Healthy meal preparation and cooking includes using a variety of kitchen equipment.  These appliances, tools and gadgets can be real time-savers to help feed you and your family.  Arguably, not all are essential but certainly nice to have!

Freezer:  Take advantage of sale items, bulk buying and batch cooking.   Have proper storage bags or containers on hand.

Microwave:  Most households have one and couldn’t live without it.  Very affordable and convenient – it’s great for cooking vegetables, reheating leftovers or defrosting/cooking frozen foods.  Speciality microwave covers for dinner plates are handy.    Use only microwave safe containers and cooking vessels.

BBQs and grills:  Outdoor bbqs can be used a good part of year for low-fat, big flavour cooking of meats, fish, vegetables and fruit.  As an option, there are different types of indoor grills.

Rice cooker:  Perfect rice every time!  Make more than you need – rice freezes well.
Small food processor:  For the smaller jobs – also quickly minces garlic for big batch cooking.

Non-stick baking sheets:  Use for low-fat oven roasting of meats, fish and vegetables.
Stock pot:  In addition to making soup and chilies, homemade stock is easy and another freezer staple.  Stock adds flavour to sauces, braises and mixed dishes without adding fat or salt.

Vitamix:  Smoothies and soups are ultra-smooth and velvety.  Also works well in making purees, dips, sauces, dressings and salsas.  This is a high-ticket item, but if used often, can be a real star in the kitchen.  

Multi-purpose tools are the real workhorses, but some speciality tools earn their place in the kitchen.  They might be used less frequently, but are essential for a specific task - like a cherry pitter or when you want a certain outcome - like a mandolin for perfectly sliced vegetables. 

Mandolin or slicer/dicer tool:  Makes short work of prepping a mountain of fruit and vegetables, not to mention how attractive they look.   Blades are very sharp - care and attention are needed when using.

Citrus juicer:  Glass or plastic types do a fine job of juicing and catching the seeds; go electric if you want to splurge or if you juice large quantities.

Kitchen scale:  Keeps it real! It’s great for accurate measurements and portion sizes. 

Micro-plane zester:  To zest oranges, lemons, limes and grate ginger, garlic, nutmeg etc.  This tool makes for great flavour enhancers.

Wand-type hand blender: Purée soups and sauces right in the pot – easier than the blender and less clean up.   Helps to hide vegetables for picky eaters.

If you missed it, read part 1 of my blog here.