What's the one kitchen tool?

s0987 wrote: »

I'm not much of a cook but I'm trying to get into it to eat healthier...I've been wanting a spiralizer to encourage more veggie eating, but now I'm considering a food scale...
What's the one kitchen item that helped you the most in starting to eat healthier?

A food scale is very helpful in determining proper accurate portion sizes. I think every kitchen should have one.
I like my food processor because it makes chopping or shredding vegetables faster and easier. I can also use it to make hummus or puree fruit. Lots of functions in one device.
I do have a spiralizer and it is fun but I don't use it as much as the food scale or food processor.

Food scale

And a good vegetable peeler. I've got several in my utensil drawer that I cannot figure out ... I don't know, maybe I need someone to show me how to use them, but they feel fragile in my hand and I end up chipping away at things like cucumbers and potatoes without accomplishing much. But I've got a different style which works really well. Within seconds I can have a cucumber peeled and sliced and into a bowl with my cottage cheese.

And also a freezer. I've gone through short periods of time in my life (a year or two here and there) without a freezer, and I miss it. It's so nice to be able to load up a shopping cart with frozen veg, chicken mince, etc. etc. and just freeze the lot. That means we've always got a variety of veggies on hand and it only takes a few minutes to have them ready to eat.

Scale.

My spirilizer is sitting in a drawer because it's SUCH A PITA TO CLEAN.

The wife

Food scale is my must have. I just ordered the Oxo spiralizer, but expect that to be an occasional thing.

Food scale, followed by a food processor. Having a food processor makes it easy to slice, dice and shred veggies, which makes it easier for me to eat and enjoy.

Scale. It helped that I was used to using it for baking already.

I'm having a lot of fun with my new pressure cooker, though

The things I use everyday: scale, good knife, cutting board, small nonstick skillet, spatula for skillet. Several times a week: crockpot, measuring utensils and cups, medium pot with lid.

The digital scale is the one thing that has made the most difference.

Scale for sure. But I do like my spiralizer.

Well the scale for sure.
Followed by my cutting board and knives.
And then the Ninja blender.

grinning_chick wrote: »

Before you spend $$ to $$$$ on a spiral cutter, this works just fine to determine just how much you'll actually cook/eat foods cut in such a manner:

https://www.oxo.com/julienne-peeler-208

I have something similar--you can do all kinds of things with it and it is much cheaper (and easier to store) than a spiralizer. It works just fine for zoodles. I also use it a lot for carrots and sweet potato shoestrings.

You NEED a food scale. They are not optional. Beyond diet, it is just something that any decent cook should have and use.

Oh! and LOTS of tupperware!!!!!

FiiiiFiiiFlowerTot wrote: »

Oh! and LOTS of tupperware!!!!!

Yes!

I have a color-coded system involving Rubbermaid easy-find food storage with different colored lids. It's as much a household management thing as a diet thing, but they are really handy.

Don't think I've seen this one yet.

Chopsticks.

Slows my normal two fisted shoveling of food into my mouth which gives my slow-talking stomach time to tell my brain when its had enough.

My ninja blender. I make the most yummy fruit/veggie smoothies. My ninja turns ice cubes into snow in mere seconds.