To cook for your family and prepare traditional or keto meals daily requires a good number of tools that need to be present and handy. Likewise, if you have the right kitchen gadgets on-hand it makes life a little bit easier. This post gives you my top 20 keto kitchen essentials for cooking meals for your family. : )
Cooking Good Food is Essential
Some of the tasks of a ketogenic foods kitchen can sound daunting.
But, with the right routine and the right tools, they just become second nature.
Today I want to share those tools that make these tasks flow smoothly.
These essentials are work horses that perform many different functions.
Also, they are durable and long-lasting.
Finally, I like kitchen gadgets that make my life easier, and are made with materials that will stand the test of time.
20 Keto Kitchen Essentials
Here are my top 20 keto kitchen essentials for cooking low carb and traditional foods.
1. Kitchen Essential – Slow Cooker
A slow cooker, or “crock pot” as some say, is perfect for making meals while you’re on-the-go.
Likewise, they save time — just put your ingredients in a slow cooker in the morning, let it cook all day, and return home in the evening to a hot, ready-to-eat, one-pot meal.
Additionally, cooking food on low heat or temperature allows the food to maintain its nutrients and flavors.
I love my slow cooker and use it at least once per week.
And, there are literally thousands of great recipes you can make in a slow cooker.
2. Keto Kitchen Essential – Instant Pot
An Instant Pot is fairly new to my kitchen but has quickly become an essential.
I like that it has the ability to cook food quickly under pressure.
Also, it functions as a yogurt maker and works beautifully for making bone broth and soups.
Here are a few reasons why most people LOVE their Instant Pot:
- Fewer dirty dishes – because it can sauté and pressure cook in one pot, you can make one-pot dinners
- Faster meals – Pressure cooks many foods very quickly
- Easier meals – Once you’ve added all the ingredients and sealed the lid, you can set it and forget it!
- Healthier – Because you add water to create steam for pressure, nutrients in food are retained.
- Lower electric bill – An Instant Pot uses less energy than your oven/stove, so over time, you spend less on electricity.
- Safer – The Instant Pot will automatically turn off and switch to warm mode when cooking time is complete.
- Temperature stays consistent – When cooking meals, all the heat is trapped inside the Instant Pot. So, unlike your oven, the kitchen won’t heat up while dinner is cooking.
Additionally, these come in several sizes, so much sure you know how much your instant pot will hold.
3. Kitchen Essential – Cast Iron Skillet
I love cast iron skillets, and I have a few that were used by my grandmother.
So, obviously, they last a LONG time.
For starters, once your cast iron skillet is seasoned, or has a sheen to it, it’s basically nonstick.
Also, cast iron cookware is chemical-free.
So, they are a great alternative to nonstick pans since most contain perfluorocarbons.
Additionally, cast iron skillets add iron to your food. Many people suffer from iron deficiency, and cooking with cast iron pans helps increase your iron content.
Similarly, they are dual purpose in that you can use them on the stove and in the oven at any temperature.
Finally, cast iron is very easy to clean and the pans are less expensive than stainless steel.
4. Keto Kitchen Essential – Electric Skillet
When I cook a big breakfast for my family, I have to squeeze in bacon, eggs, greens, and potatoes.
So, using an electric skillet is the easiest way to cook a full breakfast all at once.
Also, unlike traditional stovetops, electric skillets consistently keep the temperature you set.
Likewise, not only are they great for pan-frying and sauteing, but also for deep frying chicken, potatoes, and fish.
Finally, using less energy than the stovetop, an electric skillet is a cooler, and cheaper way to cook in the summer.
5. Kitchen Essential – Measuring Cups & Spoons
When cooking, you want to know your exact serving sizes, and measuring cups and spoons help you to do this.
Also, measuring correctly leads to consistency and better tasting recipes!
I use my measuring spoons and cups several times per day. They are true kitchen staples.
Pyrex glass pouring cups are great for measuring beef stock, dissolving jello and powders, and for a quick and easy way to microwave scrambled eggs.
Also, Pyrex glass cups are heat resistant and dishwasher safe and they do not absorb odors or stains.
6. Keto Kitchen Essential – Food Processor
Another amazing kitchen essential — the food processor!
First, the time you spend on cutting, chopping, or mixing food items can be tasked to your food processor.
