Do you find meal prepping stressful and healthy eating boring? Well, we’ve rounded up the best kitchen appliances that will help you whip up the tastiest healthy meals that will have you acing your health goals, all while saving you time and money in the long run.
We’ve all heard about how meal prepping is not only a time and money saver, but also a great way to stay on top of your health goals. But how many of us have successfully tried it, stuck to it for the long haul and reaped all the benefits? If you answered ‘me’, then major props to you (seriously, do you have any tips you’d like to share?).
However, if you haven’t been so successful with meal prepping or sticking to somewhat of a healthy meal plan, then that’s nothing to be ashamed about. We understand, eating healthy most of the time is hard work and requires a lot of preparation. But conquering it for the long haul doesn’t just require a lot of determination and consistently well-prepared grocery shops — it also requires the right kitchen appliances. You see, there are some appliances that can make your life a whole lot easier and healthy food taste 100 per cent better, ultimately making you more inclined to stick to your meal prepping routine.
However, before you start stressing about breaking your bank on more expensive cookware, we’ve come to the rescue. Here, we’ve rounded up the most useful (and budget-friendly) kitchen appliances that are well worth the investment if you’re determined to start eating right.
By using the below appliances, you can capture the flavour and nutrients of food without the need for unnecessary saturated fats or sodium. Plus, they’ll help you save a load of money you’d otherwise spend on takeaway, vending machine runs and pre-packaged supermarket meals.
Best overall kitchen appliance for healthy meals
Instant Pot Duo Nova Electric Multi-Use Pressure Cooker, $196.49 at Amazon
Best food processor for healthy meals
Ninja Precision Silver Food Processor BN650, $249 at Myer
Best zester/grater for healthy meals
Microplane Premium Zester, $27 at Amazon
Best food steamer for healthy meals
OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Steamer, $30.55 at Amazon
Best salad spinner for healthy meals
Cuisinart CTG-00-SAS Salad Spinner, $34.70 at Amazon
Best spiralizer for healthy meals
Brieftons 10-Blade Spiralizer, $121.03 at Amazon
Best air fryer for healthy meals
Healthy Choice from KG Electronics 7.1L Digital Air Fryer, $139 at Myer
Best blender for healthy meals
Nutribullet 900W Blender Megapack, $99 at Myer
Best knife set for healthy meals
Stanley Rogers Oval Metallic Champagne 6 Piece Knife Block, $199 at Myer
Best chopping board for healthy meals
Joseph Joseph Cut&Carve Plus, $39.95 at The Good Guys
Keep on reading for a rundown of each…
Best overall kitchen appliance for healthy meals
Instant Pot Duo Nova Electric Multi-Use Pressure Cooker, $196.49 at Amazon
If you’ve never heard of an Instant Pot, prepare to be wowed. Basically, all the different appliances required to pressure cook, slow cook, steam, saute, boil, and make yoghurt or rice are no longer needed if you own this one Instant Pot. Yep, just one appliance does it all and so much more. But the best bit? It’ll leave you food tastier than any other time you’ve cooked it the old fashioned way — and in half the time. This appliance features a 5.7L interior pot that can cook a meal big enough to feed six people, however, it also comes in a 3L version if you’re looking for something smaller or an 8L version for those wanting more.
Shop Now
Best food processor for healthy meals
Ninja Precision Silver Food Processor BN650, $249 at Myer
While most associate the brand Ninja with smoothie blenders, the brand also makes food processors — and absolutely deliciously perfect ones, too. Seriously, from minced meat to sauces, salsas, bars, doughs and healthy desserts, you can create anything with the Precision Food Processor. It’ll chop, mix, puree, slice and grate even the toughest ingredients with interchangeable food prep attachments and top-quality stainless steel blades. Inside the packaging, you’ll also find a recipe book so you’ll never be short of simple and healthy meal inspo.
