Raw Kitchen - Equipment

Blender - This is essential in a raw kitchen for blending soups, smoothies, dressings, sauces and anything that requires a smooth texture or is of a liquid consistency. A standard home blender ($30-100) will work fine to start with but you may wish, eventually, to invest in a powerful high-speed blender such as the K-tec Champ or the Vita-Mix. These blenders have more powerful motors, long warranties and will last for many years. They are fairly expensive ($700-800) but most raw foodists use them regularly, at least once if not several times a day. This is my favorite kitchen appliance. It makes food preparation easy and the quality of blended foods is much higher.

Juicer - see section on Juicers

Food Processor - This is useful for blending and chopping foods. These are found in most department and kitchen stores and any quality one will work fine. They usually come with attachment blades for slicing, grating and shredding foods but the main S-blade is the one most often used for blending and chopping foods from a coarse to a very fine texture. A small 35-50$ counter processor is a good idea to have. It is useful for smaller jobs and easy clean up.

Dehydrator - These have many uses from drying fruits and vegetables in season (apples, tomatoes etc.) to making various raw foods such as breads, crackers, fruit leather, cookies and bars. It is also useful for warming up foods in. (see dehydrated recipes) The Excalibur makes great home dehydrators in 4, 5 and 9 tray models. The 4 tray has 4 - 9"x9" screens and the 5 and 9 tray models have larger 11"x11" screens. The 9 tray is the most popular and most cost effective one but the 4 tray is great for limited spaces. When purchasing a dehydrator make sure to also buy as many teflex sheets as you have trays. They are sold separately and very useful, most recipes start with drying on the teflex sheet and then transferring to the mesh dehydrator screen.

Spiral Slicer - It has been my experience that the inexpensive ($25-35) spiralizers break easily and do not seem to work terribly well. I have and regularly use the Benreiner spiralizer. It costs about $100 and has a straight blade and 3 attachment blades for various size noodles. Zucchini put through the machine with the middle-sized blade makes incredible raw spaghetti. This is not the most essential item to purchase in stocking a raw kitchen but is definitely a great asset and fun to have.

Spice (coffee) Grinder - These are inexpensive ($20-40) small electrical counter grinders which are great for grinding small amounts of nuts and seeds.

Mesh Nut-milk Bag - These are great for straining nut milks. Cheesecloth and strainers will also work but they are messier to use. The mesh bags are inexpensive and can be washed and reused.

Mandolin - These are not an essential kitchen item but are useful to have for slicing, grating and julienning large quantities of vegetables.

Knives - Good sharp knives are essential. Have at least one high quality Chef's knife and paring knife. A Japanese cleaver is handy to have for chopping the tops off young coconuts.

A Whetstone or sharpening tool is good to have for sharpening knives.

Lemon Juicer - a small hand juicer will work fine and be used often.

Salt Grinder

A non-toxic cutting board

Colander/Strainer

Salad Spinner

Vegetable Brush for cleaning vegetables

And also, very importantly - a good Water Filter!