Kitchen Appliances

Blenders

Vita-Mix CIA Blender

This is THE blender. No other compares. The Vita-Mix is a true kitchen workhorse. So versatile, so powerful, so indespensible. We were also leary whether or not such a pricey blender would be worth the hefty price tag. It is. These blenders will give you years of pureéing power that just cannot be matched.

Shakes, smoothies, sauces, pureés, ice cream, food processing…the Vita-Mix does it all. One of our favorite features is the cleaning tip. Just pour in 5 cups of hot water, two drops of dish soap and blend on high. Voila! You just turned your blender into it’s very own dishwasher.

Vita-Mix’s main competitor, BlendTec (of Will It Blend? Fame) makes high quality blender as well. However, there have been multiple reports of BlendTec’s carafe having leak problems and with only a two year warranty, we were easily swayed to the Vita-Mix. There hasn’t been a single regret since.

Immersion Blenders

Cuisinart SmartStick

Want a blender but not comfortable with spending a lot for it? The SmartStick just might be your answer. With the included cup, the SmartStick works just like a blender and a little more. It’s not quite as powerful as a stand blender, but it will break down a few ice cubes so you can still make shakes and smoothies. Where the Smart Stick really shines is making soups and pureéd stews. You can attack 5 or 6 quarts of simmering soup with this thing in no time, and you don’t have to do any pouring or transferring to a carafe. For the price, the SmartStick is a great tool for any kitchen.

Food Processors

KitchenAid Food Processor

A lot of people like the Cuisinart name when it comes to processors. If you’re buying a new one, which you probably are, you might want to reconsider getting a Cuisinart. Recently, people have been having a lot of problems with leaking and durability with their freshly purchased Cuisinarts. So, that’s why we like the KitchenAid. It’s got a strong motor, good bowl design, and it’s very quiet. It doesn’t have that loud blender motor sound like most Cuisinarts. Also, the KitchenAid comes with a smaller prep bowl in addition to the regular bowl for smaller jobs. There’s even an additional chopping blade for that as well. And you can get all the same slicing and dicing blade attachments that typically come with food processors.

Mixers

KitchenAid Stand Mixer

If you’re an avid baker or want to get into it more, KitchenAid’s stand mixer is a no-brainer. With a seemingly endless array of attachments, the stand mixer can do everything from making a batter to kneading dough to grinding meat and stuffing sausage. Another true workhouse of the kitchen, this stand mixer will not only save you prep time but also give you more options in the foods you can make at home.

Spice Grinders

Cusinart Spice Mill

If you want the best flavor from your meals, you have got to use whole herbs and spices. Store-bought ground seasonings lose their flavor very quickly whereas whole spices will retain their essential oils and flavor up to 3 years. Once ground, whole spices will engulf your kitchen in wonderful aromas that will have you tossing all of your pre-ground stuff out the window. So, with these intensified flavors, you’ll need a specific grinder for this task. No, you don’t want to use the same one you use to grind your coffee. Since those spice oils are so much more potent, you won’t be able to completely wash them out every time and the next time you make coffee, you might even up with a cup of allspice, cumin joe. Even though that might sound tempting, trust us, it ain’t.

Waffle Irons

Presto FlipSide Waffle Iron

With several recipes out there for paleo-friendly waffles, there’s no reason you have to give up this favorite breakfast treat. This Belgian-style waffle iron is truly amazing. You get the necessary flipping technique but with a vertical resting position, you won’t lose much precious counter space. When you want to use it, you just lay over the waffle iron to one side, heat it up, pour in your batter, and then flip it over. In about 4 minutes, you’ve got a perfectly cooked waffle. The nonstick surface makes clean up a breeze and the vertical locking position makes storage a dream.

Water Coolers

Cuisinart CleanWater Countertop Filtration System

Drinking several cups of water each day can be a chore. Refilling water jugs or buying bottles can also be annoying. So, what to do? How about Cuisinart’s water dispenser? It dishes out both cold and hot water. It’s a great thing to have just for anyone who drinks tea, but also great for cold water, too. Unlike water jugs in the fridge, you’ll always have cold water on hand with the push of a button. And if your city’s water is good enough quality, you can remove the water filter to store even more water in the reservoir.

Dehydrators

Nesco Dehydrator

Every paleo and raw food eater should have a dehydrator. They allow you to make your own dried fruits and jerkies so you’ll always have a healthy snack lying around. That’s important because it’ll help alleviate that temptation to grab something not-so-healthy…I’m looking at you potato chips. But dehydrators do more than just fruits and jerkies. They can also be used to make crackers, desserts, and granola bars.

Nesco makes an affordable unit that works very well and is whisper quiet. The temperature control on the top goes up to 155 degrees F, which will take care of all your drying needs. Although we love the Nesco for its price, the one drawback to this product is that you have to rotate the trays to ensure even drying.

Excalibur Dehydrator

If you’re serious about dehydrating, the Excalibur is the way to go. It’s definitely the Cadillac of dehydrators. Since all of the fans and heating elements are housed along the back wall, there’s no need for tray rotation. Once again, consider it an investment for your health.

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