The Paleo diet may be transporting you back in time with its focus on unprocessed, nutrient-dense food. But you’re certainly free to whip up Paleo meals and snacks using modern kitchen gadgets.
Choosing which of today’s handy dandy contraptions are worth buying can be tricky, as some items just end up gathering dust in your kitchen cabinets. But if you invest in the right pieces, you’ll be able to prep and cook a lot faster and easier, making your Paleo experience much more rewarding.
So here’s a roundup of some must-haves that you’ll probably find yourself using all over again.
7 Kitchen Utensils and Appliances for the Paleo Diet
Immersion blender:
Meet the magic wand of blenders. The immersion blender is a handy and whizzy contraption that lets you whip up everything from sauces, dips and dressings to soups and smoothies.
It’s especially perfect for making Paleo mayonnaise. With an immersion blender, you can easily work oil into egg yolks and have a batch of mayonnaise ready in no time.
It is also the safer choice if you’re a fan of puréed soup. You won’t have to worry about spilling any of the hot mixture as you transfer it to another container. And it’s designed for limited contact, so contamination won’t be an issue.
Desserts-wise? You can use immersion blenders for creating whipped cream and even some Paleo ice cream. For best results, try the two-speed versions with a sturdy casing and a rubberized grip.
I looove this one (order here) because it has so much power.
Food Processor:
The food processor has got to be one of the best prep companions in a Paleo kitchen. Depending on the attachments included, you can dice, slice, chop and shred all kinds of fruits and vegetables without lifting a single knife. And that’s going to save you a lot of time and trouble.
Say you need fine shreds of cabbage for a coleslaw or sauerkraut. Just place wedges of cabbage in the food processor’s bowl and pulse it until your desired texture is achieved. You’ll get prep done in half the time!
It is also a breeze to work with if you’d like to try incorporating offal in meatballs and burger patties, or making your own pizza dough using Paleo flour and starch. With extra powerful units, you can also create smooth and rich nut butters from hazelnuts, cashews, almonds or coconuts.
Yes, the food processor is extremely versatile, making it a huge help if you’re cooking big batches or serving a number of people.
I have had this one for years and love it. (order here)
Slow Cooker:
No matter how busy you are, you can pull off elaborate and sumptuous dishes with a crock pot on your side. The slow cooker, as it’s otherwise known, allows you to create hearty one-pot meals and stews without spending too much time in the kitchen. Just throw the ingredients in the pot before you head out for work in the morning, leaving it on low, and you can expect to come home to a dish that tastes as good as it smells.
But that’s not all. The crock pot’s also great for making a nutrient-rich stock of bone broth and for tenderizing tough cuts of meat such as chuck roast and brisket.
The best part: As efficient as they are, basic crock pots aren’t expensive. You can get one for about $25 and pay only $5 to $10 more for models with an auto-shut off feature and a digital timer. Multi-function versions may come with roaster, oven and stove top settings.
This is the one I have and love it! (order here)
Spiralizer
A spiralizer lets you turn vegetables and fruits into spaghetti, noodle or ribbon form in seconds. As simple as its function sounds, this nifty apparatus actually inspires a ton of amazing and fun Paleo meal and snack ideas.
Need a grain- and gluten-free low-carb alternative to pasta? Try spiral vegetables like zucchini. Zucchini-based noodles, or the “zoodler,” are actually great with carbonara sauce. Tired of carrot sticks and cucumber half-circles for your salad? Create ribbons strands of carrots and cucumbers instead. They’ll make for an extra vibrant and delightful salad. Craving for French fries? Make a healthier version like shoestring jicama fries or curly sweet potato fries.
You can also use the spiralizer with apples, beets, cabbage and yellow squash. This is your chance to get creative and to test your food-presentation skills. Oh and if you have a picky eater in the family, this could be the key to getting them excited about eating veggies and fruits.
Note that there are two designs of spiralizers. The hourglass-shaped version is two-sided, allowing you to go thin or thick with your noodles. The larger tri-blade version has shredder, chipper and straight blades so you can crank out spiral and ribbon strands. Both are manually operated.
I use this one and love it! (order here)
Dehydrator:
If you’re big on snacks, this one’s a worthwhile investment. Instead of buying pre-packaged goods, create natural Paleo treats using a dehydrator, which removes moisture from food to help with its preservation.
You can, for instance, dry out meat to make your own beef jerky and get your protein fix. Put in your favorite fruit if you’re craving for fruit leather or hoping to preserve your summer harvest. Prefer something crunchy or crispy to munch on? Work on DIY chips featuring zucchini, kale, beets or other root crops and leafy greens.
A variable temperature gauge and timer will come in handy, so try to get a dehydrator with these features.
I have this one (order here) but this fancy one is on my wish list.
Watch my video of making it here:
Meat Grinder:
Those keen on enhancing the flavors of their Paleo creations will find grinders an excellent ally. Electric grinders make grinding nuts and seeds at home incredibly quick and easy, especially if you only need a small amount and a fresh spice blends.
The gadget’s particularly useful if you’re doing your own sweet potato floor, incorporating ground seeds or nuts in your granola or pancake mixtures, or whipping up some almond meal to go with your apple crisp.
The Paleo diet can be a bit demanding and challenging, so being equipped with efficient and user-friendly kitchen tools can go a long way in helping you get the best results.
I use this attachment (order here) for that fits into my kitchen aid mixer (order here).
7 Kitchen Utensils and Appliances for the Paleo Diet
Vitamix Blender:
I held off for a long time before purchasing a Vitamix but I wish I had bought one sooner. It is so helpful for smoothies. You can not go back to a crappy standard blender after using this wonderful machine. I bought one refurbished to save money but I use it everyday so it has definelty paid for itself. Sometimes I wish I had two tops because one is always dirty.B
I have this one in white (order here)
Bonus Instant Pot:
I didn’t know if I wanted one of these because I didn’t want too much clutter on my counter but then I found out that it has a crock pot option and I was sold. This one is the best and I have had it for several years and it makes soups, stews pot roast, even heat up leftovers, and steam.
There are also some utensils that I use constantly such as:
- Silicone spatula for stir fry and fluffy eggs (I use this one)
- Peeler for sweet potato mash and carrots (I use this one)
- I use a fine mesh strainer for broth (I use this one)
- I love this salad spinner for washing farmers market greens (order here)
- This can opener will last a lifetime and I use it for pumpkin and salmon cans. (order here)
Best of luck starting a Paleo plan. I have several books that can help you get started. Check them out here.
Elizabeth Cornwell says
Looks great! Thanks for sharing us those insights on kitchen utensils. It’s interesting and informative to read.What a great set of utensils that would be worthy of any kitchen!