Having the right tools will make cooking a lot more fun (and delicious!). Here are a few of my favorite everyday vegan kitchen essentials I use all the time here in The Carrot Underground🥕kitchen!
Whether you're a cooking newbie or an epicurean enthusiast, equipping your vegan kitchen with the right tools can make your culinary experience easier, more enjoyable, and quite possibly, much tastier too! I have assembled a selection of my top picks for cooking tools that I own and love and want to share with you.
🥕For the full collection of my Favorite Everyday Kitchen Essentials, please visit my Amazon Influencer Store. (Affiliate)
When I began my journey to vegan living more than 4 decades ago, I had to learn, mostly through trial and error, which cooking tools worked the best for the dishes I prepare the most. I know first hand, how expensive and frustrating it is to spend hard earned money on a new kitchen gadget or appliance that doesn't live up to my expectations. Don't even get me started on the number of blenders I have purchased over the years.
As a vegan recipe blogger who cooks a LOT, I need equipment I can count on. But owning quality cooking tools doesn't necessarily require spending a lot of money. In fact, some of the most used tools in my kitchen cost the least - like my trusty digital kitchen scale. If you like to bake, you will love a kitchen scale.
In addition to a scale, every home cook or baker needs a set of accurate measuring cups and spoons. I love oblong measuring spoons, because even the tablespoon fits into most spice jars!
A set of well made sharp knives are absolute kitchen essentials. Can you guess which ones in the photo below are my favorite? Yep, those three colorful Swiss paring knives by Victorinox. I use them everyday!
Counter space is valuable real estate in most kitchens. For those of you with lots of storage cabinets plus a large work surface, that's a huge bonus. For the rest of us, cluttered counters can make prep work and cooking rather challenging.
I try to keep my kitchen counter clear of items I don't use often. Even our toaster stays in a small appliance cabinet. But there are two appliances that are always out and ready for action - our beloved KitchenAid stand mixer and our mighty Vitamix blender.
There's good reason KitchenAid stand mixers have been fixtures on kitchen counters for generations. Not only do they look wonderful, they work great and they're built to last. In fact, KitchenAid's first mixer was introduced in 1919!
🥕Fun fact: Did you know that celebrity chef Julia Child's beloved vintage KitchenAid stand mixer is on permanent display inside her famous kitchen located at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History?
I had no idea how much I would appreciate the hands-free convenience of using a stand mixer until I got one. It's my favorite baking buddy, particularly when I prepare this scrumptious vegan carrot cake recipe. I love everything about this mixer. It's beautifully made, so simple to use, whisper-quiet while running (even at high speed), and is easy to keep clean. Plus, it looks fabulous in my kitchen! You can watch my KitchenAid mixer in action in the video below.
For decades, I kept hearing the hype about Vitamix blenders. I always enjoyed attending fairs and trade shows where sales people would demonstrate all the beneficial bells & whistles of their marvelous machines, but I didn't want to spend several hundred dollars to buy one. Finally, after burning through at least five blenders made by other brands, My husband John and I finally decided to invest in a Vitamix. Best. Decision. Ever.
We've had our Vitamix for years now and it still works great! It's fabulous for making John's amazing heavenly hummus (photo above) and I can't tell you how many batches of perfectly smooth and creamy vegan cheese sauce we have whipped up. It's ideal for preparing vegan tzatziki sauce, homemade vegan parmesan and butter, even hot and cold soups! I make my favorite gazpacho all summer long. See how quickly my Vitamix whips up a batch of gazpacho in the video below.
I love beautiful kitchen tools and accessories. As a designer, I look at the kitchen as the heart of the home. For those who believe in the "form follows function" theory of design, I say, why can't we have both? That's why the small appliances and tools that live on my kitchen counters are not only high quality and work great, they have to look great too!
I'm not into tchotchkes or decorative items that don't serve a purpose, however, as the seasons change, sometimes I'll switch out a few small tools, like spring themed spatulas, cookie cutters, and this Great British Bake Off inspired Mason Cash mixing bowl.
Given the choice between a plain glass dish vs a colorful Fiestaware bowl, you know which one I'm going to use for serving my Southwestern quinoa salad.
Most tools I keep in the kitchen can be used for multiple purposes, but there are a few that I rely on for a specific task, like when I cook with tofu and need to squeeze out the excess water before using it. That's when I use a tofu press.
Few vegan kitchens are complete without a tofu press. Yes, you can certainly press tofu by sandwiching it between cutting boards and applying heavy cans or weights like I used to do. That is, until I bought a tofu press. I use the green one above for soft-medium tofu. The other tofu press below is great for pressing firm-extra firm.
Want to see more of my favorites? Visit my Amazon Influencer Store (affiliate)to see the collection. Happy cooking everyone!
Now that you have the kitchen tools, it's time to get the ingredients! Here are my top tips for stocking your kitchen pantry!
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