If you’re serious about staying committed to your health goals this year, then you want to make sure your kitchen is set up for success. The right cooking tools can assist with meal prep and cut down on the time you spend cooking. Some kitchen tech can help you make multiple dishes at once or serve as a shortcut when cooking. It’s also important to have basic tools, such as a good chef’s knife and storage containers, on hand.
Dietitians and nutritionists helped us narrow down the kitchen tools you should invest in if you’re serious about staying on track with your health goals in 2026. Having the right tools on hand will also help establish healthy habits, so you’re more likely to stick with them over time.
Pressure cooker
A pressure cooker is a useful tool to have in your kitchen if you’re short on time but still want readily available healthy meals. Abra Pappa, a licensed nutritionist, swears by her Instant Pot, saying, “This is a game-changer for busy home cooks because it allows you to make deeply flavorful, nutrient-dense soups, stews, beans and broths with minimal hands-on time.” Pappa recommends it to her clients who want healthy meals but don’t have the time to stand over the stove.
If you’re looking for a pressure cooker, these are our favorite Instant Pots.
Countertop air fryer
If you like fried foods but are trying to limit saturated fats, an air fryer is an appliance you’ll want to own. “The air fryer is one of the most practical tools for eating more vegetables consistently,” explains Pappa. “You can throw in fresh or frozen veggies, walk away and it automatically shuts off when they’re done — which is perfect for busy households.” What you end up with are perfectly roasted and crispy vegetables. Other foods you can prepare in the air fryer include meats, potatoes, hard-boiled eggs and even reheated leftover pizza.
“In my clinical work, the goal is always the same: reduce friction, shorten prep time and make healthy cooking feel easy and rewarding,” Pappa says. If you’re looking for air fryer options and don’t know where to begin, you can use our best air fryers list for guidance.
Cutting board
A solid cutting board is also key to effortlessly preparing your favorite health-conscious meals. You can pick from wood, plastic, stone or glass, depending on your preferences and needs. Wood and plastic tend to be the most popular options, but you also want to make sure your board is easy to clean.
Avoid cutting boards that aren’t stain-resistant and that have soft surfaces because a knife can penetrate them. Lindsey Schoenfeld, a registered dietitian and professional chef, relies on a dishwasher-safe cutting board. “The Epicurean Kitchen Series Cutting Board is lightweight, easy to store, protects your knife and can be cleaned in the dishwasher,” she says.
Chef’s knife
A chef’s knife can make or break your meal preparation. You want to invest in a quality chef’s knife because it makes your prep process more efficient. The last thing you want is a knife with a dull blade that leaves messy, uneven cuts in the food you’re chopping.
When choosing a chef’s knife, look for one that’s versatile enough to cut through meats, vegetables and herbs. Additionally, you want to research the different chef’s knives available and consider the blade, weight, handle and materials.
“I recommend the WüsthofClassic 8-Inch Chef’s Knife, but there are many to choose from,” Schoenfeld says. She advises choosing an eight-inch chef’s knife when shopping because “while it seems big, it’s efficient and still easy to maneuver for slicing and dicing.”
Food processor
A food processor is helpful for chopping, grating and cutting up everything from meat and cheese to vegetables and more. It’s a handy, smaller alternative if you don’t have the counter space for a large blender. Devon Golem, a registered dietitian at The Nuanced Nutritionist, says the food processor is a must-have to get vegetables into your meals. One of her favorite mixes includes processing carrots, celery and onion together to elevate dishes from chicken noodle soup to pasta.
”Thoroughly blend any veggie with a food processor to make savory fillings for lasagna, sauces, stews, soups or smoothies,” Golem recommends. Simplifying vegetable prep increases the chances of including these antioxidant- and fiber-rich foods in your diet. These are our top picks, if you’re interested in purchasing a food processor.
Garlic press
A garlic press will make prepping the base of your healthy meals easier. Instead of chopping and mincing garlic with a knife, a garlic press lets you crush it into a paste with a single squeeze.
Pappa regularly uses a garlic press in her kitchen. “This is one of my favorite ‘small but mighty’ tools,” she explains. “You don’t even need to peel the garlic — just press and go — which dramatically cuts down prep time and makes it far more likely people will actually cook with fresh garlic.” Pappa recommends the OXO Garlic Press for your cooking needs.
High-quality cookware
One of the best kitchen tools you can invest in is a decent cookware set. “One high-quality sauté pan will do more for your consistency in the kitchen than almost any gadget,” Pappa says. That’s because you’ll use it daily, and a solid cookware set will last you years. “They dramatically reduce friction around cooking — which is key for staying on track,” adds Pappa.
If you’re in the market for a set, you can start by checking out our favorite cookware sets.
Chef-grade blender
A chef-grade blender will make prep work for salsas, smoothies, batters or blending multiple foods together a breeze. A high-quality blender will last you years and is versatile for most recipes. Schoenfeld swears by her Vitamix for prepping healthy meals. “Its power makes healthy eating easier by effortlessly preparing smoothies, dressings, sauces and soups,” she says. Most store-bought items contain extra sodium, sugars and additives, but these foods can be easily made at home with fewer ingredients.
Schoenfeld also uses her Vitamix for other purposes. “Whether I need a smooth puree or chopped nuts — sometimes I skip my food processor — the Vitamix is] versatile enough for both.” Her favorite foods to make in the Vitamix include pestos, hummus, smoothies and soups.
If you want to invest in a chef-grade blender or similar, CNET tested and rated the best blenders available. There are plenty of options to choose from, whether you’ve been eyeing a Vitamix or prefer something more budget-friendly.
Measuring spoons
Having measuring spoons on hand will make cooking easier since you’ll have a way to measure ingredients for the recipes you’re preparing. Some people instinctively know how much to add of certain seasonings, but for those who don’t, measuring spoons take the guesswork out.
“To watch my salt intake but still have well-seasoned food, I add a quarter teaspoon at a time and limit myself to a teaspoon of salt when cooking six servings,” says Golem. Opt for stainless steel measuring spoons for a dishwasher-safe option.
Glass storage containers
Once you’re done meal-prepping, it’s important to have reliable storage to keep your food fresh in the fridge. Glass storage containers are the best option because they won’t break down into microplastics like plastic containers and are easy to clean.
Registered dietitian Shaira Daya’s favorite storage containers are the Pyrex glass food containers with lids. “I use the containers to hold marinades and pre-chopped ingredients, which help me save time on busy weeknights,” Daya explains.
The clear glass containers also reduce food waste because you can see what’s inside as soon as you open your fridge. If you’re limiting plastics in your kitchen to avoid microplastics, glass containers are a solid option that last for years.
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