Through the Cooking Glass

For those on a limited budget like myself, you have to prioritize what kitchen equipment you buy. Having been cooking traditionally for almost a year now, I have some opinions on equipment priorities for this style of cooking. Some people may find these useful. I’m assuming you already have a refrigerator, freezer, stove, and other standard tools like cutlery.

1. good pans - I recommend stainless steel pans. Aluminum is questionable in terms of the health impact. Teflon is also questionable health-wise. Cast Iron is good if you are making foods that are non-acidic (e.g. no tomatoes). Alternatively, enameled cast iron such as Le Creuset are nice, but quite expensive. Don’t skimp too much here. A good set of pans will last a lifetime. Make sure you get a large stockpot. I went middle of the road here with Cuisinart. There are better pans, but significantly more expensive. I’m very happy with my pans.
2. glass mixing bowls - plastic may be questionable health-wise, but the real reason to use glass is because it’s just nicer to work with. e.g. plastic wrap clings better to glass then plastic.
3. canning jars - If you’re doing any fermentation (e.g. pickles, condiments), sprouting, or storage of meat stock, canning jars are a must.
4. blender - I use my blender nearly every day to make blender batter quick-breads from whole, unmilled grains. e.g. pancakes, waffles, muffins, coffee cake, corn bread, etc. This is the cheapest, easiest way to get into freshly milled whole grains. I have a Bosch Universal mixer/blender.
5. grain mill - If you want to make biscuits, scones, cookies, or yeast/sourdough bread you will want a grain mill. packaged whole grain flour is nearly always stale and/or rancid. Milled grain loses vast amounts of nutritional value within 72 hours of milling. I highly recommend the Fidibus 21.
6. toaster oven - throw out your microwave (I haven’t been allowed to yet). Microwaving is questionable in regards to health. No long-term studies have been done. More often than not, new-fangled methods and foods end up being detrimental to your health. Use a toaster oven instead. They’re cheap.
7. mixer - a good mixer is a time saver, but everything that can be done in a mixer can be done either by hand (i.e. kneading) or with an inexpensive hand mixer. Get the higher priority items before popping for an expensive mixer. I have a Bosch Universal.
8. dehydrator - these are good for drying sprouted grains for milling into flour. I also use it for drying fruits like pineapples and bananas that are highly sugared if you buy them dried at the store. There are lots of other cool things you can do with a dehydrator. I have a Nesco.
9. immersion blender - this is good for making creamed soups, sauces, and smoothies. I use mine to make tomato soup, spaghetti sauce, mashed pinto beans (for burritos), and various creamed soups. Some units can double as a hand mixer. I have a Cuisinart.
10. food processor - I don’t have one yet, but it’s on my list of things to get. It is similar to a blender, but much better for dry things and for slicing things. Using a blender for dry stuff usually just throws the stuff up against the blender walls where it sticks. Food processors are good for things like pesto, pie crust, nut butter, etc.

Please comment on these items. I will update this list based on user comments.