Top Five Kitchen Tools Vegans Can't Live Without

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Some kitchen tools are really better than others, especially when it comes to vegan cooking.

If you've recently gone vegan, you may want purchase the following tools to make your life easier from the start. They allow you to make a range of recipes using fresh organic fruits, veggies, nuts and legumes.

5. A Mandolin
Make any kind of chip you desire with a mandolin. The device cuts veggies into thin slices which can be used for recipes or just as a healthy chip alternative. For example, cut a sweet potatoe into thin slices and bake with a spritz of oil and some sea salt. Once you use a mandolin, you'll be shocked you ever lived without one.

4. A rice steamer
A rice steamer is literally a time-saver as it allows you to easily set and forget your rice while you are making other foods in the kitchen. It's the ultimate multitasking tool. Most rice steamers also come with a veggie-steaming tray which can also make your life much simpler by preparing two foods at once.

3. A food processor
A no-brainer for vegans, a food processor allows you to chop nuts, make salsa, make hummus or any variety of foods that need quick chopping. We find food processors especially handy for chopping onions without tears.

2. A blender
There is some overlap with the blender and food processor, but we like to have a blender around specifically for smoothies. There are so many easy vegan smoothie recipes that use raw organic fruits and veggies, that you would never run out of options for breakfast. It's a must have for vegans, but especially for raw vegans.

1. A good set of knives
Many might think that a knife set would only be valuable to omnivores and meat eaters, but vegans do a lot of vegetable and fruit chopping. They need a variety of knives that will handle all sizes and shapes of foods, from a head of lettuce to an avocado. A full-knife set is a must, but if you can only purchase a few knivese get a good chopping knife and a paring knife.