Best Kitchen Gear for Easy, Healthy Meal Prep
These appliances and gadgets will help you cook delicious, good-for-you meals at home, according to chefs, cookbook authors, and CR's experts
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Healthy cooking at home generally requires more fresh stuff—vegetables, fruits, proteins—and that means more washing, chopping, preparation, and cleanup.
That might explain why many people think that making healthy meals is a tall order. According to a 2023 national survey by the Cleveland Clinic, nearly half of Americans view nutritious food as expensive, and nearly a quarter of us think we don’t have time to prepare healthy meals.
Doing the job efficiently and getting the most from the fresh foods you buy comes down, in large part, to the gear. Having the right tools in your kitchen can make the job easier—and save you time and money. We’ll walk you through the everyday equipment that experts, including CR’s own testers, reporters, and food safety pros, use at home.
Compact Personal Blender
You might hesitate to get your full-sized blender out of the cupboard to whip up a single smoothie (that heavy base! the giant pitcher!), but a smaller version with a to-go cup delivers convenience. Pack the tumbler with greens, frozen fruit, water or milk, and blend. It can also pinch hit for a food processor when you need to whir a salad dressing or chop nuts.
Buy: Here are two solid options from our blender ratings. For more options, see our list of the best personal blenders.
A Collection of Cutting Boards
According to James E. Rogers, PhD, director and acting head of product safety testing at CR, it’s time to replace old boards when you notice grooves, which could trap bacteria even after cleaning.
Rimmed Baking Sheets
A sheet pan meal—where you cook, say, chicken, broccoli, and potatoes together—is one way to simplify dinnertime. “The larger the pan, the better, so you can add plenty of vegetables to your protein and still spread the food out for even cooking,” says Amy Keating, RD, who leads CR’s nutrition and food testing.
Our tests found that uncoated pans cook more evenly and last longer.
Buy: Below, two top-rated uncoated options from our sheet pan ratings. For more options, see the best sheet pans.
Soda Maker
Staying hydrated is a snap when you’ve got an endless supply of seltzer water. (Not to mention that it’s easier to cut back on sugary soda when you have something just as delicious to drink.) Add flavor if you’d like, with fresh lemon or lime, or a splash of fruit juice such as cranberry or grapefruit. In our most recent evaluation, the SodaStream Terra, $100, stood out as the best value. Debating if it’s worth it for you to trade bottled seltzer for a soda maker? Use our interactive to see when you’d break even.
Buy: The SodaStream Terra is available at Amazon, JCPenney, SodaStream, Walmart, and Williams-Sonoma. See the best soda makers for more.
Oil Spritzer
Turn any cooking oil you prefer into a spray with a refillable, nonaerosol bottle. Better still, get a two-pack, like the aluminum set from Misto, and use the spare for your favorite vinegar for a quick, light way to dress any salad.
Buy: Misto set of two, $20, Amazon. You can also buy a single spray bottle at Target for $10.
Salad Spinner
Rather than buying packaged lettuce, try whole lettuce (less likely to be contaminated by bacteria) chopped or torn, then washed in a spinner. And you can use a spinner for much more than salad. It’s great for everything from broccoli florets to herbs to chopped leeks. In a recent lab test, the Farberware Pro Salad Spinner was the only one to remove all of the water from our greens. It also had the largest capacity, holding more than 5.5 cups of spring mix.
Buy: Farberware Pro Salad Spinner, $22, at Amazon, Walmart, and Wayfair For more spinners, see the best salad spinners.
Digital Food Scale
A handy helper for portion control, a scale is also a must if you’re serious about baking or if you’re working with recipes that list weight rather than volume. Trying to limit alcohol? Pour, say, a glass of wine on a zeroed-out scale to make sure you’re not overestimating 5 ounces.
Buy: The Greater Goods Digital Kitchen Scale, $18, Walmart and Amazon.
A Mix of Skillets
It’s helpful to keep a few types on hand, says Ellie Krieger, a host on the Food Network. Her cookbook "Whole in One" (Da Capo Lifelong Books, $30) covers healthy meals prepared in a single skillet, pan, or pot. Cast iron can go from cooktop to oven, and nonstick skillets in a few sizes will handle anything from eggs to seared salmon. For pans made without PTFE (a compound made from chemicals that may be harmful), choose nonstick ones with a ceramic interior.
Buy: Below, top options for nonstick ceramic pans. For cast-iron pans, see our cast-iron frying pan ratings.
Knife Sharpener
A sharp chef’s knife is essential when you’re chopping veggies every day. But the unsung hero? An easy-to-use sharpener that will encourage you to care for the blade. The Chef’sChoice Trizor 15XV Electric Knife Sharpener is designed to sharpen to a precise 15-degree angle (the sweet spot for most knives). For a cheaper option, there’s the Chef’sChoice AngleSelect Manual Sharpener. In our reporter’s evaluation of electric and manual knife sharpeners, both proved to be solid options.
Buy: Chef’sChoice Trizor 15XV Electric Knife Sharpener, $180, Amazon, Sur La Table , and Walmart; Chef’sChoice AngleSelect Manual Sharpener, $60, Amazon, Chef’s Choice). For more, see the best knife sharpeners for chef’s knives.
