Since I wrote about what I keep in my purse, I’ve had several requests for a similar post about what my kitchen looks like. Some have changed over the years, but I’ve found what works best and some new favorites. Here’s a list of things I wish I had before having my own home: We’ve got everything from pots and pans to water filters and other crunchy mom gadgets.
natural kitchenware
First of all, keep in mind that unless we’re traveling, we usually cook 2-3 times a day and don’t use the microwave. Children are old enough to prepare family dinners and can handle preparing breakfast and lunch on their own. So many of us use our kitchens at different times of the day!
All of my kitchen appliances are durable and have a variety of uses. Many of these items are expensive, but you’ve budgeted carefully, and many come with extended warranties. And because I’m constantly experimenting with new recipes for my blog, I’ve ended up with a few tools I never thought of buying at first.
Home appliances/large items
In addition to our usual refrigerator and oven/stove, we have a variety of small appliances that we use on a regular basis.
1. Blender
I’ve had a Vitamix for years and I use it several times a day! We use it every day in smoothies, sauces, blending healthy fats and coffee, chopping and more. If I could only have one appliance on this list, I would stick with the Vitamix. I think the Vitamix is better than all the other blenders, but here’s my experience with the other blenders I tested:
2. Food processor
I didn’t buy this food processor in the first place because I had no intention of using a machine that only did chopping and mixing. As it turns out, I use it a lot. I thought it would be fun to cut everything by hand, and I did for a few years. Now, when I’m cooking for a lot of people (just family, not to mention guests), a food processor really comes in handy. I also frequently use it to chop items for soup, shred cabbage for sauerkraut, pre-chop salad items throughout the week, and more.
3. Stand mixer
Another item I didn’t buy for a long time because I didn’t think I would use it much. Especially since I don’t bake very often. My stand mixer doesn’t get as much use as a blender, but I use it for tasks like whipping homemade marshmallows and mixing grain-free biscuit dough.
4. Dehydrator
I went through several cheap plastic dehydrators before I found this one. The Excalibur brand is considered the standard for dehydrators. Perfect for drying fruits and vegetables, making jerky, making homemade fruit leather, etc. My kids especially love fruit chips made from dehydrated apples and strawberries. We use our dehydrator the most in the summer when we have a surplus of produce to preserve.
5. Ice Cream Maker
It’s not something we thought we’d always use, but surprisingly, we do. We use this ice cream maker to make recipes like strawberry gelato and butter pecan ice cream. This is also a great way to provide your kids with healthy fats and nutrients without having to fight. You can also make sorbet by simply mixing and pouring watermelon. For ice cream, choose coconut milk, egg yolks, and butter for good fats.
6. Slow cooker
This is the crock pot I have. I went through several cheap products that were worn out before I actually chose a high quality one. This particular crock pot has also been tested to be free of lead (found in the crock pot of some slow cookers).
7. Air fryer
I use a Wonder oven from Our Place. It’s easy enough for kids to use and is multi-functional so you can use it as a toaster, oven, etc. I’ve been using it for over a year and it works seamlessly with anything I put in there. The interior is made of stainless steel, which is hard to find in air fryers, and comes in a variety of colors to match any kitchen!
8. Immersion blender
I always use an immersion blender when pureeing soup or mixing pancake batter. It’s so much easier than transferring hot liquid into a blender pitcher, and I like that the part that touches the food is stainless steel.
9. Water filter
Although not an appliance per se, we use these water filters every day to filter the water we cook and drink. The 14 stage filter is the best filter I have found that does the job perfectly. If you want an option that isn’t under the counter, see my reviews of other filters I’ve tried over the years.
Cookware and bakeware
I cook all the time, so quality cookware is really important to me. I only use cookware that is natural/eco-friendly and very easy to clean. There are only a few options left, but this versatile product will be used all the time!
1. Instant Pot
This popular pressure cooker has been around for a while and is still a staple in my kitchen. The Instant Pot makes soups, stews, and casseroles. You can also boil eggs, ferment yogurt, and create the most tender meat imaginable.
Food is ready in about an hour, and can be sautéed right in the pan before pressure, saving you from dirty pans. I also make elderberry syrup there. Check out our full review of Instant Pot models (and why they’re a healthy way to cook).
2. Caraway
I am using Caraway 3qt. Use pots and pans several times a week to make eggs, crepes, or stir-fry vegetables. It’s easy to clean and doesn’t leach toxic chemicals into your food, making it safe for your family. I also use a loaf pan to make desserts or breakfast muffins.
3. Extreme Pure Ceramic
Xtrema’s frying pans cook evenly and are very easy to clean (if used correctly). The only downside is that they are fragile so you have to be careful when cleaning them. It is especially used in egg dishes because eggs do not stick, but it is also used in stir-fries and meat dishes.