Shop Now
Best zester/grater for healthy meals
Microplane Premium Zester, $27 at Amazon
We’ve said this once and we’ll say it again: adding zest to meals is one of the easiest and healthiest ways to add flavour to any meal. And ask any professional chef and they’ll tell you the original Microplane is the best you can get, which will also last you a lifetime. The sturdy zester features a high-quality photo-etching and surgical grade stainless steel grater that precisely cuts food without ripping or tearing. It also has anti-scratch rubber feet for stability so you can grate away with ease. While most would normally just use the Microplane to grate citrus or cheese, why not get creative and also grate spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and chillies into fresh ground powders?
Shop Now
Best food steamer for healthy meals
OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Steamer, $30.55 at Amazon
The thought of steamed food probably conjures up repressed memories of mushy hospital broccoli, sad-looking aeroplane string beans or your grandma’s overcooked cauliflower — all of which lack taste, texture and overall happiness. But steamed food doesn’t have to be boring at all and it can, in fact, spark joy. Simply investing in a proper steamer like this best-selling one from reputable brand OXO will have you eating more steamed – albeit healthier – food.
This genius appliance simply fits inside or atop any pot, pressure cooker or multicooker you already have on hand. It features removable handles that extend and lock into position for easy filling and transporting, which also retract to accommodate for pot lids while steaming. And when you don’t feel like steaming yet another batch of veggies, it’ll definitely come in handy for perfectly cooking dumplings or a cheeky creme brulee.
Shop Now
Best salad spinner for healthy meals
Cuisinart CTG-00-SAS Salad Spinner, $34.70 at Amazon
While salad spinners often get a bad rap for being a gimmicky appliance that simply takes up valuable kitchen space, they’re actually one of the most essential items you can own. Why? This popular Cuisinart salad spinner will rapidly dry your greens and fruit, it’ll reduce your time spent in the kitchen and if you tend to dry fresh food with paper towels, it’ll cut down on your waste. It features an incredibly easy turn knob, a nonskid base (so it doesn’t go flying during the drying process) and an opening on the top so you can literally wash and dry salad greens inside without even removing the lid.
Amazon’s 17k (and counting) positive reviews on this 4.7L salad spinner is enough to convince you why this should be on your shopping list.
One reviewer wrote: “A good sturdy product. Pour fresh water into the hole, spin and drain out of the same hole, a real good worker. I make lots of different salads and prep works takes a lot time so this is a real time saving gem in the kitchen.”
It’s also one of the sturdiest spinners you’ll find on the market, as another person noted: “I’ve used this salad spinner a number of times now and it is good. Built well, not afraid it’ll break while spinning, lid clicks on firmly, holds about two heads of chopped romaine hearts at a time. Very easy to clean and use.”
Shop Now
Best spiralizer for healthy meals
Brieftons 10-Blade Spiralizer, $121.03 at Amazon
You can turn everyday veggies into exciting meals in minutes with a spiralizer — think homemade curly chips to accompany your steak or fish, an appetising salad filled with an abundance of different shaped veggies, or noodles for your favourite pasta dish or stir fry. This spiralizer that boasts over 16.5k good ratings on Amazon alone literally has everything you need in the perfect pick. From the sturdiness of the machine itself to the 10 Japanese stainless steel blades it comes with (all of which can be stored on a cute little caddy that fits securely on the main body when not in use), we really can’t pinpoint any faults.
As one reviewer summed it up: “Super easy to use and a huge variety of different blade attachments. It’s permanently on the bench as I’ve found so many uses for it.”
Shop Now
Best air fryer for healthy meals
Healthy Choice from KG Electronics 7.1L Digital Air Fryer, $139 at Myer
Just like you, we love the news of a bargain air fryer from one of our favourite discount stores. The only problem with these air fryers is that more often than not, you’ll soon find they’re a short-term investment and can be quite small in size (not ideal if you’re wanting to batch cook meals or you’re not a single diner). Luckily, this air fryer from Healthy Choice covers all bases. Featuring a massive 7L interior, it has seven convenient pre-set cooking programs and fully digital touch controls. Simply pop your food in the fryer basket, set the time and temperature, and walk away. Can cooking get any easier? The short answer: no.
