If I could pick one kitchen tool to help with going raw i would pick.....

[mary2122]

Okay so i want to buy some kitchen tools to help with going raw. I already know that i cant afford a vitamix as of now. (unless i throw it on my credit card but i dont have the guts to do that right now) so BESIDES the vitamix.....if you had limited money...you would buy WHAT KITCHEN TOOL...to help with this lifestyle and WHY?

I ask because all i have is a magic bullet right now and it simply isnt doing anything right lol. So i want to buy 1 or 2 new kitchen tools to help in this lifestyle :)

[Aleesha Sattva]

A really good knife!

[michigan roman]

a real big plastic (easy to clean) cutting board , like 2' x 3' for efficient chopping procedures as opposed to have stuff fall off a smaller board

some real big cheap plastic strainers / colanders for efficient rinsing and drying of produce

some type big water vessels / pitchers in order to always have cold ice water in an instant outta fridge

that and a cheap blender is all i need

[sprouts2go]

I would say a good blender maybe find one on craigslist or a tag sale,a vitamix is the way to go check the reconditioned ones they sell. Vitamix has a 3 payment plan option,I plan to do it this way.
I use a salad spinner so my oil sticks better to my salads.
Good knives
peeler
huller
strainer-fine
colander
good cutting board
mandoline
You know I started making this list and thought about it. The blender is a must the rest you have stuff that will make do.
Wash your fruits and veggies and eat them simple. Make salads and smoothies. Save up for that Vitamix.

[JEN]

It really depends on you and what you plan on eating. I love smoothies and juice so the vitamix or a good blender was a must for me. I use it almost every day. In the beginning I used my food processor a lot too for pates and making desserts, brownies, cookies, bars, etc. I got my processor at walmart for less than 40$. I also have a slicer kinda like spirooli that I got from home shopping network for less than 20$ that makes great noodles, etc. but the processor might work for that too if it comes with different discs. Good luck!

[Dimond]

A more affordable, good quality blender. It's really the main and only thing one needs to make the majority of recipes.

Other than that, the only appliance I have is a Black & Decker mini chopper.

[Revvell]

I agree with Aleesha. Nothing beats a REALLY good quality knife.

[katchmoleen]

I probably use my food processor more than anything. I see them at thrift stores all the time for reasonable prices.

[philmwri]

I also can't afford one but i'm hoping that be christmas time i will have enough money saved up to go get one.

The Vitamix blender and an Excalibur dehydrator do help make the raw food diet a bit easier.ecause i have a normal cheap blender at my house now.I can make green fruit smoothies but i know that if i put kale or spoinach or collard greens in a normal blender it will taste horrible.

[iwuvmydoggy]

a very nice, professional quality knife (or as close as you can get!) and a lot of gorilla sandwich recipes. :) also maybe look into indian chutneys and seeing if you can adapt any to raw. cause those are nice to add on top of salads and maybe use as a gorilla sandwich filling. i like pico de gallo & think that would also taste good in a gorilla sandwich... especially with some avocado and fresh parsley or cilantro. yum!

and if you can swing it, an aero garden thing would be handy... plant some lettuce and/or other kinds of leafy greens and/or herbs (you can buy heirloom/organic seeds & use those in it instead of what they come with). if you have a sunny location, then a window box with some leafy greens or herbs in it... just so you can get something super fresh on a regular basis. :)

maybe the best quality cheap juicer you could find.. so you can plant wheatgrass.

and if you're into kombucha, it's not really a kitchen tool, but could definitely be beneficial. ;)

any one of those would be mine. :D

[iwuvmydoggy]

I would say a good blender maybe find one on craigslist or a tag sale,a vitamix is the way to go check the reconditioned ones they sell. Vitamix has a 3 payment plan option,I plan to do it this way.
I use a salad spinner so my oil sticks better to my salads.
Good knives
peeler
huller
strainer-fine
colander
good cutting board
mandoline
You know I started making this list and thought about it. The blender is a must the rest you have stuff that will make do.
Wash your fruits and veggies and eat them simple. Make salads and smoothies. Save up for that Vitamix.

i also agree with this, these are all extremely good suggestions :D

you can get inexpensive stuff at walmart :) and for the peeler, i like the oxo good grips.. and the mandolin is a good idea, but if you have a good chef's knife, you don't really need one. you can julienne, slice, dice and shred pretty much anything with a good knife. :)

[Aleesha Sattva]

I agree with Aleesha. Nothing beats a REALLY good quality knife.

yup... bought one for my hubby for christmas and oh man does it EVER make a difference. best day-to-day 'tool' i ever purchased.

[Ilse W.]

So does the hubby ever get to use it? or want to? or was it one of those "I think I buy it for him because I really like it and want one, but nobody will get me one" kind of thing?:D

[eatyourbroccoli]

i've been on this journey for almost 5 years, and all i have is a vitamix, food processor, and just recently got a cutting board and real knives. i love the food processor the most :) .. it was cheap from target, and it still works great even 3 years later. kind of wish i could afford a dehydrator though.. :p

[SpunkySue]

I have an Osterizer 12 speed blender that Ive have for a couple years. Just started making green smoothies again and it does pretty good with frozen bananas. Im saving for a vitamix and in the meantime gonna use this one till I break it lol.:p
Aleesha, what brand knife did you buy? My hubs bought a set and he loves them (dont remember what they are) but the big chef knife is too heavy/bulky for me so I end up using a steak or paring knife to cut up stuff :eek:
~SpunkySue:D

[klomasius]

I agree with the simple tools, I'd add a grater to the list along with everyone else's suggestions.

I've thrived with just a grater, a good knife, a chopping board, some jugs and a big bowl. Another great 'tool' is a large piece of muslin cloth for straining nut milks (you can also use a cotton pillow slip).

When I travel and can't take my blender, the above are really handy tools (yes, you can make nut milk without a blender or food processor).

You can make a heap of different things with these simple tools.

Also, my food processer was one we found in hard rubbish, totally free and still working after all these years! I see them in op shops lots of really cheap too.

My blender is an industrial one (a sunbeam cafe series) that cost AU $270 and has served me very well.

If I needed to, I could go back to simple tools without the blander and food processor, but it would mean not being able to make kick ass suaces, dips etc.