My Favorite Kitchen Tools and Supplies

A few of my favorite items for the kitchen

Keeping a kitchen with useful tools and a pantry with healthy items is a key part of setting yourself up for having a healthier diet. Here are some of the items I keep on hand to make cooking easy, fun, and healthy.

Cooking Equipment

Mason Jars: the most versatile item in the kitchen. Get them in many sizes, trust me.
High-end Knives: I’m a believer you don’t need a huge knife set. In fact, you can do almost everything with a chef’s knife and a paring knife. So save counter space and spend the money on getting high quality. My absolute favorite brand is Global. The handle is smaller so great for smaller female hands and they are lighter weight than the German-style brands. Makes it easier for me to chop without my hands getting tired.
Instant Pot: at first I was way intimidated by this appliance, now I wouldn’t want to cook rice, stews, beans, etc. without it.
Baking sheet and cooling rack that is oven safe. Get a cooling rack that fits within the baking sheet. This is how I make baked potato fries and wedges. Putting the potatoes on top of the rack allows for air to hit all sides in the oven.
Cast-Iron Dutch Oven: I use a couple times a month. Great for soups, stews, and sauces, especially those that you want to saute in the pot then put a lid onto simmer. I’m a fan of Staub
Vitamix: ok this was a splurge and I don’t use it as much as would justify the price tag, but I love it if I’m making a smoothy, creamy soup, or faux-mayonnaise style sauces.
Microplane: essential for grating fresh ginger, needed for my two favorite recipes (Red Lentil Curry and No-noodle Ramen). Also great for lemon zest and fresh grated parmesan.
Air tight food storage: I have a lot of dry beans, varieties of rice, and multiple types of flour (wheat, almond, coconut). Having plenty of air tight storage is essential.
Panini Press: I use this to cook more than just sandwiches. Also great at adding a crisp to a burrito and quickly cooking your proteins (veggie burgers, fish, chicken, burgers). Since it heats up quickly and cooks on both sides, it’s much quicker than a frying pan.
Air Fryer: an essential, it’s great for cooking up potato wedges or crisply cooking some seasoned vegetables like cauliflower, shishito peppers, broccoli, or brussel sprouts.

What's in My Pantry

Dried Goods

Rice: brown, black (forbidden), basmati
Beans: black, kidney, pinto
Lentils: red and brown
Nutritional Yeast
Corn starch
Other dry goods that are nice to have for soups and stews: Barley, Split peas

Canned Goods

Beans: black (low sodium), garbanzo, pinto, refried (non fat)
Tomato paste
Stewed tomatoes
Vegetable broth