Xtrema also has a full line of baking tools, saucepans, Dutch ovens, and more. It’s third-party tested for heavy metals and toxins, so I think it’s a good one to use for your family. You can read our full review of Xtrema here.
4. Always fan at our seats.
I always like to use pans when I want to make scrambled eggs, stir-fry, or steam vegetables. The pan is very easy to clean and can be wiped down with a damp cloth or placed in the dishwasher. Our Place makes the Wonder Oven (mentioned above), but they also have a ton of healthy cookware, bakeware, dishware, and more.
5. Cast iron skillet
There’s nothing better than a good cast iron skillet that will last forever. These are the ones I have and can sometimes be found at antique stores or estate sales. I use cast iron skillets for anything that needs to go from the stove to the oven, or for cooking meats, bacon, sausages, etc. Another advantage is that trace amounts of iron remain in the food to increase iron levels in the body.
6. Crucible
These enameled cast iron dishes are pricey, but worth it! I have a cast iron coated dutch oven and a soup pot and use them for stovetop or oven roasting or cooking.
7. Large stock pot
I have a restaurant grade 5 gallon stock pot that I use to pre-cook bone broth and large batches of food. Even if your family isn’t as big as mine, there are a variety of sizes available for batch cooking.
8. Glass baking dish
I use this for everyday cooking and baking. I’ve been using Pyrex for years for durability, but some of the above brands also have great baking dishes in a variety of sizes (and colors!).
9. Steel baking pan
Because I cook in bulk whenever possible, I will often cook enough to feed the military, even if it’s just for one meal. This steel baking pan is very useful. I use it to roast vegetables, cook large batches of food, and serve large groups. It can also be used as a roaster to grill large pieces of meat.
In addition to larger items like the appliances above, there are a variety of smaller kitchen items that I use all the time. I actually had more of these small items and got rid of disposable items, especially ones that take up a lot of space. What I made the cut and still have:
1. French press
This stainless steel French press is perfect for making coffee or tea without coming into contact with plastic like many coffee makers do. Coffee and tea made with a French press also taste much better. Additionally, the storage space is much smaller than that of a full-size coffee pot.
We also use Chemex frequently. You can see my full coffee setup in this post.
2. Fermentation pottery
I often have something (or a lot of things) fermenting on my counter. And my fermentation bowl makes it so much easier. I use it most often for sauerkraut.
3. High quality knife
Knives are still one of the most used items in our kitchen. From chopping vegetables for an omelet to meat or vegetables for dinner, these tools are always in use. I have also invested in teaching my children to use this invaluable life skill, with the help of this awesome online course.
4. Crinkle cutter
These cutters are not too sharp and create fun shapes that kids can use for meal prep. When my kids were little, I could keep this and a bamboo cutting board on hand and help them take turns chopping vegetables for their meals. They could also use sliced carrots or cucumbers as a snack whenever they wanted.
Additional tools you can find in my kitchen include:
random item
- Cloth Napkins: I’ve written about how to avoid paper products in the kitchen and use cloth napkins for every meal.
- Huck Towel: Use this instead of paper towel or paper towel. It has excellent absorbency and is also used as surgical towels in hospitals.
- Large steel bowl: for mixing and serving.
- Lunch Bot: Used to pack lunch or meals on the go. The larger ones are also good for food storage.
- Stainless Steel Straw: An eco-friendly option for sipping smoothies and other beverages.
- Metal water bottle: For sports, long walks or whenever you leave the house.
- Glass water bottle: Use with smoothies, drinks, etc. when you are away from home.
- Stainless Steel Dinnerware for Kids: The youngest kids will love these fun plates and cups. And I love them because they are non-toxic and plastic-free.
jar
I use jars for everything so it gets its own category. We use it for storage, drinking by the glass, fermenting things like beet kvass, water kefir and salsa, and for secondary fermentation of kombucha. I love glass jars and have a collection of the following types in my kitchen:
- Quart size and pint size mason jars: Used for holding glasses, storing food in the refrigerator, wrapping salads, lunch items, etc.
- Mason jar lid alternative: Convert your mason jar into a drinking cup for hot or cold beverages. It also has other features that I use, such as a pouring lid, a sprouting lid (ideal for open fermentations like water kefir), and a fermentation weight.
- Gallon Size Bottle: Used to ferment or store beverages in the refrigerator.
- Large stopper jar – Stainless steel stopper makes it perfect for continuous brewing kombucha.
- Glass Storage Containers: I store many items in my pantry and counters in these containers.
Unusual natural kitchen essentials
In addition to standard kitchen items, you may also find the following unusual items on my kitchen counter:
There are many other kitchen appliances, but this is the one I use most often.
What’s in your kitchen? Are there any great kitchen tools I’m missing? Do you have any items like this? Share below!
