Necessary equipment?

[Lyg]

Hi everyone, I'm new to this board and raw eating in general. I'm currently transitioning to 100% raw and am at about
60% right now. I'm having trouble moving forward though because in all the recipes that look good to me, a dehydrator or food processor is required, and I just wanted to know if any old brand can be used? I don't have the money for the
preferred brands at the moment, will it be impossible to make the recipes correctly with the lower end models? I don't
want to get stuck or go backwards on this journey just because I can't buy the expensive equipment.
I'm really sorry if this has been asked before, I'm sure it has but I couldn't find the thread. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Lyg

[Living Food]

The only truly necessary equipment is a knife :eat

That said, it is extremely helpful to have a blender, and juicers are awesome too. Definitely put getting one on your to-do list, but don't worry about it now if you don't have the capital. You can get a good manual juicer for $50-$100, though. Many people like using dehydrators, but I prefer to eat more naturally and have never used one. They're definitely not necessary.

Incidentally, I don't even bother with recipes; I mostly just eat big sprout salads, drink sprout smoothies, and juice.

More information about sprouting is available on this thread if you're interested: http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?64973-Sprouting!&highlight=sprouting%21

If you really want to, apparently you can use your oven like a makeshift dehydrator:
http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?66001-Dehydrater-substitute&highlight=dehydrator

[k8sl8]

I believe the question is are all the bells and whistles needed... You can use a blender as small as the Bullet ( I do that 6 months of the year as I live in a Motorhome and don't have room for the VitaMix). I also started with the square Nesco Dehydrator at about 60 bucks. I have a small Kitchenaid food processor in the motorhome that is more than adequate - you just don't have the option to do large batches of anything. You can for sure use things other than VitaMix/Blentec, Excalibur and huge food processors. Is it easier with the "proper" equipment? Probably, but I really don't have a problem in the summer when using the smaller stuff, it's just an adjustment in thinking more than anything.

I have an Excalibur in the winter and nothing in the summer now and I adjust. It's just a different mindset. You can make do with anything... or nothing like the poster who said you really only need a knife!!

[Lyg]

Amazing answers thank you both! Takes a load off my mind as I was worried I would
have to wait ages before I could get going with the rawness. Cheers!

[DebB]

Amazing answers thank you both! Takes a load off my mind as I was worried I would
have to wait ages before I could get going with the rawness. Cheers!

You might like to check local thrift stores. I say that because over the past couple of years I have found:

4 tray Excalibur dehydrator, still in box with all accessories (parchment paper, hard cover book, instruction manual) = $12

Samson juicer. I'd be surprised if this was used twice. Like brand spankin' new - I know this because I already owned a Samson = $6.00

Braun citrus juicer. I just got this today. It looks like it's never been used = $4.99