I have been looking forward to sharing these for a very long time. After over eight years on YouTube and decades of cooking from scratch, I have tried my fair share of kitchen equipment.
I am a firm believer in spending money upfront to get good quality items that will last a lifetime. In my experience, it costs more money to buy multiple cheap items over the years than it does to buy one high-quality item once.
Below is a curated list of the tools, appliances, and gadgets that act as the workhorses of my kitchen.
The Heavy Lifters: Major Appliances
These are the machines that run almost daily in my home and save me incredible amounts of time.
KitchenAid Food Processor (with Dicing Blade):
This machine is indispensable, especially during preservation season. The specific attachment I love is the dicing blade. It saves me hours of chopping time.
Ankarsrum Mixer:
I did a lot of research before moving away from my standard mixer. This Swedish machine is an industrial-level workhorse. It can handle 4-5 loaves of bread dough with ease. It comes with a lid that seals the bowl perfectly, allowing you to rise the dough right in the mixer.
Vitamix Blender:
I get asked often if the expense is worth it. In my opinion? 100% yes. I use mine 4-5 times a week. It holds up to the industrial-level use required in a busy farmhouse kitchen.
Canning Essentials
If you have watched my channel, you know preservation is a huge part of my life. These are my top picks for processing food safely and efficiently.
Presto Digital Pressure Canner:
If stove-top pressure canning intimidates you, this is the machine to get. It holds the temperature consistently hot, making it a safe and user-friendly option for beginners.
All-American Pressure Canner (Model 910/915):
This is my stove-top favorite. I prefer the slightly shorter model (7 quarts) because it heats up and cools down much faster than the massive double-stack canners.
Steam Canner:
This heats up incredibly fast compared to a water bath canner because it uses much less water. However, for recipes with very long processing times (over 45 minutes), I still recommend a standard water bath to ensure the water doesn’t run dry.
Sourdough & Baking Must-Haves
I have developed a deep love for specific tools that make handling dough easier and cleaner. A lot of these are from Ballerina Farm.
Weck Jars: These wide-mouth jars are my favorite for maintaining a sourdough starter. They are easy to clean and easy to stir.
The Spurtle: This wooden tool is fantastic for stirring starter and scraping down the sides of jars.
Dough Whisk: If you bake bread, this is a game-changer for mixing heavy doughs without clogging up a standard balloon whisk.
Bench Scraper: This was a revelation for me. It makes cleaning flour and stuck-on dough off the countertops incredibly fast.
Sourdough Knife: A dedicated knife for slicing sourdough makes getting through that thick, crusty exterior much easier.
Cast Iron Favorites
Cooking on a wood cookstove (mine is named Martha!) requires heavy-duty cookware. Cast iron distributes heat evenly and makes food taste better.
Lodge Pans: My go-to brand for everyday frying pans.
Cornstick Pan: An antique find that makes crispy, individual cornbread sticks.
McClary Waffle Iron: An antique waffle iron that makes the crispiest, most delicious waffles you will ever eat.
Dutch Oven: Essential for baking sourdough bread and slow-roasting stews.
Small But Mighty Gadgets
Sometimes the smallest tools make the biggest difference in daily workflow. All of these can be found in my Amazon Storefront.
Olivia Oil Sprayer: I get asked about this constantly. It is a glass sprayer that never clogs and has held up for over a year of heavy use.
Collapsible Funnel: A great space-saver in the utensil drawer. (Bonus: In a pinch, it works as a plunger for a stubborn kitchen sink drain!)
Metal Measuring Cups: I prefer metal over plastic or glass because I can melt butter or coconut oil in them directly on the stove surface.
Jar Opener (“Pry-a-Lid”): Essential for breaking the seal on canning jars without damaging the lid.
Metal Canning Funnel: Look for one with a strainer attachment—it is incredibly useful when straining liquids or custards.
Specialty Items
All of these items are also in my Amazon Storefront.
Whynter Ice Cream Maker:
This is a compressor model, meaning you don’t have to freeze the bowl ahead of time. You can make batch after batch of ice cream in 60 minutes.
Steam Juicer:
This extracts juice using steam rather than cold pressing. It is fast and efficient for processing large fruit harvests.
Garlic Fermenter:
A specific tool for making black garlic. It takes about 12 days and has a strong odor, but the result is delicious.
Tortilla Press:
While designed for corn tortillas, I use this for flour tortillas too. It speeds up the flattening process significantly—I just finish them off with a quick roll of the pin.
Manual Food Mill (OMAC):
This hand-crank tool is 100% worth it if you are getting into food preservation. It mechanically removes skins and seeds from fruits and vegetables like tomatoes and apples, making sauces and purees incredibly smooth. Mine is an Italian-made one by the brand OMAC. I bought it years ago at Walmart, and even though the handle has fallen off, it still works perfectly!
A Note on The “Uniform”
I am far from a fashion influencer, but I do get asked about my hoodies! They are by the brand Volcom. I love the neckline and they are durable enough to wear until they fall apart.
Little Mountain Ranch Merch
Finally, a little pitch for our own creations. The Little Mountain Ranch Family Cookbook is back in stock, filled with old-fashioned, stick-to-your-ribs recipes. We also have our Sweet Traditions Tea Towels available for a limited time, inspired by my Grandma Maude and Grandma Pam’s cookie recipes. You can find both of those recipes on the blog and in the cookbook. Enjoy!