This machine will do its job in minutes and you can make your recipes in less time.
Also, there are many types, sizes, functions, and price points of food processors.
So, choose the most affordable option for you and the right fit for your family.
It will save your precious time, energy, and make your life much easier.
7. Kitchen Essential – Mixing Bowls with Lids
Mixing bowls are an absolute necessity in any kitchen, and I like mine with lids.
Also, I like to buy stackable mixing bowls to save space in my cupboards.
First to note, mixing bowls come with a variety of features and attachments.
Some people prefer stainless, ceramic, or glass mixing bowls.
I like to have all a variety of different kinds of mixing bowls for different needs.
For instance, the bowls with silicone bottoms make it easy to stir without the bowl slipping.
And, for glass bowls, you can add your contents and then throw into the microwave.
So, figure out what you do most with mixing and buy bowls based on your needs.
8. Keto Kitchen Essential – Variety of Kitchen Utensils
Every home needs a quality set of useful kitchen utensils.
Kitchen utensil sets are available in a variety of styles, colors, sizes, and offer several functions.
First, the material you choose for your utensils will depend on how you use them and what you intend to use them on.
For instance, you don’t want to scratch your pans.
So, if you have a cabinet full of non-stick pans, you’ll want to buy utensils with silicone, vinyl, wood, or bamboo heads.
Also, consider clean-up, as some plastic utensils may melt in the dishwasher.
Conversely, ceramic cookware can handle nearly any utensil you throw at it.
Or, you could just go the safer route and choose wooden utensils.
Finally, from ease of use to affordability, you should buy a quality set of kitchen utensils that suit your kitchen and cooking needs.
9. Kitchen Essential – Quality Set of Knives
Having a good, solid knife set in your kitchen makes all the difference.
You will notice good knives make for safer, easier, and faster cooking.
Some obvious needs when buying a knife are sharpness, durability, and endurance.
But, equally as important, the knives that you choose should be the best fit for you and your kitchen needs.
Below are a few quality sets. I have and like J.A. Henckels knives, and my parents have had their set forever!
10. Keto Kitchen Essential – Electric Kitchen Scale
Kitchen scales are crucial for measuring out serving sizes for beginners.
It’s hard to know the macronutrient profile of your food if you don’t know how much you’re eating.
Using a digital scale, you can easily add your ingredients to your mixing bowl quickly and accurately without dirtying extra cups and dishes.
Best of all, you can double and triple recipes easily and get repeatable results every single time.
Additionally, you can easily switch between grams or ounces, depending on what you prefer.
11. Kitchen Essential – Spiralizers
Another essential kitchen item is a food spiralizer.
A spiralizer enables you to turn vegetables and fruits into noodles, which can then be used to make creative meals.
Handheld spiralizers are easy to use, but are a little slower to maneuver than countertop models.
Additionally, the benchtop spiralizer is fast, safe to use, and washes up really easily.
Also, it comes with 3 blades to create different sized zoodles or ribbons of veggies.
12. Keto Kitchen Essential – Egg Cooker
If you love boiled eggs, having an egg cooker will make lots of eggs without any of the fuss!
Egg cookers come in handy when meal prepping.
Because, you can easily cook hard- or soft-boiled eggs while you make lunches for the week.
And, there’s no need to monitor the pot to avoid overcooking them.
Plus, we all know that eggs are one of the best low-carb meals and keto snacks to stay on track!
13. Kitchen Essential – Counter and Hand Blender
An immersion blender, also known as a stick blender or hand blender, is small enough to be stored in a drawer and light enough to be pulled out with a single hand.
When you’ve got small tasks to do, the immersion blender is good for beating eggs, vinaigrette and dressings, whipping cream, and making smoothies without hard ingredients.
Conversely, the countertop (stand) blenders are more powerful and create creamier purées and smoother soups, sauces, and dips.
Also, stand blenders are the better choice when working with firm ingredients, like frozen fruit in smoothies, or ice cubes for frozen cocktails.
Finally, they both work really well, it just boils down to your space, time, and clean-up.
14. Keto Kitchen Essential – Bakeware
A good set of bakeware is essential to your kitchen.
Bakeware is used when you want foods to heat up quickly and if you want them to brown.