Stainless Steel or Ceramic Mixing Bowls
“Given the research we’ve done around chemicals in plastics, any opportunity I have to avoid plastic in the kitchen, I take,” says Sana Mujahid, CR’s manager for food safety testing. Her pick for bowls: a lidded, steel nesting set from Core Kitchen that makes it easy to store leftovers in the fridge. A set that starts with a 5-quart bowl (or bigger!) will ensure you have the right size for nearly any task, says Paul Hope, a CR home reporter (and trained chef).
Buy: Core Kitchen stainless steel mixing bowls, $30, Amazon.
Glass or Stainless Steel Food Storage Containers
We recently tested a variety of food storage containers and found glass and steel options that kept food very fresh. But like all 25 products we tested, they have plastic lids, so don’t fill the containers to the brim, and hand-wash the lids. All of the silicone containers we tested leaked. An easy, nonplastic option: Mason jars, which can store leftovers, fruits, and veggies in the fridge.
Buy: Below, two top-rated food storage container sets. For more, see the best food storage containers.
A Hardworking Countertop Appliance
... or two. Depending on the types of food you cook frequently, the right countertop appliance can save hands-on time. Mostly roast veggies and cook protein? See the air fryer. Like recipes that call for slow-cooking or pressure-cooking? A multi-cooker will fit the bill. If you focus on grains, our testing found that a rice cooker is your best bet.
Photo: Sarah Anne Ward Photo: Sarah Anne Ward
Rice Cooker
If whole grains are a staple of your diet, this appliance automates anything from basic brown rice to fancy ancient grains to steel-cut oats—and does the job better than a multi-cooker. “Even the rice cookers at the bottom of our ratings make rice better than a multi-cooker,” says Larry Cuifo, a CR test engineer. One thing to note: CR’s past tests of rice found high levels of arsenic in a variety of them. Our advice is to always rinse your rice before cooking, says Tunde Akinleye, a chemist and CR food safety tester.
Air Fryer
You can roast, bake, or “fry” a variety of foods in less time than it takes in an oven or on a cooktop—with very little fat. “An air fryer is great for quickly cooking a chicken breast and a side of veggies, like brussels sprouts,” says CR home reporter Tanya Christian. Look for a dishwasher-safe basket, and be aware that capacity varies. (As an example, the Dash Tasti-Crisp DCAF260, $60, has only 1.9 usable quarts, while the Gourmia, has a measured capacity of 4.3 quarts.)
Multi-Cooker
If you love soups or other dishes that require long simmering or pressure-cooking, dust off the multi-cooker you bought during the 2010s Instant Pot craze or consider treating yourself to a new one. They have functions like sautéing, steaming, and rice cooking. Dan Buettner, author of many books on longevity, including “The Blue Zones Kitchen” (National Geographic, $32.50), relies on his to cook presoaked dried beans. (You can freeze some after cooking to have them on hand later.)
Buy: Pictured above and listed below are three great options from our ratings for an air fryer, a rice cooker, and a multi-cooker.
Plus: Upgrade a Few Kitchen-Drawer Staples
Smaller tools can make or break healthy food prep—but many of us keep using worn-out stuff that has lived in a drawer for years. The versatile handheld items here make many kitchen tasks much easier.
Photo: Sarah Anne Ward Photo: Sarah Anne Ward
A Bench Scraper
Traditionally used for handling dough or scraping bowls and surfaces, this is surprisingly handy for transferring large quantities of chopped ingredients (scooping up and moving garlic, peppers, onions, and so on from cutting board to pot as you’re making chili, for example). The dishwasher-safe Chef’n Pastrio Bench Chopper Set nests for easy storage.
Buy: Chef’n Pastrio Bench Chopper Set, $13, Amazon and Chef’n.
Apple Corer
It’s the secret to prepping a pile of apples for a pie quickly. One swift move and you’ve got perfect slices. The Prepworks Apple and Pear Slicer has raised handles and a hinged cover for safe storage.
Buy: Prepworks Apple and Pear Slicer, $22, Amazon and Walmart.
Measuring Spoons and Cups (2 Sets of Each)
You won’t have to pause to wash up mid-recipe if you have an extra set. Sur La Table’s set of six spice measuring spoons are stainless steel, dishwasher-safe, and narrow enough to fit in small jars. Magnets in the handles of Oxo’s measuring cup set keep the group together.
Buy: Sur La Table spice measuring spoons $22, Sur La Table; Oxo measuring cup set, $23, Amazon, Crate and Barrel, and Oxo.
Kitchen Shears
They make fast work of cutting chives, scallions, and other herbs to instantly enliven a meal. Ellie Krieger of the Food Network even uses them to cut up pizza. (Bonus: No need to wash a cutting board after.) The iBayam Kitchen Scissors fared well in our recent evaluation.
Buy: iBayam Kitchen Scissors, $12 for two, Amazon.
Microplane Zester and Citrus Press
Another healthy flavor boost? Citrus, says CR’s Amy Keating. “Zest adds zing. I love it in a salad, soups, dips, and more.” The Oxo Etched Zester is a good bet. A squeeze of juice at the end of cooking will brighten the flavor of food. A reamer with handles, like the KitchenAid Citrus Juice Presser, will be easier to use.
Buy: Oxo Etched Zester, $11, Amazon, Target, Oxo; KitchenAid Citrus Juice Presser, $25, Amazon.
Editor’s Note: This article also appeared in the February 2024 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.
