September 17, 2025

10 Essential Kitchen Tools for Plat Based Cooking

If you are like me, kitchen tools are one of your favorite little splurges when cooking plant-based. Having the best kitchen tools not only makes cooking smoother, it can make it WAY more fun. I put together a list of 10 essential kitchen tools for plant-based cooking — all Amazon finds, with high reviews — and I’ll go through what each tool is useful for, what to look out for, and some tips/tricks with them. Grab your apron and let’s dig in 😊

*This post contains affiliate links. As an amazon associate, I earn a small commission for qualifying purchases.* Thank you for helping to support my blog. You are appreciated!

1. High-Speed Blender

Why it’s essential:
Plant-based cooking often means making creamy soups, nut milks, smoothies, sauces (think cashew cream, tahini-based dressings), or even purées for desserts. To get that silky smooth texture (especially with fibrous veggies, nuts, or frozen fruit), a blender that can handle tough material is a game changer.

What to look for:

- High wattage or motor strength
- Strong blades
- Large enough jar (makes double batching easier)
- Easy to clean
- Reliable brand (good warranty, strong reviews)
- Amazon Link

Ninja Mega Kitchen System. Full-Size Blender & 8 cup food processor.

About this item

POWERFUL 1500-WATT MOTOR: Crush ice, blend frozen fruit, and power through tough ingredients with the 2-horsepower motor, designed for professional results.
TOTAL CRUSHING TECHNOLOGY: The XL 72-oz.* pitcher, ideal for large batches and entertaining, features Total Crushing Blades that crush ice to snow in seconds and powers through tough ingredients. *64-oz. max liquid capacity.
ON-THE-GO CONVENIENCE: Includes two 16-oz. Nutri Ninja Cups with To-Go Lids, perfect for personalized shakes and smoothies.
8-CUP FOOD PROCESSING: Delivers consistent, even chopping, pureeing, and mixing. Includes a dedicated chopping blade, plus dough blade, capable of mixing up to 2 pounds of dough in just 30 seconds.
VERSATILE FUNCTIONS: Choose from 4 functions – Blend, Mix, Crush, and Single-Serve – that best fits your recipe and meal prep needs.
NINJA BLADES SYSTEM: 4 Unique blades optimized for every task. From Total Crushing Blades for XL Blending to Pro Extractor Blades for on-the-go and chopping and dough blades for the processor bowl.
EASY TO CLEAN: BPA-Free dishwasher-safe parts

2. Cast Iron Skillet

Why it’s essential:
So many plant foods benefit from good sears: think pan‑fried tofu, roasted veggies, even skillet breads, cornbread, or browning onions just right. A cast iron skillet retains heat super well, can go from stovetop to oven, and with seasoning, becomes more nonstick over time. Plus, it’s durable—lasts forever (if you take care of it).

What to look for:

- - Pre‑seasoned (so you don’t have as much work upfront)
  - Size that suits your cooking volume (10‑inch is great for many households)
  - Handles & helper handles: lifting, pouring, etc.
  - Amazon Link

Top example:
The Lodge 10.25‑inch Pre‑Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet is very well rated, affordable, and highly versatile. (amazon.com)

About this item

Durable Cast Iron Construction: Made from heavy-duty cast iron for long-lasting use and even heat distribution.
Set of 3 Skillets: Includes 12 inch and 10.25 inch skillets for versatile cooking.
Compatible with Gas Stovetops: Designed to work seamlessly on gas stovetops for easy cooking.
Oven Safe: Can be used in the oven for baking, roasting and more.
Easy to Clean: Hand wash only for quick and simple cleaning.

3. Food Processor

Why it’s essential:
For chopping, shredding, making veggie burgers, falafel, hummus, sauces, crusts, doughs. Basically anything where a blender won’t cut it (or will be messy/unsafe). Makes large volume easy.

What to aim for:

- - Large capacity (at least 10 cups is good if you cook often)
  - Durable blades
  - Multiple attachments (slicing, shredding, etc.)
  - Easy safety features & cleaning
  - Amazon Link

KitchenAid KFP0919CU 9 Cup Food Processor Plus

About this item

Easy to use one-click, twist-free bowl assembly with a latched lid for easy set up.
Simple controls with 3 speed options high, low and pulse speeds to handle a variety of ingredients with precision. The easy-press paddles and illuminated LED controls make operation simple.
Chop, puree, shred and slice everything from cucumbers to tomatoes, cheeses and more with the reversible, thin or medium slicing/shredding disc, thick slicing disc or multi-purpose blade.
A variety of shapes and sizes can be processed in the 2-in-1 feed tube located on the lid. The small pusher features a small oil drizzle opening for emulsifying sauces and dressings.
Easy to store with a compact design, in-bowl accessory storage and convenient cord wrap.
Easy to clean with the sealed, leak-resistant work bowl, which means less food gets trapped in the bowl and lid. Also, the bowl, lid and accessories are all dishwasher-safe.