So, for crispy brown fries, cakes, muffins, cheesecake and everything in between.
And, because metal baking pans are better heat conductors, they also cool more quickly once retrieved from the oven.
Additionally, bakeware is useful when broiling or shifting foods from oven to stovetop.
15. Kitchen Essential – Roasting Pans
Roasting meat is where roasting pans shine.
Their large size makes fitting whole chickens and large cuts of meat a breeze.
Also, the use of a roasting rack allows for even heating when opting to roast rather than braise.
And, the high walls allow you to cook, baste, and braise veggies and potatoes while your meat cooks.
It’s a do-everything-all-at-once kitchen essential.
16. Keto Kitchen Essential – Stainless Steel Cookware
Stainless-steel cookware comes close to indestructible and extremely durable.
Forget about the annoying problems of chip coat like nonstick and stains on enameled cookware.
I use our stainless steel cookware set to steam veggies, simmer soups, and cook up quinoa.
And, quality stainless-steel has excellent cooking performance, with quick heat absorption and even heating.
Additionally, great stainless-steel cookware will last indefinitely, and can even be passed to the next generation.
17. Kitchen Essential – Glass Storage Bowls with Lids
Glass storage bowls or containers with lids are great for many reasons.
Also, glass containers are nonporous and won’t absorb stains and the smell of foods you keep in them.
Personally, I love using these for storing chicken salad, leftover chili, casseroles, fish, baked chicken, etc.
The glossy surface of glass helps keep food clean, fresh, and tasting great for a longer period of time.
18. Keto Kitchen Essential – Airtight Food Storage Containers
Everyone loves the look of nice, clean see-through containers sitting on a kitchen counter or in a pantry.
But, there are many more benefits to these airtight food storage containers.
Airtight food containers preserve food’s freshness by blocking air and moisture.
Air and moisture cause flour to become clumpy, make crispy cookies soggy, and oily foods go rancid.
Similarly, the lids come with a sealing system made of rubber or silicone for extra security.
And, these types of containers protect your foods from bugs and contamination – Yuck!
19. Kitchen Essential – Cutting Boards
No kitchen is complete without a quality wood cutting board.
It is an essential tool that is heavily used by my family on a daily basis.
Some benefits of using wood cutting boards are:
- variety of colors and styles to suit your kitchen
- easy to clean and maintain
- durable and reliable
- they can have juice grooves and finger slots
- various handle lengths
- holes for hanging
- some flip-sides can be used as charcuterie boards
I like having different ones in my kitchen — some for display, some for heavy use.
20. Kitchen Essentials – Thrive Market
If you’re used to spending weekends running errands, waiting in long checkout lines, and stocking the pantry for the week ahead, here’s another idea … shopping for healthy groceries online at Thrive Market!
Here are a few reasons why you’ll LOVE stocking up on healthy groceries online instead of braving the store:
1. Stay at home
Even if you’re in pajamas, you can still get healthy groceries shipped straight to your door. Shopping from the comfort of home saves time, sanity, and even your back. Plus, you’ll also reduce car mileage and have extra time to spend with family.
2. Shop 24/7
Online shopping doesn’t require you to work within regular business hours. So, whether it’s early in the morning or late at night, you can shop when it’s convenient for you.
3. Orders over $49 Ship for Free!
With Thrive Market, any order over $49 ships for free.
4. Their Product Variety is INSANE!
They’re constantly adding new products and companies to their site and they have thousands of products. Plus shopping on their site is super easy because you can literally search by specific product, category, and dietary needs. They have a huge variety of natural and organic products, pantry staples, baby items, household items, wine, and even meat.
5. THRIVE Gives
I love a company that not only sources sustainably, high quality products, but also one that gives back. Thrive Gives makes it easier for healthy, organic, high quality products to be available to more people in our communities. For every membership purchased, Thrive gives a membership to a low-income family, teacher, veteran, or student. That’s a mission I can totally get behind. It’s so important that we continue to get access to healthier food options out into our communities.
If you make your first Thrive purchase through my link, you not only will get an extra 25% off your first order, you’ll also get a free 30-day trial as well. So you can get an extra discount on the already reduced prices, and not have to pay the membership fee to get it. If you decide you don’t love it during the 30 days, then simply cancel anytime! Although I’m confident you’ll love it!
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