We’re all about healthy cooking, but it’s not all about technique. Sometimes the kitchen tools you use can help you more easily create healthy delicious meals. Here are three health-promoting kitchen tools we love.
1. Herb Saver
Fresh herbs abound in the summer, but once they’re plucked from the garden or taken home from the farmers’ market, it’s hard to keep them from withering away in the refrigerator. That’s why we like the Herb-Savor from Prepara. Its sturdy plastic exterior keeps herbs protected from the harsh environment of the fridge, while a small water well at the bottom keeps them hydrated.
Herbs stay fresh for up to three weeks and it even keeps asparagus crisp. The Herb-Savor is available for $29.95 at prepara.com along with products like the Trio—a vegetable peeler that includes three exchangeable blades designed to peel and even julienne fruits and vegetables. Prepara products are also available at Bed Bath & Beyond and Sur la Table.
The herb saver comes in handy for recipes like Basic Basil Pesto, Cilantro Pesto and this Cilantro-Lime Vinaigrette:
1 cup packed cilantro
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup lime juice
1/4 cup orange juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
Pinch of minced garlic
Puree cilantro, olive oil, lime juice, orange juice, salt, pepper and garlic in a blender or food processor until smooth.
2. Citrus Juicers
We just have to smile every time we use these colorful, easy-to-use, hand-held Citrus Juicers by Amco Houseworks (surlatable.com, $12.95-$15.95). Simply slice an orange, lemon or lime in half, place it into the durable, enamel-coated gadget and squeeze.
The tool turns the citrus half inside out, neatly extracts all the juice and leaves the pulp and seeds behind. Cleanup is easy; these are dishwasher-safe with a finish that won’t rust.
Use the juice in recipes like Light Lemon Sauce with Herbs, Orange-Miso Sauce and when making Latin Limeade (stir together 1 cup lime juice, 4 cups crushed ice, 4 tablespoons dark brown sugar, 2 cups cold water).
3. Color-Coded Cutting Boards
Illness from food-borne bacteria, such as E. coli and salmonella, can be spread when infected uncooked foods come in contact with cooked or ready-to-eat foods, such as fruits and raw vegetables. To help minimize cross-contamination in professional and home kitchens alike, it’s a good idea to have separate cutting boards designated for fresh produce, uncooked meats, seafood and poultry.
Having a set of different colored cutting boards on hand makes it easy to keep straight which is which: you can use a red board for meat, a green board for fruits and veggies, a blue board for cooked foods, etc. We especially like the USDA-approved, stain- and warp-resistant, dishwasher-safe, long-lasting plastic boards from The Cutting Board Company.
The 6-board set with drying stand pictured here is available for $98 (cuttingboardcompany.com) and comes complete with a color-coded guide to help you remember what board to use for what foods. The cutting boards are also available individually starting at $11.35 each.
Related Links from EatingWell:
- Find more recipes that use fresh, summer produce.
- Find all the healthy cooking techniques you’ll ever need to know!
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