A healthy lifestyle cannot be sustained without home cooking, no matter your diet. In addition to the ingredients you use, other factors, such as the cookware you use, can play a significant role in your health.
For this reason, I compiled a list of essential kitchen tools for healthy cooking, which will elevate your cooking game and help you make delicious and nourishing meals. Additionally, I’ll give you seven other kitchen tools I use and recommend.
My Healthy Kitchen
I have a small kitchen, and considering we lead a semi-nomadic lifestyle, moving and traveling a lot, I only have essential kitchen tools that don’t take up a lot of space.
My kitchen is not perfect, but it’s a ‘safe space.’ I use non-toxic cookware, I minimize the use of plastic as much as possible, and I don’t use aluminum foil when I cook food. If I use a non-stick loaf pan, I always coat it with parchment paper.
What you will not find in my kitchen:
- non-stick and aluminum pots and pans
- scratched cookware
- plastic cutting boards
The 10 Essential Kitchen Tools for Healthy Cooking
Equipping your kitchen with these ten essential healthy cooking tools will transform how you approach meal preparation. From creating nutritious and flavorful dishes to saving time and effort, these tools empower you to embrace a healthier lifestyle without compromising taste.
Don’t worry if you don’t have some of these essential kitchen tools; you don’t have to gather them all at once to start cooking healthy food. Do your best with what you have, and build your healthy kitchen one day at a time.
- Stainless steel cookware
- Pressure cooker
- Mandolin
- Salad Spinner
- Blender (standing or immersion)
- Food processor
- Mixing Bowls
- Set of Knives
- Waffle maker
- Vegetable peeler
Scroll till the end to find a list with seven additional kitchen tools for a healthy kitchen.
Stainless Steel Cookware
Investing in a good set of stainless steel cookware is the foundation of a healthy kitchen. Good quality stainless steel is durable, non-reactive, and provides even heat distribution, making it perfect for cooking a variety of dishes.
It’s also easy to clean and maintain, ensuring your food remains free from unwanted chemicals and contaminants.
You want premium, fully-clad cookware, not the cheap stuff. Yes, they might cost a little more, but they last a lifetime and beyond.
- A set of frying pans – From my experience, it’s useful to have two sizes, one small, for one or two-person cooking, and one larger, for more people or for ingredients that take more space. Stainless steel, if used correctly, is non-stick. Learn how to make scrambled eggs in a stainless steel pan here.
- A set of pots and pans – You need a saucepan, a soup pot, and a larger skillet or sauté pan.
- Ovenware – A set of stainless steel sheets pans and trays are great, but you can also use the enameled ones that come with the oven, glass, ceramic, or stoneware. I have a baking tray, and a few other roasting or baking pans, in different sizes (stainless steel, ceramic, stoneware, and glass). You can bake cakes, roast vegetables or chicken, make focaccia bread, and more.
- A crepes and tortilla pan – If you love crepes and tortillas, you need a safe pan specially made for this purpose. The newest addition my kitchen tools is this Carbon Steel (Mineral) Crepe and Tortilla Pan, which is fantastic, not only for making crepes and tortillas but also for sunny-side-up eggs. It becomes naturally non-stick after seasoning, which is very easy to do.
Special mention: A safe option for cooking is a ceramic-coated skillet. But I don’t consider them essential or recommend them because they are expensive and have a very short life. Also, they are made of aluminum, and once the superficial ceramic coating gets scratched, they become toxic. I never had a ceramic-coated skillet that lasted more than one year (and I take good care of my cookware!).
Pressure Cooker
When it comes to healthy cooking, a pressure cooker is a game-changer. It uses steam and pressure to cook food quickly while retaining nutrients and flavors. This tool is perfect for preparing beans, whole grains, and hearty stews in a fraction of the time.
Pressure cooking helps remove pesky lectins from foods high in these anti-nutrients: tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, beans, and legumes.
To me, the pressure cooker is probably my lifesaving kitchen tool. I can take the meat out of the freezer and cook it in the pressure cooker in under an hour (which is passive time for me, so I can do something else).