4. Baking / Roasting Sheets & Trays

Why it’s essential:
Roasting is huge in plant‑based cooking: roasting veggies, baking tofu or tempeh, making baked fries, etc. You want trays that conduct heat well, are durable, ideally non‑toxic coatings or no weird chemicals.

Tips:

- - Get rimmed sheets to catch juices
  - Use parchment paper or silicone mats to reduce sticking
  - Bake in batches so air circulates
  - Amazon Link

Baking Sheet Set of 3, Commercial Grade Stainless Steel Cookie Sheets for Baking & Roasting

About this item

HEALTHY & NONTOXIC STAINLESS STEEL: Our baking pan set made of food-grade pure 18/0 stainless steel without without chemical coating or any other materials, Good heat and corrosion resistance, Safe enough to baking all kinds of dishes and without leaching anything harmful, Healthier alternative to aluminum pans for everyday baking use. Compared with glass or ceramic sheet pan, it is unbreakable. Compared with aluminum, it is more healthy. ALSO, more environmentally friendly than disposable baking pans.
VERSATILE LARGE COOKIE SHEET: This nonstick stainless steel baking pan is designed for commercial and family. The versatile baking sheet combo includes 3 different sizes of baking sheets which designed for high performance, 17.5 x 13 x 1 inch, 15.7 x 12 x 1 inch, and 12 x 9.5 x 1 inch.

5. Steamer / Steam Basket

Why it’s essential:
Steaming preserves nutrients, lets you cook greens gently, also great for veggie dumplings, buns, or making materials for things like seitan. Sometimes you want something lighter rather than boiling or baking everything.

Amazon Link

OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Steamer With Extendable Handle

About this item

- Removable handle extends and locks into position for filling and transporting and retracts to accommodate pot lids while steaming
- Perfect for use with a pressure cooker or multicooker
- Handle hole for fork keeps hands away from steam
- Steamer fits pots 8” in diameter and up
- 1 3/4” feet elevate Steamer above water and fold flat when not in use for compact storage

6. Tofu Press

Why it’s essential:
If tofu is part of your regular food rotation (which it often is in plant‑based diets), pressing tofu makes a huge texture difference. Without pressing, tofu is watery and doesn’t absorb marinades or crisp up well. A tofu press speeds that up and is less messy than stacking plates and weights.

Amazon Link

NOYA Adjustable Tofu Press

About this item

Fast, Evenly, No Crack: Simply twist the central dial, this self contained tofu presser with Strong and Intelligent stainless steel spring can easily squeeze out water in 10-30mins for better flavor and texture; It will give you an excellent EVEN press, and perfect crack-free tofu.
Openable U Drip Tray: EASY to place and move tofu to avoid crumbling tofu with patented openable U drip tray, the base of drip tray also keeps pressed tofu from bathing in old moisture.
Pour Spout: With the convenient pour spout on the top lid, you can easily pour out the pressed water without re-opening the lid to keep tofu block shapes.

7. Good Chef’s Knife + Cutting Board

Why it’s essential:
This might seem obvious, but high quality here saves so much time. Veggies, herbs, roots, large fruits—having a sharp, well balanced knife makes chopping faster, safer, more enjoyable. A sturdy cutting board (wood or bamboo or heavy plastic) gives a good working area.

Tips:

- - Keep your knife sharp
  - Have boards dedicated for strong flavors (onion, garlic) vs mild (fruits) so flavors don’t cross unless you want them
  - Large board gives room to work
  - Amazon Link

Tasty 5-Piece Cutlery & Cutting Board Set, High-Carbon Stainless Steel Knives

About This Item:

COMPLETE KITCHEN KNIFE SET: Includes an 8″ chef knife, 5″ utility knife, 3.5″ paring knife—each with blade guards—plus a 9.75″ x 13.75″ reversible cutting board and multipurpose shears for all your prep needs.
HIGH-CARBON STAINLESS STEEL: Precision-crafted knife blades stay sharper longer, delivering effortless slicing, dicing, and chopping with durability you can trust.
COMFORTABLE SOFT GRIP HANDLES: Designed for stability and control, the ergonomic handles provide a secure, non-slip grip for safe and comfortable cutting.
REVERSIBLE CUTTING BOARD: Versatile and durable, the dual-sided board offers ample space for chopping, slicing, and serving, making meal prep quick and efficient.

