Blender
Vitamix
Review Written by: Briana Southward, Founder of The Naked Label
If you have my green smoothie e-book you know how much I am in love with my Vitamix. I love it so much I usually take it with me when I travel. In fact, my girlfriend Sabine and I went on a ski vacation last winter and actually brought the Vitamix with us so we could make green smoothies in the morning! It is a professional high-speed blender, so it doesn’t compare to a household blender you get at the local department store. It spins so fast it emulsifies foods into creamy goodness. It also spins so fast that if you put some veggies, seasoning, and water in it and let it go for 5 minutes it will be hot soup. There is no heating element but the friction of the blades spinning so fast actually heats it up to the point where steam is coming out the top. If you are only able to buy one kitchen gadget at this time, this would be the one to get!
Juicer
The fastest and healthiest way of getting high doses of nutrients blasted into your body is through juicing. This is especially true when you are vegetable juicing and using mainly green veggies. There are different types of juicers out there. Here are two great options.
Green Star Juicer
Review Written by: Briana Southward, Founder of The Naked Label
This is the juicer that I have and I love love love it! It is called a twin gear, which means it has two gears that slowly grind together to squeeze out every last drop of juice from your veggies. This process is gentle and helps to make sure the juice doesn’t oxidize quickly. The only cons of this juicer are that it is more expensive and it takes a bit longer to juice and clean. There are a couple of different models. I have the Elite, but the other models work just as well.
Omega 4000 Stainless Steel
Review Written by: Briana Southward, Founder of The Naked Label
This juicer is referred to as a centrifuge. It has blades that grind the food you put in and then the juice is pushed through a screen. In comparison to a twin gear juicer, this one is faster, cheaper, and easier to clean. However, it won’t extract as much juice from the vegetables, it can’t juice wheatgrass, and it whips the food around using fast spinning blades so the food can oxidize more quickly.
Food Processor
Cuisinart Food Processor
Review Written by: Briana Southward, Founder of The Naked Label
After receiving this amazing gadget as a Christmas present from Steve, my kitchen explorations have never been the same. There are all kinds of amazing things this gadget can execute. I use mine to make raw brownies, humus, onion bread, beet salad, coleslaw, etc. It is a welcome addition that I can’t live without.
Dehydrator
This amazing kitchen gadget is the un-cooking wonder of the kitchen. A dehydrator works by taking the moisture out of food. It can give food a cooked look and feel without having to heat it to a high temperature. When we cook food we can lose a lot of the phytonutrients, vitamins and helpful enzymes in the food. When we dehydrate it on the other hand, we preserve all those goddesses of goodness, while still gaining the texture of cooked food. One of the best things to un-cook in the dehydrator are kale chips. They are delicious, nutritious and incredibly simple to make.
Excalibur Dehydrator
Review Written by: Briana Southward, Founder of The Naked Label
This is the dehydrator that I have and think it is amazing! Its square trays are great for making pizzas, crackers, bread, wraps, etc. The fan is great for getting even dehydration and it dehydrates faster than many other brands on the market.
Sedona Food Dehydrator
Review Written by: Briana Southward, Founder of The Naked Label
This is the new kid on the block. Tribest just came out with this dehydrator and although I have never used this one, it looks incredible. If I were buying another one, this is the one I would get. I love that it has a digital timer and temperature control. As well, it has the ability to turn on quiet mode when you are in the kitchen or if you are sleeping nearby.
Personal Blender
Review Written by: Briana Southward, Founder of The Naked Label
I use my personal blender to make dressings, sauces, to chop nuts/seeds (like my flaxseeds), etc. I currently have the magic bullet, which I have had for years. However, this is the one I really want. In my opinion it is the best personal blender on the market. This model even allows you to attach mason jars to it so that you can have as many containers as you would like. Ingenious!! [Note: When you click the buy now button you are taken to Upaya Naturals site where this product is sold. Type “Personal Blender” in the search field and among the products that show up you will see the regular BPA-Free personal blender and the Mason Jar Personal Blender.]
Slap chop
Review Written by: Briana Southward, Founder of The Naked Label
I was first wooed by the slap chop on its late night infomercial. Watching in amazement as the host chopped various food items with just a few slaps of the hand. I jumped on board, purchased one, and we have been friends ever since. I use it most for chopping onions. If you are a crier when onion chopping like I am, this is a tear-free way of getting finely chopped onions within seconds. I will also use it for carrot, celery, zuccini, etc. I find that it doesn’t work as great for chopping tomato or red pepper.
Nut Milk Sack
Review Written by: Briana Southward, Founder of The Naked Label
This handy little tool allows you to make nut milk that is creamy and delicious. I use mine all the time to make my own almond milk. Yummie!! [Note: When you click the buy now button you are taken to Upaya Naturals site where this product is sold. On the side panel select “Kitchen Appliances and Accessories” and then “Nut Milk Bags and Nut Milk Machines”]
Spiralizer
Review Written by: Briana Southward, Founder of The Naked Label
This is a fun tool for making raw spaghetti. You put in a zucchini, spin the handle with your hands and bam! you have angel hair noodles that are made out of zucchini. I also like to put beets through this machine to make an awesome looking beet salad. [Note: When you click the buy now button you are taken to Upaya Naturals site where this product is sold. Type “spiral slicer” into the search filed and the product will be among the displayed products.]
Mandolin
V-Prep Mandolin
Review Written by: Briana Southward, Founder of The Naked Label
When it comes to slicing, this kitchen gadget is the boom diggity. It does a great jobof slicing all kinds of veggies in many different shapes. For example, you can use it to slice zucchini in fine strips, then place a dollop of filling on each piece, roll them up and voila a delicious appetizer to wow your friends and family.
