My Favorite Kitchen Appliances
When Aaron and I moved into our first apartment together, we didn’t have a basic stock pot, let alone any fancy kitchen appliances. My parents gifted us a $20 toaster and a very basic microwave, and Aaron happened to have an even cheaper blender from his college days of protein-loaded shakes. That thing could barely blend a blueberry and if you even dared to try crushing ice, the motor would get really hot and spit pieces of plastic back at you.
This was pre-vegan for us, and we basically subsisted on veggie omelets, quesadillas, and cereal. Looking back, we could have done better, even with a smaller grocery budget, but at least we quasi-cooked and didn’t eat TJ’s frozen meals most nights.
As I became more and more interested in nutrition and a whole foods, plant-based diet, those very basic appliances (and single, uneven frying pan) simply weren’t cutting it, and we bagan to invest in kitchen items that would support our new way of eating. Similar to upgrading to “real” furniture (and by that, I mean a non-futon couch, for example), purchasing high-quality kitchen appliances is not cheap. So, instead of using my extra income to save for things like Tory Burch shoes, Sephora spending sprees, and going out to lunch during the week, I re-allocated it to my kitchen and grocery store budget. And you know what? Spending my money this way gives me a million times more satisfaction than any pair of ballet flats…even the ones with sparkles.
If you’re looking to upgrade or expand your own appliances, here’s what I recommend and specifically what I use to create the recipes you see here:
Food Processor: KitchenAid 9 Cup Food Processor with a 4 Cup Mini Bowl
This was the first item Aaron and I purchased four years ago. I think it was around $150, but we bought it from Bed, Bath & Beyond with a 20% off coupon (love those!). It’s one of the more affordable items, comparatively, and also one that we use the most often for everything from hummus to banana soft serve. I know people are really divided between the KitchenAid and Cuisinart brands, but at the time, I thought the KitchenAid seemed sturdier. I have a bad habit of dropping/smashing things, so that was important to me.
Juicer: Breville Juice Fountain Elite
This was our next big purchase. Well, I got lucky on this one because Aaron and my parents bought this for me for my birthday a couple of years ago. That’s actually a great way to furnish your kitchen: don’t ask for a new handbag or clothes for your birthday – ask for a juicer! The Elite model retails for around $300, but again, use that BB&B coupon for 20% off. Breville has some less pricey juicers that I’ve heard good things about, but I’ve been really happy with the one we have. It’s extremely powerful, and actually not too bad to clean once you get the hang of it. Obviously, a juicer isn’t nearly as versatile as something like a food processor, but I feel like a million bucks when I juice regularly.
Mixer: KitchenAid 5 Quart Metallic Professional Series Stand Mixer
I love, love, love to bake, so it’s not surprising that this was on my wish list for a couple of years. KitchenAid mixers are basically iconic, and while I initially admired them for their good looks (candy apple red?! vintage teal?!), functionally, they really are worth the hype. The KitchenAid stand mixer creams butter and sugar like nobody’s business, and the dough hook is awesome when you feel like your arm might fall off making bread dough. Unfortunately, they’re pricey. I think they start around $300, but we opted for more watts based on lots of research and knowing we’d be using it for super thick doughs, and purchased one that retailed for $600. Again, 20% off with a BB&B coupon.
Blender: Vitamix CIA Professional Series
Remember that awful blender that spit out plastic at me? I used that up until last year because I just could not fathom spending more than $100 on a blender, and even that was pushing it. And then one day, when I was lugging that piece of crap out of my cabinet, I dropped it on the floor. Maybe I’m just clumsy, or maybe I did it subconsciously. Either way, that thing was officially done. I did tons of research on Vitamix versus Blendtec, but I was ultimately swayed by the blog world on this one. Bloggers really love their Vitamixes, and this was the best. decision. ever. The Vitamix is my favorite kitchen purchase. I use it at least 2-3 times a day and it is a beast. Like the KitchenAid stand mixer, I thought I was blending things before and I was so very wrong. You can basically throw a brick in here and it will turn it into a perfectly smooth drink. It’s also great for making soups, and if you run it for a couple of minutes, it’ll heat the soup up too. Vegan ice creams, non-dairy milks, raw desserts, and even juice if you strain out the pulp – this blender is a game-changer. The one I have retails for $500, but I bought a floor model and saved $100. It’s worth asking about that if you’re looking to save some cash, because sadly, those 20% off BB&B coupons don’t include Vitamix.
Food Dehydrator: Excaliber 3900 Deluxe Series 9-Tray
Ever since I did the Crazy Sexy Diet 21-day cleanse earlier this year, I’ve been making an effort to transition to more raw foods. Also, I just really love kale chips. Sure, you can bake them, but they’re not quite the same as dehydrated kale. Aaron surprised me with the very popular Excalibur dehydrator for my birthday in June and I’ve used it nearly every week since then. It’s a great alternative to turning on the oven in the heat of summer, and I’ve been enjoying everything from juicer pulp crackers to dried watermelon and eggplant “bacon”. It’s bulky and not the most attractive of the dehydrators, but so far, I’m really happy with it. The one I have costs about $250, but they also have a smaller model with four or five trays for under $200. I recommend the larger one if you have the space – those kale chips go fast.
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As you can see, it took me several years to work up to owning these appliances (the birthdays and 20% off coupons definitely helped). I spent hours researching each of these items on sites like Amazon, so if you’re looking to make a purchase, I hope this list helps. There are plenty of really good options out there, and with the exception of the dehydrator, I didn’t have to pay retail for any of them.
Next on my kitchen wish list: it’s between a tea kettle and a spiralizer. I’m thinking the spiralizer will win because I’m pretty keen on making zucchini noodles. Also, pouring boiling water out of a saucepan isn’t so bad.
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Disclosure: This post contains Amazon Affiliate links.
