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Kitchen Tools: Little Helpers for Big Flavor
These are the simple tools I actually use, the ones that make low-sodium cooking easier and more joyful. Nothing fancy, just everyday helpers that turn “what can I even make now?” into kitchen fun.
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IMUSA Citrus Squeezer
Full transparency, I do buy organic lemon and lime juice in a glass jar for busy moments, because sometimes it is easier. But there is nothing like fresh-squeezed, and this little squeezer gets so much juice out of small citrus. That bright, fresh juice lifts dressings, teas, and just about anything. It is one of those small things that makes low-sodium food feel more alive.
Gerossi Stainless Steel Citrus Zester
When you are cooking without salt, brightness becomes your best friend, and one quick swipe of fresh citrus zest wakes up a whole dish. I keep this zester right by my cutting board. One important note: only zest from organic fruit, because the peel is exactly where pesticides concentrate, and you never want to grate those into your food. I stick to organic lemons and limes, give them a good wash, and zest away.
Ninja Master Prep Food Processor & Blender
This little machine is where so much of my kitchen fun happens. It both blends and processes, and it’s where my pickled creations come to life: my pickled habaneros, my pickled tricolored peppers and my different pickled gingers. I make my hummus in it too. It’s simple, sturdy and easy to clean, and it turns “let me try something” into “this tastes awesome” and “this is way better than the pickle aisle,” again and again. After processing, I spoon everything straight into glass jars instead of storing it in plastic.
TIP: For quick pickled ginger, process fresh ginger with rice vinegar (or lemon juice, stevia and ground sumac for a yummy tea add-in).
Misen Chef’s Knife, 8 Inch Blade
This is a great knife, and it cuts well. It’s my go-to for cutting cabbage and my other vegetables. My kitchen scissors handle the quick little cuts, and this knife takes on the big jobs. My Misen rarely needs sharpening, and I don’t own a sharpener on purpose. It’s an extra opportunity to visit my mom and use hers, and it’s always a joy and a blessing to see my parents and their cute little dog, Jack.
Beryler Mini Measuring Spoons Set
These tiny spoons solved a real little kitchen puzzle for me. I use a no-fillers organic stevia extract, and you only need about 1/32 teaspoon, so I needed a spoon small enough to fit down inside my converted spice jar. After some hunting, these fit just right. I did the measuring so you do not have to carry spoons to the store, and if you use a concentrated stevia like I do, they make the daily little scoop simple. I use them for my matcha too, and they’re handy any time you want to control exactly how much of a spice goes in.
Klein Tools Needle-Nose Pliers
These are my kitchen-only pair, much like kitchen scissors. I use them on dried shiitake mushrooms before they go into my soup. Sometimes the stems taste kind of weird, so I’d rather leave them out. You don’t have to buy pliers for this. You can also cut the stems off once the mushrooms have soaked up some moisture. But if you like a good tool, these pop those stems right off while they’re dry.
Nomatox Stainless Steel Funnel
High-quality organic spices are important to me, and I love to buy them in bulk because I shop by the price per ounce. Same with my Benson’s: I buy the 2 lb bag and refill my glass spice jar from it. I keep all my spices in glass spice jars, so I need a mess-free way to get them in there. This stainless steel funnel is plastic-free, which helps me avoid microplastics when I can, and it’s perfect because its 1-inch mouth fits right into my spice jars.
TIP: It works great for my daytime tea too. I pour my tea through it right into my stainless steel water bottle.
AOZITA Regular Mouth Mason Jar Lids
For years I tried different kinds of lids. The metal ones I bought in the past started to rust with all of our pickled creations, and rust is the last thing we want in there! While I’m not big on plastic, these just sit on top of my glass jars, and I know there’s no rust forming. They’ve been a really great solution. They come in a 12-pack and fit regular mouth mason jars.
TIP: The labels in my photo are ones I make by hand. I cover them with clear contact paper and stick them on with double-sided tape, so I can peel them off and wash the lids. The lids come plain white.
My Most-Used Kitchen Tool, from the Dollar Tree
Jot Kitchen Scissors
My kitchen scissors are my most-used kitchen tool, for sure. They’re the Jot brand, and I get them at the Dollar Tree. I use them every day, and they’re the easiest kitchen tool imaginable. When my avocado isn’t ripe enough, I cut it into cubes. Anytime I see something in my soup that needs to be smaller, I just cut it. For my salad, I cut the kale into smaller pieces and the stalks into bite-size amounts. Then I sandwich my other leaves and herbs together, fold them in half, cut them into strips, and cut them the other way, right over my soup, my dressing and my salad. In the photo, that’s mustard greens, radicchio, fennel and African blue basil. It’s such an amazing flavor boost, plus all the benefits of those extra herbs. It’s so beautiful to taste what GOD has put into these leaves.
TIP: Get a couple of kitchen-only pairs, and use them only for food. I always keep spares, so when one pair starts to wear down, another is in the drawer, ready to go.
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord JESUS, giving thanks to GOD the Father through HIM.”
— Colossians 3:17 NIV
Prayers, blessings and broccoli sprouts,
💛Emily
