Preparing delicious recipes is one of the best parts of the keto diet, and it’s quite easy if you have the right tools. The following tools will make cooking simpler and faster. Each one is worth investing in, especially for the busy cook.
FOOD SCALE
When you’re trying to hit your caloric and macronutrient goals, a kitchen food scale is a necessary appliance. You can measure any solid or liquid food and get the perfect amount every time. Used in combination with an app like My Fitness Pal, you’ll have all the data you need to hit your goals sooner. Food scales can be found online for $10 to $20.
FOOD PROCESSOR
Food processors are critical to your arsenal. They are ideal for blending certain foods or processing foods together into sauces and shakes. Blenders don’t cut it, powerwise, for many foods, especially tough vegetables like cauliflower. One great food processor/blender is NutriBullet. The containers you blend in come with lids or drink spouts so you can take them to go or use them as storage. They’re also easy to clean, making the whole system extremely convenient. They typically sell for about $80 online.
SPIRALIZER
Spiralizers make vegetables into noodles or ribbons within seconds. They make cooking a lot faster and easier—noodles have much more surface area and take a fraction of the time to cook. For example, a spiralizer turns a zucchini into zoodles and with some Alfredo or marinara sauce, you can’t tell you aren’t eating noodles. Spiralizers cost around $30 and can be found in large retail stores and online.
ELECTRIC HAND MIXER
If you’ve ever had to beat an egg white by hand until you get stiff peaks, then you know just how difficult it is. Electric hand mixers save your arm muscles and massive amounts of time, especially when mixing heavy ingredients. You can find a decent one online for $10 to $20.
CAST IRON PANS
They’ve been used for centuries and were one of the first modern cooking devices. Cast iron skillets don’t wear out and are healthier to use (no chemical treatment of any kind), retain heat very well, and can be moved between the stove and oven. They are simple to clean up—just wash them out with a scrub sponge without soap, dry them off, and then rub them with cooking oil. This prevents rust and encourages the buildup of “seasoning,” a natural nonstick surface. Many cast iron
pans come preseasoned, and this method preserves the coating. You can find them in many retail stores and online for $10 to $80, depending on the brand and size; Lodge is a popular brand, still made in the United States.
NICE-TO-HAVE EQUIPMENT
The kitchen section of any store can be a wonderland. There are so many intriguing gadgets. It’s also nice (although not necessary) to have these other tools on hand if you can’t resist the lure:
INSTANT COOKING THERMOMETER
Cooking steak and chicken is much easier when
you can easily prod the meat and find out whether it’s at the level of doneness that you’re shooting for. These can usually be found for $10 to $20 in most retail stores or online.
MEASURING SPOON SET
Get the right amount of an ingredient quickly. These sets can go from $5 to $10 in any supermarket, store, or online. TONGS Tongs reduce splatter when working quickly (compared to using a fork or spatula to flip something in a hot pan). It’s best to get tongs with nylon heads so you
don’t scratch any of your pots or pans. You can get a pair online or in retail stores for $10 to $15.
KNIFE SHARPENING STONE
Most of prep time is spent on cutting. You’ll see your cutting speed skyrocket with a sharp knife set. It’s also a pleasure to use sharp knives. Aim to sharpen your knives every week or so to keep them in good shape (professional chefs sharpen their knives before every use). Sharpening stones cost under $10 and can be ordered online.