A modern homestead can include modern conveniences. Although I love the simple life, I don’t want to go back to the old ways.
Homesteading my way doesn’t include off-grid living. I want to be more productive in the day by utilizing the modern technology of the day. That includes washer, dryer, deep freeze, refrigerator, dishwasher, and other large appliances.
But today, I want to talk about small, kitchen appliances. These appliances save my life when I am trying to make healthy, real food from scratch.
13 Fundamental Kitchen Appliances for the Homestead
1. Stand Mixer
My KitchenAid Mixer is great for baking and bread making. This appliance definitely stands the test of time and is a great addition to any real food kitchen.
2. Food Strainer
This Victorio Strainer helps me make applesauce and tomato sauce. You put the whole tomato or apple in the top and the strainer sorts the peels and seeds from the yummy, edible parts. It’s amazing!
3. Dehydrator
I got this Dehydro dehydrator last year around harvest time. I dried herbs and fruit in it. This year I would like to learn how to make fruit leather and other foods. Dehydrating is a great way to preserve food without refrigeration.
To learn more about dehydration, check out this post–> Food Preservation Series #1: Dehydrating Your Food.
4. Slow Cooker
I have been using a Slow Cooker for years to make dinner time manageable. Put food in the morning and forget about it until dinner time. Things like pulled pork, soups and beef stew are so amazing in the crock pot. Easy peasy!
5. Food Processor
I love making salsa with my garden harvest. The Food Processor makes this so much easier because it does almost all of the chopping for me. I also use it for chopping onions and other things for recipes. It’s a great tool to have in your real food kitchen.
6. Pressure Cooker/Canner
At harvest time, I have this Pressure Canner running constantly. I love canning my harvest and seeing all of that food lined up on the pantry shelves, ready for winter.
For more information on canning, check out this post –> Food Preservation Series #2: Canning Your Food.
Extras:
These next 3 on the list aren’t essentials, but they are nice to have. Anything to make our real food meals easier and more enjoyable!
7. Ice Cream Maker
I love making homemade ice cream in this Ice Cream Maker! It is so fun to mix candies and flavors together. Even better if you can make it with RAW milk and cream!
8. Instant Pot
I seriously love my Instant Pot. I love that I can put in frozen chicken and have it ready to eat in 30 minutes without having to monitor it or stand over the stove. This is the brand I use almost every day.
For more info on Instant Pot and my favorite recipes, check out this post –> 20 Instant Pot Recipes That Will Revolutionize The Way You Cook Dinner.
9. Single Serving Blender
This may seem frivolous when I already have a regular blender, but this single serve blender makes shakes and smoothies so easy! You put everything together you need in the blender, blend it, drink it, wash it out, and have it ready for the next time. Amazing!
Wish list:
And like everyone else, I have a wish list for other small appliances for the kitchen. These appliances would make my life SO MUCH EASIER. I know hard core homesteaders are into doing without on these kinds of things, but I figure if I can get more quality stuff done in less time and money, why not?
10. Grain Mill
There are several types of grain mills available these days. Here are a few that I would love to have:
An attachment to the Kitchen Aid.
A manual mill for emergency preparedness.
A counter model that can grind various types of grain.
11. Vacuum Sealer
A big part of my harvest storage is using the deep freeze. I would love to have a vacuum sealer to keep the harvest and meats fresh for an extended period of time. Here is the model I would love to have. It also has the attachment to seal dry goods in jars.
12. Meat Grinder
A meat grinder would be a valuable tool to have on the homestead. We raise rabbits and I would love to make ground rabbit for easier use.
I would be more likely to use the Kitchen Aid attachments. If you don’t have a Kitchen Aid, you might be interested in this grinder.
13. Freeze Dryer
This last one is really a pipe dream for our homestead. Freeze drying food is an awesome way to add to your food storage for extended storage. Freeze dried food can last for 20 years or more.
Doing this process at home is expensive to start, but if you can handle it I think it would be a great investment for the family. It would also be nice to know where our food came from that was freeze dried which isn’t so in the store bought food. The best brand I know of for home freeze dryers is Harvest Right. Check them out!
Serving our family real food is a priority in our home. Having these small kitchen appliances makes it quicker and easier, which is great for our busy lives. They are definitely worth the investment for long term use.
Do you have anything to add to this list? Let us know in the comments below. And if you found this post helpful, please share. Thanks!
