Introduction to Basic Raw Kitchen Equipment

When people first come to raw food, they usually see the various juicers, blenders, dehydrators and so forth advertised on the internet or in magazines and panic that they won’t be able to eat a raw food diet without them. The opposite is true. In fact you need less equipment to eat raw food than you do to eat cooked food – no cooker, pots and pans, baking trays and the like, just a knife and plate will do! You can make a myriad of delicious meals this way, not to mention simply eating fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds etc. as they are, but after a time, because we are so used to eating foods in complex and taste-bud tantalising ways, we do look for other ways of doing things. At this point the equipment comes in very handy, and even raw foodists of multiple decades standing still use equipment to keep food interesting for them on a regular basis.

Though some of the equipment can seem expensive, the good news is that these more expensive items do last and the benefits to your health and that of your family are ongoing, priceless and immeasurable. That said, getting hold of some basic equipment to start adding variety to your repertoire doesn’t have to break the bank. 

For instance, there are many levels of price points for juicers, starting at around £25 and working up to £500, depending on what your budget and requirements are. Naturally all juicers are not equal! Dehydrators start at just over £100, though some people build their own for much less, and blenders start at around £20 and go up to £500, as per juicers. Food processors are priced similarly, and a hand blender, which we think is a must for every kitchen, start from as little as £10 - although those cheaper ones won't stand the test of time. Sprouting jars, another essential, can be made from things you already have at home, such as a jam jar or small bowl, with some muslin or old (clean!) tights stretched across the top and held with an elastic band if you’d rather start basic! And then there's the nice-to-haves which are quite cheap purchased new such as the Saladacco spiral slicer (£24.99 - pictured top), the Microplane zester (£9.99), the EasyHealth manual juicer (£24.99) and the nut milk bag  (£7.99). All of these (of course!) are available from The Fresh Network.

If, like many people, you feel increasingly well and excited by going raw, purchasing equipment may actually seem less like a hassle and more like an exciting part of the journey – an opportunity to discover new ways of playing with food and getting creative, as you may never have done before. Also, it has to be said, after several decades of “weirdness” being associated with owning these kinds of pieces of equipment, most homes now have at least one of them featuring in their kitchen, and in modern terms, it would now appear that the more you have the more “cool” you are. Being raw is most definitely still slightly ahead of the mainstream, but for those that dare to be different, you are definitely on the cutting edge of 21^st century healthcare and shouldn’t let anyone tell you any different!

Discovering new pieces of equipment keeps food fresh, fun and interesting - and who wouldn't want some of that?

"Play on!" is what I say ; )

Comments

[Lel]

Hi Karen,

Once again some fab advice! When I start something new I have this tendency to buy everything in sight that is remotely connected to my new project/idea!

I now know that just a couple of simple pieces of equipment are more than fine for the mean time.

Thanks again,
Lel x