Being a “real food” fanatic, I cook as much as possible from scratch. I also try to avoid toxic chemicals as much as possible. That means I gravitate towards kitchen gadgets/tools that reduce the amount of time I spend in the kitchen and are “green“. Here are some articles to read more about that topic:

12 Ways to Avoid Toxins in the Kitchen
5 Hazardous Chemicals to Ban for a Healthy Kitchen

My Top 5 kitchen gadgets (it was hard to choose just 5!) that make my life a little easier:

1) Instant Pot
I have the 6 qt 7-in-1. The above link is the newest version which is a 9-in-1. Replaces my slow cooker and rice cooker plus now I have a yogurt maker! If you want to wait for a deal, they often go on sale for Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day. 

I’m dairy free so here’s the recipe I use for coconut yogurt. Here’s my Pinterest board for more Instant Pot recipes. There’s also several Facebook groups you can join and search posts – Instant Pot Community, Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Meals, Gluten Free Instant Pot and Vitamix and Instant Pot. 

2) Vitamix
Makes the smoothest hummus, nut butters, smoothies and puddings/mousse. You can also heat soup right in the blender! Expensive, but worth the investment, in my opinion.
Here’s my Pinterest board for Vitamix Recipes. There’s also a Facebook group you can join – Vitamix Enthusiasts.

3) Stainless steel pans
This set of pans is very economical (this is the set I own) and easy to clean (vinegar works great to remove anything stuck on it).

4) Cast iron pans
Can also be used in the oven. Use these handles and these handles (for stovetop only) to avoid burns from the hot handles. 

5) Mini food processor
I use the Vitamix for most things but it requires a certain amount of volume to spin properly. This is great for small jobs.

Here are some other ideas for kitchen gadgets (some on my wish list):
Smart Kitchen Gadgets for Simplifying Cooking from Scratch

What kitchen gadget can’t you live without? Please comment below. Thank you for reading!