10 Best Healthy Kitchen Tools

Behind every healthy cook is a few good supplies. We’re not talking superfluous one-trick ponies here, though. Invest in a few multipurpose appliances and gadgets, and making healthy meals will be infinitely easier.

10 Must-Have Healthy Kitchen Tools

1. High-quality blender

It’s easy to be tempted by the cheapies you find at discount stores, but a higher-end blender like this Ninja one will make your life so much easier (and it won’t seize up every time you try to blend frozen fruit). Make sure to buy one with a blade that just pops out for easier cleaning. In addition to smoothies, I use mine as a food processor for sauces, soups, purees, mashed root veggies, homemade ice cream and pesto, too.

Try: 10 3-Ingredient Smoothies You Can Make Ahead | 5 Vitamin-Packed Veggie Smoothie Recipes | Vegan Blackberry Coconut Smoothie Bowl

2. Rice cooker

It’s not just for rice. Cook a week’s worth of quinoa, barley or other grains that you can portion out and freeze to use in salads, as a stir-fry base, or in soups and other dishes.

Try: Watercress + Quinoa Salad with Blueberry Vinaigrette | Detox Meal Bowls

3. Slow cooker

This appliance is such a good investment. Make soups, stews, cocktails, dips, desserts and —most importantly, oodles of healthy meals—in it with hardly any work and very little cleanup.

Try: 12 Make-Ahead Healthy Slow-Cooker Meals | 50 Healthy Slow Cooker Meals | 25 Things You Should Be Making in Your Crock-Pot

4. Sturdy stock pot

A 4-quart will do, but 6 or 8 is ideal. Make huge batches of healthy soups ahead of time, then portion out into freezer bags. Simply reheat for a healthy meal when you’re strapped for time!

Try: Creamy Vegan Cauliflower Soup | Easy White Bean Soup with Sausage | 25 Super Healthy Soup Recipes

5. Food processor

This is a must if you love making cauliflower rice or homemade burgers, patties or bread crumbs. (A blender won’t do these jobs as effectively.) It can also be used for sauces, purees and pesto.

Try: Cauliflower Rice Tabbouleh Salad | Hoisin Salmon Burger with Ginger Aioli | Blueberry Chocolate Chunk Vegan Ice Cream

6. Large baking dish

Perfect for making large batches of healthy meals like zucchini lasagna, quinoa bakes or roasted veggies. Ceramic, stoneware or glass will do here. Bonus if it has an airtight cover you can use to store a dish right in the fridge or freezer.

Try: Baked Rigatoni with Sneaky Cauliflower | Roasted Broccoli 3 Ways | Roasted Maple Bacon Brussels Sprouts

7. Mandoline slicer

If slicing veggies for wraps, salads or gratins gets you down, this is the perfect solution.

Try: Healthy Sweet Potato Gratin | Ginger Chicken Lettuce Wraps | Zucchini Carpaccio Salad

8. Spiralizer

Make low-carb, gluten-free noodles from zucchini, sweet potato, carrots, cucumbers and almost any other veggie with this kitchen staple. Use them as “pasta” or as a base for wraps and salads.

Try: Zucchini Noodles with Pesto | 25 Alternative Noodle Recipes

9. Microplane Zester + Grater

Add flavor by grating/zesting citrus, hard cheeses, onions, ginger or garlic into salads, casseroles or salad dressings.

Try: Creamy Pumpkin Quinoa Risotto with Parmesan | Sweet + Spicy Cold Noodles | Baby Kale Salad with Citrus Dressing 

10. Mason Jars

These are invaluable for smoothies, juices, salads in jars, homemade nut butters and leftover storage. If you lose the lids, you can make candles or plenty of other crafts with them, too.

Try: 25 Mason Jar Salads | 17 Healthy Snacks to Pack in Mason Jars | 11 Fun + Healthy Mason Jar Meals