I worked with all kinds of pressure cookers, and they all work, but the safest and easier to use is an Instant Pot or another similar electric pressure cooker.
Mandolin
The mandolin is a versatile tool that allows you to slice fruits and vegetables quickly and precisely. It helps create uniform slices, ensuring even cooking and enhancing your dishes’ visual appeal. From salads to stir-fries, a mandolin is a time-saving tool that adds a professional touch to your meals.
I love using a mandolin to make green plantain chips or slicing vegetables for stir-fries and salads. I got a version of Chef’s mandolin from Oxo with an adjustable thickness setting and integrated julienne and French fry blades.
Salad Spinner
The first tool I use every morning is a salad spinner. I start my day with a green smoothie, so I use it to wash and dry the greens quickly.
A salad spinner is essential for those who enjoy fresh, crisp salads. I don’t think anyone likes wet salads anyway. By removing excess moisture from your washed greens, dressings adhere better to the leaves, resulting in a more flavorful and appetizing salad.
Blender
A high-quality blender is indispensable for creating healthy smoothies, soups, sauces, and more. From green smoothies packed with vitamins to creamy vegetable soups, a blender allows you to blend ingredients to the desired consistency, unlocking a world of healthy culinary possibilities.
When I started my health journey, I didn’t have a blender or a food processor (that shows how much I was cooking at home!). I quickly realized that it won’t be easy to make green smoothies, healthy soups, and pestos without these two kitchen tools.
While there are many options out there, I think a Vitamix is a great investment, if you can afford it. This powerful blender can do anything you can think of and has a lifetime warranty.
Because of my lifestyle, I have a Nutribullet, that works well for small quantities of food, takes less space, and it’s easier to move around. It’s also more affordable.
Another thing I love about Nutribullet is that you can use a milling blade to grind spices and grains.
More recently, I found the perfect complement tool for my Nutribullet. It’s called Bamix, a high-power stick blender, also called an immersion blender, that can do amazing things. I can make nut butter, and mayonnaise, blend soups in the pot, make pestos, hummus, and dips, mix cake batters, or beat egg whites. I love it because it is so powerful and takes up very little space in my kitchen.
Food Processor
A food processor is a time-saving multitasker that can easily chop, slice, shred, and blend ingredients.
It’s perfect for making homemade nut butter, grinding herbs and spices, and creating delicious dips and spreads. Its versatility makes a food processor an essential tool for healthy cooking.
Choose the right size of food processor for your family. For a family of two or three, you can get one up to 7 cups; for larger families, a bigger one will be a better choice.
Mixing Bowls
A set of mixing bowls is essential for any kitchen. These bowls come in various sizes and are perfect for whisking dressings, marinating ingredients, making bread, or mixing batters.
Opt for high-quality, durable bowls that can withstand the rigors of daily use, and make sure to have a range of sizes to accommodate different cooking needs.
My choice of material is stainless steel and glass. The bowls with lids are the most useful. I also have one in plastic, for when I need something lightweight, but I use it rarely.
Set of Knives
Investing in a good set of knives is crucial for efficient and safe food preparation. A sharp chef’s knife, a paring knife, and a serrated knife should be the foundation of your knife collection. With the right set of knives, you can slice, dice, and chop ingredients with precision and ease.
There is nothing more off-putting when it comes to cooking than bad knives. I usually experience this problem when I visit friends and have to cook using their cooking tools. It takes me forever and much frustration to prepare vegetables if the knives are not good.
Waffle Maker
I debated if I should add a waffle maker to the essential list. But it’s a fun tool for me, and super fitting for a ‘creative kitchen.’
Any ingredients can be mixed in a batter-like composition and cooked in a waffle maker. You can make savory waffles using sweet potatoes, beans, carrots, herbs, avocado, eggs, and some gluten-free flour mix.
You can make endless varieties of sweet waffles. When I’m not in the mood to make pancakes, I make the batter slightly thicker and make waffles instead. They are much easier to cook and look more fun.
The only problem with waffle makers is that they are made with a non-stick coating that can be toxic. Fortunately, there are a few options of ceramic-coated waffle makers, which are much safer option for a healthy kitchen.
