Amy's Top 10 Plant-Based Cooking Essentials

A high-speed blender is a must in any plant-based kitchen, but some of the options available are extremely expensive and don't have the flexibility of the Nutribullet Rx. And this model, in particular, has a 1,700-watt motor (2.3 horsepower), which allows you to create recipes that require serious blending power. 

It shreds, blends, grinds and chops its way through a variety of grains, fruits and veggies. It also has a heating function which allows you to make things like soups and sauces and it comes with a 150-page hardbound cookbook with loads of wonderful and enjoyable recipes. 

There are even several pitcher sizes included, so it's very versatile and can be used for creating many different types of dishes.

Mason jars are extremely versatile, and, though most people tend to use them for canning, they're also good for storage. Anything from nuts and seeds to washed and chopped veggies for the week can fit into these jars. You can also use them as cups for your water or smoothies or even as flower vases!

Ball's wide-mouth jars make it easier to access the contents, as well as making them easier to clean. The lids and bands can be purchased separately when they need to be replaced, too, making it possible to keep these jars for a very long time. 

I like buying different sizes and using some for holding salad dressings, and others for meal prep contents. 

This may seem like a big purchase as it is a bit costly, but after getting one, you won't regret it! When meal prepping, it's irreplaceable. It helps save so much time and is a breeze to use. Plus, all the equipment is also well designed so cleanup is a breeze.

The food processor comes with an accessory box filled with additional attachments for shredding, grating and much more! The kit comes with two cup sizes: a 16-cup capacity main bowl and a 2.5-cup bowl. 

The larger one can be used for regular meals, but the smaller one is perfect for processing nuts to create nut butter or for recipes with fewer ingredients.

These mixing bowls are great for everything from preparing salads to neatly transferring strained nut milk to a bottle. They're lightweight and virtually unbreakable, made from BPA-free melamine, and they each have nonslip bases to keep them secure on the counter. 

They come in small, medium and large sizes and nest neatly into each other for easy storage. Plus, the spout and wide grip make them perfect for transferring liquids from the bowls to other containers. 

Each bowl is lightweight, which you'll likely appreciate if you've ever had to transfer heavy glass mixing bowls! I've had my Williams Sonoma bowls for years, and they still look as good as new.

You may not be a big citrus juice drinker, but lemon, orange, and lime juice are all great ingredients to incorporate in all sorts of recipes. And since it can be troublesome to squeeze the liquid out manually, this citrus juicer can come in handy. 

This particular model is even more efficient, as it comes with two self-reversing cones to ensure you extract the most amount of juice. It also has a feature that allows you to adjust the amount of pulp you want. 

The collection bucket has a pour spout, so you can avoid messes when transferring the juice to another container and the easy-to-read measurement markings are also helpful when preparing recipes.

As you move away from using processed oil in your cooking, you may find yourself adding more steamed veggies to your diet. To make the transition easier, a steamer basket can help. 

Sayfine's basket expands to fit most pot sizes and folds up neatly to half its larger size for easy storage. There's a central post "safety tool" that makes removal a breeze and keeps you from burning your hands. It's also dishwasher safe, for easy cleanup. 

Using this steamer for meal prep makes it so much easier to stay on track with healthy food choices, as you can steam large amounts of veggies at once and then store them for the week.

Zucchini noodles are great for transitioning to a plant-based diet. And while you could technically use your food processor to cut zoodles, this hand-held peeler makes the process so much simpler. 

The feel of the grip and the light pressure needed to cut perfect strips is a particular highlight of OXO's peeler, and the blade is sharp, so every strip comes out clean. 

When you're done, you can just toss it in the dishwasher for easy cleaning; and, because it's stainless steel, it won't rust. I have other OXO products, and I appreciate the way the company stands behind their products. Though there are more expensive peelers on the market, this one does the trick!

Whether you're buying organic or conventional produce, it's so important to make sure everything is thoroughly washed before consuming it. This salad spinner is one I've had for years, and I love it. It's not the fanciest on the market, but it definitely works well. 

Just place your spinner in the sink, add your produce to the basket, and let water flow over everything. Once the water has drained through the holes in the bottom, spin everything to dry. It's super easy to use and you can't beat the price!

Garlic is an amazing ingredient that can add wonderful flavor to many dishes. It can be a hassle to handle the raw bulbs, though, so that's where the Zyliss Garlic Press shines.

The press doesn't require you to peel the garlic ahead of time since the press separates the skin from the cloves. The hopper is also quite large, so you can press multiple pieces at once. It's also possible to press ginger in the device, although I've never tried to do that myself. 

The handle on the press is easy to operate and unlike other presses, it doesn't require a lot of muscle. It's also simple to clean; the press comes with its own built-in tool for cleaning, but it's also dishwasher safe. I love mincing a lot of garlic at one time and then freezing it for future use.

Since dairy can feel like an essential ingredient used in many recipes, eaten with cereal, or used for lattes, it can seem like a hard thing to remove from your diet. Of course, there are more and more non-dairy milk options on the market, but many contain gums and preservatives that can be worrying. 

To solve this issue, you can make your own milk alternatives using these nut milk bags. Ellie's Best is larger than most other bags on the market, so it's easy to prepare large batches all at once. 

It strains extremely well since the bag is tightly woven, and all the pulp from the crushed nuts is retained in the bag. And despite using the bags daily, they haven't shown any signs of wear. It's a definite must for making inexpensive, simple, and healthy plant-based milk.