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There is absolutely need to have an elaborate kitchen with cabinets full of gadgets-galore. In fact, Glow Kitchen is geared toward those who have the basics, if even those. I find the following products to be essential to make all the healthy creations you could possible want. They give a lot of bang for their buck, since they save time and effort, and are  thus mainstays in my Glow Kitchen, and hopefully yours too!

Juicer

The juicer is my #1 household appliance (aside from my Chef’s knife). I start every morning with a green juice to wake me up. It’s a great way to start the day, feeding your blood oxygen and nourishing your body with live enzymes.

I’ve had great experiences with Breville juicers, but check out Jack LaLanne, Juiceman, Omega and Champion to find the one that is right for your budget, aesthetic and functional qualifications.

Blender

If you are a smoothie person, a blender is an asset. I use my blender to make green smoothies, to liquify soups and to concoct sauces, dips, dressings and dessert fillings.

I have found the Vitamix brand to be the best. Check out these brands for more options: Magic Bullet, Oster, Blendtec and Hamilton Beach.

Chef’s Knife

When you eat a lot of raw fruits and vegetables, knife skills become important. Most of the skill comes with knife, so make sure you have a sharp one that fits your hand like a glove!

$20 should get you a good one.

Cheesecloth

I strain my homemade nut “milk”s with a cheese cloth, and it can also be used as an herb pouch for soups or, well, to make your own cheese!

Don’t pay more than $10 for one. You’ll find a lot of skimpy ones for $2 that have a relatively short lifespan due to their delicate knit, or you can pop around $8 and get one that’ll last a lifetime.

Food Processor

For all the things the Vitamix can’t pulverize, the food processor is a must-have! I use it to combine thicker mixtures–hummus, nut meal (essentially turning nuts into flour consistency), and other mixtures that don’t necessarily need to be liquified–simply “pulsed”.

I use the Cuisinart brand, but here are others to consider: KitchenAid, Hamilton Beach, Black and Decker and Magic Bullet.

Spiralizer

I use my spiralizer mostly to make zucchini pasta, but you can use it on most fruits and vegetables to create fun-shaped foods for festive occasions. The potential dishes stemming from spiralized squash or potatoes are endless…

Click here to peruse your options.

Garlic Press

I’ve gotten more use out of this tool than I bargained for, mostly because more often times than not, I don’t want to cut garlic myself and risk smelly hands for the proceeding days.

You can also use this for ginger too! I sometimes add ginger to smoothies, and the last thing I want is a chunk of intensity. The garlic press ensures that I don’t encounter such a situation.

Mandoline Slicer

I actually do not recommend this product. I only mention it because I think it is useful to those who are meticulous about presentation and want to speed up the slicing process; that is, if they operate this seemingly simple device with caution.  Everyone I know who has used this regularly, and I mean everyone, bears the wound to prove it.  They have all cut themselves in one way or another, and these cuts run deep. It can get messy, fast.  Even with its safety features (which aren’t very functional), it’s a dangerous tool to employ all the time.

If preparing for a party or some social event, a mandoline slicer can add to the aesthetic appeal of your dishes by making consistent, clean cuts. Just be careful is all I ask!

Dehydrator

For those out there intent on pursuing a high-raw lifstyle, a dehydrator could come in handy.  A dehyrator allows you to “cook” foods over a long period of time without exceeding a certain temperature as to deplete whatever is being dehydrated of its nutrients.

I’ll be honest. When I first began to eat a high-raw diet, I bought a dehydrator thinking it was absolutely necessary and something I’d use all the time, since most raw food (un)cook books require heavy use of it. Reality check: I’ve used it once. If you have the time and love to experiment, it’s a great appliance to have! After a lot of research, I judged the Excalibur to be superior to the other brands, especially the round-shaped ones.

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