You may have discovered that eating a whole food plant-based diet can involve quite a bit of cooking at home. But that doesn’t mean you have to be a slave to your kitchen! Adding plant-based kitchen tools will allow you to enjoy the ease of a plant-based diet when you have the proper essentials available.
What I’ve learned is that it’s all about good design, about making your kitchen work for you! If you set up your workspace efficiently and have the right tools and ingredients on hand, I promise you’ll be whipping up healthy and wholesome plant-based meals faster than you ever thought possible.
In this article, I’m going to share with you the basic, must-have kitchen tools* that I recommend. If you want to eat delicious food, get your health in line with your life dreams, and be more productive in the kitchen, these plant-based kitchen essentials are the way to go. We know that our health is our greatest wealth!
ESSENTIAL TOOLS FOR YOUR PLANT-BASED KITCHEN
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Good Quality Non-stick pans for Oil-Free Stove-Top Cooking
I’ve been using Scanpans for years, and I like them for a few reasons. They’re made by a Danish company and are extremely high quality, offering professional-grade temperature control with excellent heat distribution and retention and easy cleanup.
Scanpans come with a lifetime guarantee, and the company will replace them if they give out before their time. And best of all, Scanpans are free of PFOA, a man-made chemical used to make Teflon which is classified as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
For more information about these "forever chemicals," check out this article from EcoWatch, PFAS 101: Everything You Need to Know About "Forever Chemicals."
Stainless Steel Pasta Pot
Cooking your pasta in this pot is effortless. The strainer insert and glass lid add to the ease of cooking and will get dinner on the table in a flash.
Baking Dishes for Your Oven
No kitchen is complete without baking dishes and pans for your casseroles and desserts, and conveniently, they’re beautiful to serve right to the table. Baking kitchen essentials making baking a breeze.
High-Speed Blender
I use mine almost on a daily basis. It’s great for smoothies, of course, but also comes in handy for blending nuts into a cream sauce as well as for making gravies and even “blender” soups.
Instant Pot Pressure Cooker & Slow Cooker
This will be one of those items that you'll say to yourself, "How did I ever live without an Instant Pot?" The wide range of foods you can quickly make in this magic machine is unsurpassed, including whole grains, pasta, beans, legumes, stews, soups – and even yogurt!
Food Processor
Food processors are oh-so-handy for making hummus, banana ice cream, plant-based bean burgers, and mashed potatoes, and of course, they can do your vegetable chopping for you. A food processor can be more convenient than a high-speed blender because it’s easier to remove the contents from a food processor. (But there are times when only a high-speed blender will do.)
Salad Spinner
Salads are a staple when you're eating a whole food plant-based diet so being able to wash and spin dry your lettuce is a nice time-saver. You can even prepare your greens ahead of time and they'll stay fresh in the fridge for when you're ready to use them.
Mixing bowls
Everyone needs a good set of mixing bowls for combining ingredients. I particularly like this brand because they each have a lid and a non-stick bottom to help keep them from slipping on the counter.
Storage Containers
A set of storage containers is great for leftovers and these clear ones allow you to see what's inside. The heavy-duty click tops keep things from spilling. And with glass, you don’t have to worry about any chemicals leaching into your food from plastic.
Steamer Basket
Steaming your vegetables instead of cooking them in water is a great way to maintain the nutrients. It takes just a little water in the bottom of the pan and the veggies will soften quickly. Every plant-based cook should have one of these!
TofuBud Tofu Press
While it’s possible to press tofu between towels, it can get pretty messy. I’ve found that a tofu press is really the way to go – it does all the work for you. A tofu press removes water more efficiently and won’t dirty your dish towels or require a ton of paper towels. Simply place the tofu in the press over a large container and let the water accumulate.
Non-Stick Baking-Silicone Mats or Parchment Paper
Oil-free baking is the way to go and both of these products work well for lining your cake or bread pans instead of relying on oil.
THE RIGHT TOOLS MAKE FOR A HAPPY KITCHEN
The tools you use in the kitchen not only make your life easier but healthier as well, because you're more apt to jump right in and make a meal.
I hope these resources for these must-have cooking tools help you easily make plant-based meals in your kitchen while freeing up time so you can focus on what’s important to you.
What kitchen tools can't you live without? I'd love to hear so write me a comment below.
If you want help setting up your pantry, check out “How to Stock Your Plant-Based Pantry.” You can also browse pantry items in the shop.
For cleaning suggestions, check out “10 Tips for Easy Plant-Based Kitchen Cleanup.”
*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means if you click a link, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Read my full disclosure.
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List is amazing. Every single tools needed n the proper kitchen. Thank you for the list. It is useful.
I would like to know where to buy that tofu press.
Hey Dian, you can purchase it on their website. If you’re not in a rush, I’m working on a 10% discount for my followers and can let you know when I have that.