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Whether you’ve completely cut out animal products from your life or are just looking to increase plant-based meals in your diet, below are ten kitchen gadgets that will help take your plant-based cooking to the next level.
1. Ninja Personal Blender
Smoothies are a staple in any vegan’s diet. I personally use the Ninja Personal Blender because the base conveniently transforms into a cup.
It is also perfect for making homemade pizza sauce and salad dressings.
A big part of being vegan is learning how to be creative with the same base ingredients.
A blender is a great way to tap into that creativity!
2. Oster Double Tiered Steamer
Switching to a vegan diet means that a majority of your meals will include some kind of vegetable.
Some of the strongest animals in the world only eat plants. Did you know that rhinoceroses are herbivores?
Not a day goes by that I don’t use my Oster Double Tiered Steamer to prepare gorgeous nutrient filled veggies. The double teared design allows me to keep vegetables separated from meats whenever I am cooking for others.
I am also able to do work around the house or get ready for the day because I don’t need to keep an eye on the steamer as I would with the stove.
3. Aroma Rice Grain Cooker and Food Steamer
People often think that plant-based eating means salad three times a day.
Our brains are fueled by carbohydrates so adding a grain to the side of your meals is extremely important to ensure you are properly fueling your body.
The Aroma Grain Cooker can prepare a variety of grains and can even be used as a steamer.
My favorite thing is to make a large batch of rice, quinoa, or couscous at the start of the week and use it as a quick easy base when the week starts gets busier. This way I don’t have any excuses to just warm up a frozen pizza because I don’t have the time to make anything else.
4. Micro Electric Kettle
I use my electric kettle for a constant flow of hot tea throughout the day. Tea is a great way to cut down on caffeine and soda.
It also has antioxidants which can reduce inflammation in the body.
I even find myself using the kettle to quickly boil water for pasta and soup.
The Micro Electric Kettle also automatically turns off when the water is ready so you don’t have to worry about babysitting the stove.
5. Cuisinart Stainless Steel Knife Set
If you are headed down the plant-based route, be prepared to do a lot of chopping.
You will want a nice set of sharp knives, especially for harder vegetables like potatoes. It will make cooking feel like less of a hassle if you are able to cut your vegetables without struggling to get the knife through them.
I really like the Cuisinart Stainless Steel Knife Set because of its sleek black block matches any kitchen.
The knifes are well designed, durable, and make chopping feel effortless.
6. Seville Fruit Tree with Banana Hook
Any vegan knows that bananas are an incredibly versatile ingredient. They make delicious healthy ice cream, which you can blend in your Personal Ninja Blender (found above).
They are a great snack with peanut butter, on toast, in smoothies, and we can’t forget warm banana bread.
The Seville Fruit Tree makes sure you have a place to keep your fruit in one place and makes your bananas easily accessible with the hook that extends upwards.
7. Heatmaster Jumbo Pan
You will find yourself experimenting often with different vegetable combinations and cooking methods.
Some nights you may want steamed or oven roasted vegetables.
However, one of my favorite methods is on the stove. I use the Heatmaster Jumbo Cooker because it has the capacity to make enough if I want to meal prep for the week. Its tall enough to make a variety of dishes without being too hard to clean.
The lid also makes it easy to just store leftovers directly in the fridge. Who doesn’t like to save cleanup time!
8. Rachel Ray Nonstick Bakeware Set
Having a versatile set of oven safe pans is essential. Whether you want to make vegan treats, roast vegetables in the oven, or make plant-based casseroles, clichés, or lasagna, your pans will go to use!
I personally use Rachel Ray’s Nonstick Bakeware Set because it comes with 5 pieces of diverse sizes and shapes.
They are also nonstick making them super easy to clean and the side grips make them safe for even the clumsiest of cookers.
9. Razab Glass Food Storage Containers
Meal prep is a vegan’s best friend. Having meals ready to go the night before leaves one less thing to think about during a busy week.
Vegetables and grains are really easy to make in bulk but you will need someone to store them in.
I really like the Razab Glass Food Storage Containers because they come with small and large round, square and rectangle containers. This way there is a perfect shape and size for any meal.
The glass makes them easy to clean and they are even microwave, oven, freezer, dishwasher safe. That means you can warm up your meals directly in the container which is great for minimizing dishes!
10. Bellemain Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls with Lids
Every kitchen needs a good set of mixing bowls. Plant-based cooking often requires mixing a lot of fruits, legumes, vegetables, and grains together.
The Bellemain Mixing Bowls are great because they come with lids to store leftovers directly in the bowls.
There are measuring lines inside the bowls so you can even measure your ingredients without using any other supplies. The bottom is lined with silicon to prevent slips while mixing.
I haven’t been able to find any other bowls that pack so much value into one design!
In conclusion, I hope these vegan essentials help make plant-based cooking easier, more convenient, and enjoyable in your kitchen!