GoKawiilHaving the right tools in your kitchen will keep you on track with your health goals. Kathrin Ziegler/Getty Images
If you’ve set specific health goals for yourself this year, you need to make sure your kitchen is set up for success. Having the right cooking tools can make meal prep easier, which helps you stay on track. There is even some kitchen tech that can assist in making multiple dishes at once. A good chef’s knife and storage containers are also good to have on hand to make prep as quick as possible and for storing leftovers.
We spoke with dietitians and nutritionists to learn which kitchen tools you should invest in if you want to stay consistent with your goals. The right tools will help you 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.
Best Air Fryers of 2026: We Put 20 Models to the Test and Found the 7 Best See at CNET
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