Your ultimate 2018 wish list: 15 kitchen gadgets you will actually use
Are your cupboards full of cooking gadgets you never use? Hands up if you have a pasta maker getting dusty in the shed? Clients in clinic often ask me what they really need to make healthy eating a breeze, so here are my favourite must-have kitchen gadgets that you’ll actually use!
Makes chopping, pureeing, blitzing and whisking incredibly quick and simple. Look out for a range of versatile accessories, such as chopping bowls and whisks. These are useful for blending soup or chopping up nuts.
Tracy Recommends: Dualit 700W Hand Blender in Polished Chrome, £70.99, This model has all the accessories you might need, including the wand itself, a whisk plus 2 chopper bowls. There are much cheaper models available, but this is a wish list, right?
If you love juicing, you should consider a slow juicer – sometimes called a masticating juicer – because it creates less friction/heat, so retaining more of the nutrients. Prices vary widely, but check reviews to make sure you get value for your money.
I LOVE: this one from Aicok, £89.99, costs the same as many centrifugal juicers, but will give you a much better quality juice.
There are a number of these compact, counter-top appliances that will whizz you up a delicious smoothie. A Nutribullet is a great way to pack in your 5-a-day of fruit and veg.
I LOVE: NutriBullet , £59, is the original and still the best. Make sure that you pick one with a 600+Watt motor to ensure that nuts and seeds are properly blended.
Helps you easily cut the carb content of your meals by making courgetti (courgette spaghetti) and boodles (butternut squash noodles) quick and effortless.
I LOVE: Sprializer 5-blade Slicer, £19.99 This affordable spiralizer has 5 blades so it can handle just about any cutting task.
Slow cooks meats, and makes delicious one-pot wonders, such as curries and winter stews.
I LOVE: Morphy Richards Sear and Stew, is not the cheapest but a good investment at £94.99. The inner pot in this model comes out so you can sear the meat to begin, then pop into the slow cooker for the rest. The cooking pot is dishwasher safe.
A water filter is a must-have for removing chemicals and toxins from your drinking water.
I LOVE: Big Berkey Water Filter System, which is a hefty investment at around £250 but it is the best around and is big enough for a large family (it holds 8.5l).
If this is a little expensive, you should consider a water filter jug, like the Brita Aluna water filter jug at £12, which is slim and won't take up all your fridge space. When you’re on the move, you might like the Bobble Water Bottle for £8. This has a built-in charcoal filter to get rid of toxins and is good for 300 refills.
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Sprouts are the best kept secrets of the vegetable world. Sprouted beans and seeds contain far more nutrients and enzymes than non-sprouted equivalents. The vitamin content of some seeds, grains, beans or nuts increases by up to 20 times the original value within only a few days of sprouting! Studies have shown that sprouted beansprouts can increase in vitamin B1 by up to 285%, vitamin B2 by 515% and niacin by up to 256%.
I recommend: Biosnacky Germinator Seed Jar, £11.99, which is a good starter unit.
Coffee has many health benefits but that’s not the only reason to purchase a bean grinder – They are perfect for grinding seeds and spices to sprinkle on salads, soups, and so on.
I recommend: Chef’s Inspirations Electric Coffee Grinder, £14.97, a good entry level grinder that will blend up your nuts, seeds and spices in an.
Making your own yoghurt is a perfect way to get more gut friendly bacteria without the additives and preservatives of shop-bought alternatives. I love creating new varieties with my favourite fruits and nuts. It’s great for those who are dairy-free as you can experiment with dairy-free milks.
I recommend: Lakeland Yoghurt Maker, £24.99, which makes up to 1 litre of nutritious homemade yoghurt or cheese in one use.
10. Thermomix £964
Described as ‘the world’s most intelligent food processor’, this all-in-one workhorse performs multiple tasks such as: weighing, chopping, blending, mixing, grinding, grating, cooking, steaming, whisking, kneading and more.
I recommend this because: Although it costs as much as a small kitchen, it transforms your meals and replaces a host of other gadgets. It’s a favourite of a lot of nutritionists and health professionals. From soups and sauces to dough, meals will suddenly become a whole lot quicker and easier. It can even replace your coffee grinder!
and for those little impulse purchases …
The 60-second Salad Cutter Bowl, £6.99, makes chopping quick and easy. Put whole veg and salad leaves in, chop through the slits, turn 90 degrees and repeat. So simple!
The Oxo Apple Divider, £6.99, slices and cores apples with hardly any waste – A real time-saver and makes fruit more fun for fussy children (and adults).
The Joseph Joseph Lotus Steamer, £11.20, is a quick and simple way to steam your veg without losing nutrients. It is collapsible, so great for smaller kitchens.
A traditional bamboo steamer from Ken Hom, £12, is perfect for cooking all veg while maintaining nutrients. It’s designed to fit over a wok and the two tiers mean you can separate ingredients if desired.
A 3-in-1 avocado slicer, peeler, stone remover, £5.99, makes peeling avocados quick and stress-free. It also removes the stones with a minimum of fuss.
This article gives 14 simple tips for removing harmful toxins from your home.