Vegetable Peeler
Lastly, a vegetable peeler is a small but mighty tool that helps you effortlessly peel and prep various vegetables. This handy tool ensures you enjoy nutrient-rich produce without wasting any good stuff.
Look for a peeler with a comfortable grip and sharp blades to make your prepping process a breeze.
You can also find sets of peelers that can julienne, peel and shred vegetables.
Additional Kitchen Tools for a Healthy Kitchen
I couldn’t help but expand on the above ten essential kitchen tools for healthy cooking. With one exception (the tortilla press), I have them all and use them regularly.
With these tools, you can create wholesome and delicious meals in your healthy kitchen.
US Measuring Cups and Spoons: Accurate measurement is crucial in cooking, especially when it comes to baking recipes that require precise ingredient quantities. Investing in a set of US measuring cups and spoons ensures consistency and allows you to follow recipes accurately, helping you maintain portion control and achieve desired results.
Weighing Scale: A weighing scale is an invaluable tool for those who prefer to measure ingredients by weight. It allows for precise measurements, particularly when dealing with ingredients like flour, sugar, and protein. By using a weighing scale, you can ensure accuracy in your recipes and have better control over portion sizes. It’s essential if you want to make sourdough bread.
Dutch Oven: A Dutch oven is a versatile piece of heavy-duty cookware that can be used for a wide range of healthy cooking techniques. It’s made of cast iron that is already coated, so you don’t need to worry about seasoning. It’s perfect for braising, stewing, slow-cooking dishes, and baking the perfect loaf of bread. A Dutch oven’s heavy construction and tight-fitting lid help distribute heat evenly and retain moisture, resulting in tender and flavorful meals and amazing crust on your bread. Choose the right size for your family.
Cast Iron Skillet: While a cast iron pan is not essential, it comes in handy, especially if you want to make tortillas and pancakes without using the classic non-stick pans. There are two types: enameled and not enameled. Both provide amazing heat distribution and non-stick qualities, but an enameled pan is easier as you don’t have to season it (I have a Le Creuset). Also, non-enameled cast iron is a natural source of iron, which is not good if used too often by people who already have too much iron. Great for searing, sautéing, baking, making tortillas, and pancakes.
Silicon Freezing Molds: When it comes to healthy meal prep, freezing food in portions can be a game-changer. Silicon freezing molds are perfect for making individual-sized portions of soups, stews, and sauces. These molds are flexible, allowing for easy release of frozen food and reducing waste. I use Souper Cubes, which are also safe for baking.
Silicon Bags: Say goodbye to disposable plastic bags and opt for reusable silicon bags. These eco-friendly alternatives are ideal for storing leftovers, herbs, and vegetables, marinating meat, and carrying snacks. They are durable, easy to clean, and help reduce plastic waste in the kitchen, making them a great choice for a sustainable and healthy lifestyle. They are also heat resistant and safe for oven, microwave, and sous-vide cooking. I have a set of different sizes of Stasher bags.
Tortilla Press: For those who love making homemade tortillas, a tortilla press is a fantastic tool. It allows you to create perfectly round and thin tortillas. I recently got one, and it does make the job of making tortillas so much easier and faster.
Conclusion: Embrace the Magic of Home Cooking for a Healthy Life
And that’s a wrap, fellow health enthusiasts! By equipping your kitchen with these essential tools and embracing the art of home cooking, you’re embarking on a journey that will transform your life. Cooking at home isn’t just about nutrition; it’s a path to mindfulness, self-care, and stronger connections.
When we cook at home, we take control of our nutrition, making mindful choices that nourish our bodies.
Home cooking allows us to slow down, savor the moment, and truly connect with our food. It’s a chance to unleash our creativity, experiment with flavors, and create dishes that reflect our unique tastes. And when we share home-cooked meals with loved ones, we create deeper connections, strengthen relationships, and build a sense of community.
So, let’s embrace the magic of home cooking using these essential kitchen tools, one delicious meal at a time, and unlock a vibrant and healthy life.
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