Kitchen Essentials: 6 Appliances Every Kitchen Needs

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If there’s one thing we know here at Food Matters, it’s how to make the most out of our kitchen. The office even has a beautiful kitchen where we come together at lunch, to celebrate birthdays, or where I test out recipes for a special project… But before I get ahead of myself, I always start with the basics. Recently we shared our favorite cookware that we swear by, and after such an overwhelming response of our community asking for more, I decided to take you on a tour of the appliances that we think every kitchen needs.

After all, even the world’s finest chefs are only as good as their tools…

1. Cold-Press Juicer

Even if you’re new to the Food Matters community, you can probably already tell that we go crazy for a freshly cold-pressed juice. In all honesty, most fresh juices are better than no juices at all, but there’s something extra nutritious about cold-pressed juice (you can read more about this in our 2021 Juicer Buying Guide). Our go-to juicer brand is Hurom, because the quality is unparalleled, and you should make this number one on your appliance list.

2. NutriBullet for Smoothies

Smoothies are kind of like the fun cousin of juices - they’re always good to have around! Nothing makes smoothies easier than a grab-and-go appliance like a bullet. You can drink straight out of the cup, there’s enough power to crush up frozen fruits and ice, and they don’t take up too much space in storage. We use a NutriBullet because with 15 people using it each day, it truly withstands the test of time.

3. Industrial-Strength Food Processer

Whether you’re making pesto from scratch or some delicious raw treats, an industrial-strength food processor will always be a valuable addition to the kitchen. Sure, they can be an initial investment to begin, but most food processors come with endless opportunities and attachments. Think graters, kneaders, blenders, beaters… Soon they’ll become your new best friend.

4. Immersion Stick Blender for Soups & Sauces

An immersion (stick) blender is one of the simplest, low-maintenance blenders that is guaranteed to change your life. You can pulse soups and simple sauces in a quick few seconds, without any of the major clean-up hassles. As an added bonus, you can use them to froth your nut milk for a morning matcha latte.

5. Spiralizer - We All Need Zoodles!

We’re not always ones for trends, so thankfully veggie noodles are here to stay. Spiralizers have been a gamechanger in recent years for most healthy kitchens, turning your favorite vegetables into spaghetti, noodles, or julienned slices. The tools are relatively low-cost and don’t require a lot of clean-up or bench space. Sure, you can often buy it premade at the supermarket - but spiralizing yourself ensures it’s fresh and plastic-free!

6. Slow Cooker or as the Aussies call it, Crockpot

There’s nothing quite like arriving home after a long day to the smells of a warm, cooked dinner - even if you are the one who typically does all of the cooking. Investing in a slow cooker does all of the hard work for you. I like to prep my vegetables and whatever else I’m throwing in as I make my breakfast, and by the time I’m home from a busy day, it’s all ready to go for me!

Are there any essential kitchen appliances you think we missed? Let us know in the comments below!

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