8. A Good Rice Cooker

If you cook rice, grains, oats, or want something that can basically “set it and forget it,” a rice cooker is one of those appliances that quietly does a lot of heavy lifting. Especially in a plant‑based kitchen, where whole grains are often in regular rotation, having rice that always turns out fluffy, perfectly cooked, and without you hovering over the stove is massively satisfying.

What to Look for in a Rice Cooker

- - Capacity – 3‑cup for one or two people, 8+ cups for families or meal prepping
  - Preset Functions – some cookers can handle oats, quinoa, brown rice, and even steam veggies
  - Keep Warm Function – super helpful for busy days
  - Easy to Clean – removable pot, non‑stick or ceramic interior
  - Material / Non‑Toxic Options – stainless steel or ceramic are healthier choices
  - Amazon Link

Aroma Housewares Aroma 6-cup

About this item

Perfectly prepares 2 to 6 cups of any variety of cooked rice
Simple, one-touch operation with automatic Keep-Warm
Great for soups, jambalaya, chili and so much more!
Full-view tempered glass lid
Easy-to-clean, nonstick removable inner pot
Includes Rice Measuring Cup and Serving Spatula

9. Silicone Spatulas / Wooden Spoons + Non‑Toxic Utensils Set

Why it’s essential:

- - Silicone spatulas are great for scraping smartly, folding batters, stirring nonstick (they won’t scratch).
  - Wooden spoons are great for heavy mixes, nonstick pans, etc.
  - Non‑toxic materials matter (no PFAS, PTFE, etc., especially for nonstick coatings).
  - Amazon Link

HOTEC Heat Resistant 600℉ Food Grade Silicone Rubber Spatula Set

About this item

100% made of Food Grade Silicone Material. Low Carbon and Environmentally Friendly Non-toxic, lead free Odourless. Smooth flexible thin edges, No scratches, No damage for your pots and pans , Climate Pledge Friendly ！
：Seamless one piece design compact and sturdy ，easy to clean ,and Non-Stick ,Soft Handle for better grip ,Noiseless & Harmless ,Perfect for baking ,cooking and mixing etc.,
Temperature Resistant -104℉~600℉(-40℃~315℃). The average heat resistance of a typical silicone spatula is between 400 to 600 degrees. Anything less isn’t recommended.

10. Nut / Plant‑Milk Maker (Optional, but very nice)

Why it can elevate things:
If you drink plant milks (almond, cashew, oat, etc.), having a machine that automates that is super helpful. Also can double as blender, juice maker, soup maker depending on model. Lets you avoid store‑bought versions with extra ingredients, control texture/flavor.

Amazon Link

Ellie’s Best Pro Quality Nut Milk Bag – Big 12″X12″ Commercial Grade – Reusable Almond Milk Bag & All Purpose Strainer

About this item

Strong food grade commercial nylon mesh; Multiple use straining bags; Smartly designed in response to customer requests for a bigger better quality bag; Wider opening; Rounded corners to eliminate waste and messy pouring; Easy to clean and fast air drying and mold free with nylon drawstring; Made with the best food grade nylon mesh; Perfect shape and large size with more surface area to squeeze
Long lasting high quality and commercial grade used by juice bars; The most popular multi use strainer bag available; No bpa; Triple stitched nylon seams; Easily holds up to daily use; Outlasts cheese cloth bags; You can squeeze it with both hands unlike dollar store bags

Tips for Choosing and Using Your Tools (So They Last & Work Great)

- 1. Buy gradually: Don’t feel like you need all 10 right away. Maybe pick the ones you’ll use most and add more later.
  2. Quality over quantity: One very good blender will beat several mediocre ones. Same for knives.
  3. Maintenance matters:
    - Cast iron needs seasoning and drying well.
    - Knives need sharpening.
    - Blender jars/wash regularly (especially preventing bacterial build up).
  4. Non‑toxic materials: If you care about chemicals, find tools without harmful coatings. For spatulas or pans, avoid PFAS/PTFE if possible.
  5. Space and storage: If your kitchen is small, pick tools thoughtfully. Some things that stack, are compact, or have multiple uses (e.g. a blender that also makes nut milk) can save space.

There you have it — 10 kitchen tools that can make your plant‑based cooking smoother, faster, and way more fun. You don’t need to buy everything at once. Start with one or two that make your life easier right now (maybe a good knife, a blender, or a rice cooker), and build your collection over time. Each of these tools helps you bring out the best in plants — and that’s what it’s all about.