Helpful Kitchen Tools

Helpful equipment when working with grains- or cooking in general!


*Do your research and then scour the thrift store and garage sales to build up your equipment



The pressure cooker is the original 'fast food' machine. The fast cooking action of pressure cooker can cut the cooking time to just 1/3 of the cooking time of conventional cooking methods, and that's time you can spend on other activities. Cheaper cuts of meat will be more tender and flavorful, and there is almost no loss of nutrients. Save $ by cooking up beans and grains and freezing them. How foods are cooked can have a big impact on their nutrient content. The best way to destroy vitamins is to cook your food in an open pot of boiling water. To retain the most nutrients possible, most experts recommend that you use as little water as possible and cook foods rapidly because many vitamins are sensitive to water, heat and air exposure (vitamin C, the B vitamins and folate in particular) and water used for cooking can dissolve and wash away water soluble vitamins, while the heat deteriorates them.

Many vitamins such as "B's" and C" are water soluble and the simple act of washing them takes away some of the vitamins. Vitamins "D" and "E" are fat soluble. Fat soluble vitamins are stored and metabolized with the fat in our bodies. Fat soluble vitamins are not as volatile as water soluble vitamins and are not as readily “cooked away.

The longer the cooking time and the higher the temperature, the worse it becomes. It is best to choose the cooking method that most optimizes and preserves the nutrients in food. In a study published by Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, researchers investigated effects of various means of cooking broccoli. Up to 97 percent of certain antioxidant compounds were destroyed by microwaving, while steaming the broccoli caused only 11 percent loss. Therefore, any cooking that minimizes the time, temperature, and water will help to preserve nutrients. Pressure cooking under steam is one of the methods best because it minimizes time and requires little water.

Two types-

Manual- stove top- Great to have if the electricity goes off, use on BQ side cooker or propane. Save fuel by cooking food in less time.

Electric- I have a NESCO brand. Delayed timer allows you to put food in and then have it be ready when you get home.

• Crock Pot- Longer cooking times, but less fuel than heating up the oven. Put your cereal in at night and it is ready in the morning. Start dinner at breakfast and it is ready when you get home.

• Roaster- I have a 6 quart roaster. Cooks much faster than a crock pot and gives food a great roasted flavor. Put in a frozen chicken and vegetables before church and it is ready when you get home.

• Rice cooker- (Use your pressure cooker- 14minutes) Delayed start. Cooks rice, brown or white to perfection every time.

• Pancake griddle- Allows you to cook 6-8 pancakes at a time.

• Food chopper- Use it to chop up vegetables in a hurry.

• Bosh Mixer (Or other) Use to mix bread, cakes, cookies and much more.

• Vita-Mix- High powdered blender that will even grind wheat.

• Wheat grinder-
Hand- in case the electricity goes out.- The larger the wheel the faster it will grind the wheat
Electric- Allows you to grind wheat and grains (some grind beans too.)

• Double enameled cast iron- Great for cooking in general. Allows you to have the benefits of

using cast iron, even when cooking acidy foods like tomatoes. Gives food a wounderful flavor.

• Fexible cutting board- Allow you to cut and then pour cut items into what ever you are making.

• Knives- A good set of knives goes a long way.