Kitchen Equipment and Appliances for the Raw Food Diet

If you're wondering what kind of kitchen equipment you're going to need when first embarking on the raw food diet, you're not alone.

Listed below are some of the more common appliances used on the raw food diet. Not everyone has everything listed. At least not at first! lol

It all depends on what you like and where you're going. More than likely, you already have one or more of the appliances below. Start out by finding and trying recipes that use that appliance.

If there's a recipe that you really want to make but don't have the necessary piece of kitchen equipment, try borrowing it. After you've made a few recipes with it, you can decide if you want to invest.

Kitchen Equipment and Tools

• Bamboo Sushi Mat A very cheap investment if you like to make "sushi" or what I call "seaweed rollups". All you need is a raw, organic Nori sheet and some veggies or a pate. They're simple and taste great.
• Citrus Juicer - One of my best "buys"! I use this almost everyday to make fresh orange juice, especially if I'm fasting. It cost me only $25 and is very easy to use an clean up.
• Dehydrator - This isn't a necessary piece of equipment, but can add a lot of variety to your diet if you do have one.
  I had one when I first starting experimenting with the raw food diet, but it didn't have a temperature gauge on it.

  I kept it for a year before investing in the Excalibur dehydrator which has temperature control.

  If you have a dehydrator without a temperature gauge, that's OK (at first). Try different recipes and see if it's something you want to invest in.

• Food Processor - A lot of recipes do call for a food processor. They allow you to either blend food into a smooth, creamy texture or leave in some texture so its a little more chunky.

  The Vita-Mix can be used to process food also, but it's very powerful and won't easily allow you to add texture.

• High-Speed Blender - This piece of kitchen equipment is one that you'll get a lot of use of. It can be used to make things like smoothies, soups, and dressings.

  I used my own "cheap" blender while experimenting with different recipes, but after a while decided to take the plunge and buy the Vita-Mix. It was pretty spendy, but it doesn't even compare to my other blender!

If you do decide to take the plunge and invest in a Vita-Mix, use code 06-003602 for FREE SHIPPING!

• Ice Cream Maker - Not a necessity, but fun to have! I don't currently have one, but have been teetering back and forth about getting one. There are some really delicious recipes out there for raw ice cream!
• Juicer - There's a wide range of juicers around. I currently have a Jack LaLanne juicer. I had it before I started the raw food diet.

  A couple of the more popular/versatile/expensive ones that are used in the raw food community are the Champion juicer and the Green Star juicer (as shown on right).

  I would LOVE to purchase one, but decided that I'm going to wait until mine "dies"!

• Mini Food Processor - Nice to have when you just want to process a small amount of food.

  They're fairly inexpensive so it's something you could purchase if you can't currently afford a regular food processor.

• Nut Milk Bag - Nut milk bags are nice to have if you want smooth and creamy nut milk. They're inexpensive and you do usually get more than one with your purchase.

  If you wash your nut bag properly after each use, you can use it over and over again.

• Spice Grinder - These are nice for grinding flaxseed and spices. They're also pretty inexpensive!

  The Vita-Mix can grind dry ingredients, but doesn't work as well for smaller quantities.

  A coffee grinder can also grind things well, but you'll need to use it exclusively for spices or your coffee will end up tasting like them.

• Spiral Slicer - You don't have to go without "pasta" if you have one of these handy devices!

  It can help you make curly "noodles" out of zucchini or squash or whatever other veggie you want to try!

  You can also just use it just to make your salad look pretty!

• Sprouter - You can always sprout simply with a jar and some seeds, but if you want to try it on a larger scale, this might be a good investment.

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