Equipment? Help!

[SoaringReflection]

Hey all,

I just posted my first blog post. As I mention in there me and my boyfriend have been doing lots of research on eating raw. We eat pretty much all raw now, but soon we would like to go fully 100%. We need help deciding what equipment we definitely need.

We figure that we need:
-High powered blender (we want a vitamix) We've been using our old blender and our (magic bullet for individual smoothies, shakes)
-Food processor
-Eventually a dehydrator

What do you think? Anything else needed? Can we leave one out?

Any thoughts are appreciated!

-SoaringReflection

[Aleesha Sattva]

a good quality knife is essential.

[k8sl8]

You may find that you need some nice storage containers... especially if you purchase nuts and seeds, etc. in bulk. A plethora of plastic bags in your cupboards tends to be a mess. Same goes for frig. storage. There is a post here showing a VERY NEATLY ARRANGED frig. A search will help you there.

If you have the option for all the equipment, go for it. If you don't, start with the VitaMix and go from there. It will do a lot (not quite all) of the processes you need.

I purchased an inexpensive Sears branded FP at KMart that was on sale for 30 bucks. It is almost as good as the name brand I have at home (I'm living in an RV at this moment).

I also have a less expensive dehydrator (Nesco brand square stack up model from Amazon) that has a top fan/heater and it works well for the limited amount of stuff I do. If I had a garden or a ton of fruit/produce to deal with, I'd go for a better one. But this one works for me.

It's the same with all this stuff, you need to figure out what works for you, one size does not fit all.

[Dimond]

a good quality knife is essential. Aleesha, what knife do you use/like the best? I found a couple on Amazon with high reviews, but haven't made a decision yet.

I like using a mini electric chopper instead of a processor, but it really depends on what you need it for. All I really need is my Vitamix & I'm happy. :)

[DebB]

Hi SR ~ I really depends on what kind of food(s) you'll be preparing. For what we eat, I wouldn't want to be without the 3 you mentioned. I use my BlendTec daily, my food processor several times a week (I have an 11 cup and a mini 2 cup, use them both) and I use our dehydrator a lot as well.

You can actually juice with the high speed blender as well - just add water and then strain all through a nut milk bag. I do it that way some times even though I have a juicer ~ just depends what mood I'm in..

Good luck ~ hope you love your appliances and gadgets as much as I do! *Ü*

[DawnD]

I started raw 1 year ago and we purchased a Vitamix right away. We have been making smoothies for years and I got tired of burning out blenders. Last year I went thru 4 before I got the VM in August.

I recommend good knives. I use a Santoku that I picked up in Wal-Mart. Boy did it ever make a big difference.

FYI-Alissa tried all of her recipes with a food processor and they work just fine for her. I would recommend her book and DVD if you don't have it. She just has such a calm, no-fret attitude about preparing raw food and maintaining 100% raw.

[SoaringReflection]

Thanks for the replies everyone! super helpful!

This will definitely help me and my boyfriend make our equipment decision!
:)

-SR

[michigan roman]

ive been raw 6 years and only have cheap blender for grinding seeds and making almond milk / banana smoothies . a knife does anything a procesor can do , and dehydrating isnt even raw to me

and ive seen many rawfoodies say afer buying all the toys that all they eventually use is blender

ive also seen 100's of rawfoodies LOVE their vitamix