The raw food diet is becoming more and more popular, especially for vegans, thanks to its many benefits. A raw vegan diet can promote glowing skin, boosts energy and vitality, improves hydration, and develops your overall health.   

If you’re planning on embracing this new lifestyle, you have to ensure that your kitchen is well-equipped with everything you need as you transition to raw veganism. Although raw veganism focuses on not cooking your meals, you still need a few essentials for convenient food preparation. This article will provide you with a complete guide on what you need and how to equip your kitchen to serve you better.  

Raw Vegan Diet  

Before you start planning out your kitchen, you first need to understand what this new movement is about in order to embrace it. So, what is a raw vegan diet? Generally, raw veganism excludes all animal products in your daily meals. Veganism also excludes using animal products in other industries such as cosmetics and clothing.  

However, the raw veganism concept focuses on eating raw food, which means no form of cooking whatsoever to retain as many nutrients as possible. To avoid indigestion and possible food poisoning, some raw vegans heat up food using temperatures below 104–118°F (40–48°C) only.   

Those who practice raw veganism believe that this movement prevents diseases and keeps the body fit and strong. This diet includes fruits, vegetables, seeds, grains, different types of nuts, and legumes. People with health issues tend to embark more on raw veganism to improve their overall health.   

To prepare a vegan diet, most people opt for alternative methods such as blending, juicing, food dehydrating, and food processing.   

Three-Piece Knife Set  

The first kitchen essential every raw vegan should have in the kitchen is a three-piece knife set. Although you generally won’t do much cooking, you still need dependable knives for slicing, chopping, and other food preparation procedures. Most of the time, you’ll need to peel fruits and vegetables and prepare them in bite-size pieces.   

Having the best knives will provide you a hassle-free and convenient preparation time. Your kitchen should at least have a paring knife, a cleaver, and an all-purpose chef’s knife.   

Blender and/or Juicer  

If you’re a fan of smoothies and you love to mix various fresh fruits and vegetables to make one, then having a blender is definitely a must. Blenders can also refine your food items if you need a smooth consistency for a sauce or a dip. This powerful kitchen tool can also refine various types of nuts and seeds. Different brands offer a wide range of blenders, however, purchasing a high-powered one ensures durability and more extended use.   

Juicers are another essential when you want your freshly squeezed lemon or orange in the morning. This kitchen item can efficiently provide you fresh fruit and vegetable juices you can readily drink or add to your marinades and sauces. The best thing about this machine is, you won’t need to peel your fruit or vegetable beforehand. So, it’s a convenient and quick way to do the job.    

Cutting Boards  

Since you’ll need to do a lot of cutting and chopping, finding a high-quality cutting board is also necessary for a raw vegan kitchen. Cutting boards vary depending on material and cost. However, most cooks prefer wood cutting boards since they are more durable and come from natural sources. Whichever you prefer, choose a durable and high-quality one so you won’t need to change your cutting boards frequently.   

Food Dehydrator  

Raw vegans often utilize a food dehydrator for storage. It allows the food extended shelf life. However, dried food can also be used to improve the overall taste of some vegan dishes. If you love granola bars and seed crackers, purchasing a food dehydrator allows you to make your own recipes accordingly. Aside from that, food dehydrators can also provide just enough heat to give various food a smoother and more consistent texture.  

Glass Jars  

Since raw vegans often dehydrate food items, you’ll need glass jars for easy and more accessible storage. You can also use them for fermenting products and making your own vegan condiments and organic sauces. Glass jars are also versatile and generally tidy to look at, giving your kitchen a minimalist vibe. You can also label your jars for better organization.   

For more cooking guides and yummy recipes, check out the Cranberry Island Kitchen blog at cranberryislandkitchen.com.  

Conclusion  

Raw veganism generally improves your absorption of nutrients from different natural food sources, which significantly boosts your health and well-being. Transitioning to this new concept requires understanding and planning. With that, you also have to ensure you have everything handy in your kitchen. With all the food preparation going around, having the right set of tools means more convenience and lesser prep time.