sharing Krys. You are amazing! I love you honey. xo kc
Garlic press! Gotta have fresh garlic!! 😉
I will be sharing with my daughters as well!
I love all of the must have kitchen tools you mentioned. Crazy for the Vitamix. I also use my lemon juicer daily and can’t live without my immersion blender for soups.
Hi Kris, THANK YOU for the gift of the cooking classes.
I am so overdue a Blendec or Vitamix is actually sad, lol. I used a Nutribullet for my recipes and smoothies and I have worked the poor thing to the ground. Thanks for another awesome article!
Kris, thank you for sharing your knowledge and enthusiasm with us. I’m in the process of starting to lead a healthy lifestyle and knowing about you has helped me to get started. Thank you, thank you!!!!
Scrub Daddy
Also if i were to replace my chopping boards with all wood , can i put them in dishwasher?
I plan to purchase a Vitamix with Christmas cash from my Mother.
I’m sure it will be my #1 kitchen tool in the New Year, baby!! 🙂
this is exactly what i need right now!
Hi Kris!
Do you have a recommended brand you love of kitchen knives? Mine seem dull, maybe they need sharpened?
Thanks so much!
Leslie
Thank you so much for sharing such valuable information and for your free online cooking classes. YOu continue to be an inspiration. I am so grateful for you sharing your knowledge and wisdom to keep so many healthy. Thank you so much! You warm my heart with your generosity.