Shop Now
Best blender for healthy meals
Nutribullet 900W Blender Megapack, $99 at Myer
Look, if you’re on the search for an alternative to the globally renowned Nutribullet, let us stop you right there: just invest in the Nutribullet and you’ll have zero regrets. Built with a powerful 900W motor, this Nutribullet will extract the nutritional goodness from your fruit and veg, and comes with a milling blade so you can also blend dry ingredients like nuts, seeds, spices and coffee (yes, your very own ground coffee!). Whether it’s a protein-rich breakfast on the go or a pretty (and totally Instagram-worthy) weekend smoothie bowl, your Nutribullet will quickly become one of the most-used kitchen appliances that’ll have you sticking to your health goals for the long run.
Shop Now
Best knife set for healthy meals
Stanley Rogers Oval Metallic Champagne 6 Piece Knife Block, $199 at Myer
While the majority of quality knife sets will set you back quite a lot of money, this one from Stanley Rogers is affordable considering how long it’ll last you, not to mention it’s aesthetically pleasing, too. The beautiful metallic champagne block houses five essential knives – a paring knife, utility knife, bread knife, carving knife and cook’s knife – to cover all your cutting tasks in the kitchen.
Shop Now
Best chopping board for healthy meals
Joseph Joseph Cut&Carve Plus, $39.95 at The Good Guys
Contrary to popular opinion, all cutting boards aren’t created equal. You need more than just a piece of wood or plastic that will serve as your kitchen bench protector, which is where this nifty double-sided board from Joseph Joseph comes into play. On one side, you have a smooth surface for chopping veggies or bread, and on the other, you have petite spikes that hold meat in place, perfect for carving up a delicious roast. Plus, it even has easy-pour corners so you can simply pour out juices or crumbs straight into your sink or bin, and non-slip feet and soft-grip edges.
Shop Now
What are the healthiest cooking appliances?
Below are some of the healthiest cooking appliances dietitians swear by:
- Instant pot
- Salad spinner
- Food processor
- Blender
- Air fryer
- A good quality set of knives
- Steamer basket
- Zester/grater
- Spiralizer
What are some healthy ways to cook food?
The below cooking methods can capture the full flavour of foods and retain the nutrients without the need for any additional saturated fats or salt:
- Baking
- Grilling
- Poaching
- Braising
- Steaming
- Searing
- Air frying
How do you make healthy food taste good?
You don’t need to add copious amounts of butter, oil or salt to your meals in order to make them taste good. In fact, there are a plethora of healthier ingredients (dietitian-approved, too) that can be added to boost any food’s flavour profile. Below are some ideas:
- Fresh or dried herbs: add a handful of fresh herbs towards the end of the cooking process or pinches of dried herbs in the earlier stages. Just avoid using prepackaged seasoning mixes as these often contain a lot of salt.
- Dried vegetables and fruit: Vegetables and fruits like goji berries, shiitake mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, cranberries and chillies, have a more intense flavour when dried, so add these to your cooking for a flavour explosion.
- Vinegar and citrus juices: These are great when added during the final stages. Try vinegar on vegetables and citrus on fruit.
- Zest: Whether it’s lemon, lime, orange or grapefruit, get that zester out and use it to add a little zing to your meals.
- Hot peppers: These are available in jars from your local supermarket. All you have to do is remove the membranes and seeds, then finely chop the peppers.
- Pickles: Pickled vegetables like kimchi and sauerkraut not only add an abundance of taste to meals but they’re also gut-friendly.
Looking for more healthy kitchen appliances? Here’s our round-up of the best spiralizers that will help you fall in love with eating more veggies as well as the best salad spinners that will deliver you crispy, dry salad in seconds. Ready to shop? Check out our coupons page for all the latest and greatest deals.
Any products featured in this article are selected by our editors, who don’t play favourites. If you buy something, we may get a cut of the sale. Learn more.
Comments are closed.