\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.eatingwell.com\/thmb\/NsIkO7QtOJXDjwP-s942qipqtE0=\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)\/kitchen-tools-for-prepping-anti-inflammatory-meals-707bacfd6bae437bbc24737198420bb9.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
I struggle with chronic inflammation<\/a>, and it impacts every part of my routine, whether it\u2019s what I eat or my activity for the day. It\u2019s something to take seriously: According to the <\/a>National Library of Medicine’s resource, StatPearls<\/a>, we can attribute more than half of worldwide deaths to chronic inflammatory diseases.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n While there are so many aspects of our health that are out of our control, it\u2019s worth taking the time to make adjustments where you can. My favorite ones to make are the ones that become thoughtless, like ensuring your kitchen is equipped with healthy kitchen gear that you can use to make balanced meals for an anti-inflammatory diet<\/a>. After all, who wants to take all of that time planning a thoughtful dish, only to find that you don\u2019t have the tools you need to make it?\u00a0\n<\/p>\n To help you, we consulted with two of our dietitians, senior editor Jessica Ball<\/a>, M.S., RD, and senior editor Brierley Horton<\/a>, M.S., RD, for the tools they couldn\u2019t cook anti-inflammatory meals<\/a> without. So take your health seriously and don\u2019t go without these! I know I\u2019ll be taking their advice.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Amazon<\/p>\n <\/span> Cooking with cast-iron \u201climits your exposure to PFAs, which can stoke chronic inflammation,\u201d says Horton. Many nonstick pans contain PFAs or Teflon, a form of plastic. Grabbing an inexpensive skillet, like our favorite cast-iron pick<\/a> from Lodge, is an easy way to avoid those unnecessary materials while cooking a healthy meal. \u201cI have this skillet and use it all the time. I love to cook my salmon in it because I can get it nice and crispy on the stovetop and then finish it off in the oven. All of those omega-3s are so good for fending off chronic inflammation,\u201d Horton added.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Amazon<\/p>\n <\/span> \u201cGlass food storage containers are my saving grace,\u201d Horton says. \u201cIt cuts down on the BPA exposure that can stoke chronic inflammation.\u201d What are BPAs exactly? It\u2019s a chemical that\u2019s often associated with plastic containers and water bottles we use daily. The concern with BPAs is their impact on our hormones, which can impact our inflammation, as Horton notes. She\u2019s a big fan of these Pyrex containers (the plastic lid is BPA-free!) because of their durability and versatility. Use them to meal prep healthy grains, proteins and more.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Amazon<\/p>\n <\/span> \u201cA salad spinner is a necessity for me, especially in the summer when my garden is producing a lot of vegetables and I’m buying things from the farmers market that may have some dirt on them,\u201d says Ball. A whole foods-based, produce-heavy diet is excellent for inflammation<\/a> because of the antioxidants and fiber these ingredients contain, so it makes sense why you\u2019d need an easy way to cut down on prep time. Salad spinners<\/a> do just that! Use this compact version to rinse, wash and dry lettuce, berries and other seasonal ingredients in just a few minutes. \u201cBecause it makes everything easy to clean, I eat more of the season’s bounty,\u201d Ball adds.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Amazon<\/p>\n <\/span> \u201cSpices are packed with anti-inflammatory benefits, and buying them whole can help them stay fresh for longer,\u201d says Ball. \u201cI love this mortar and pestle for grinding up those spices.\u201d The durable and strong granite material of this $17 essential helps break down spices in a fuss-free way.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Amazon<\/p>\n <\/span> Horton agrees with Ball\u2019s advice on making produce a priority: \u201cYou need baking sheets<\/a> for making all of those colorful roasted vegetables that are so good for you!\u201d Roasted vegetables<\/a>, in particular, are one of our favorite ways to get all of the antioxidants and disease-fighting benefits because you can fit so much variety in one go. She loves the Nordic Ware baking sheets for the job because they\u2019re made to last, which is key for a cookware piece you\u2019ll use frequently. They also have great heat retention, so your ingredients can bake evenly with nice browning.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\n<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Amazon<\/p>\n <\/span> \u201cBlenders are great for making smoothies<\/a> with frozen wild blueberries<\/a>, which are huge for inflammation,\u201d Horton notes. Our favorite blender<\/a> of all time is this KitchenAid model, although we also love personal blenders<\/a> like this one<\/a> from Nutribullet. It\u2019s worth investing in a full-size upright blender if you ask us, though. They\u2019re versatile, and if you have our top pick, it\u2019s easy to use and incredibly powerful, so every ingredient you throw in it will whizz up smoothly.\u00a0\u00a0\n<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Amazon<\/p>\n <\/span> Perhaps we\u2019re saving the best for last! \u201cThis one may be too obvious, but I love having a sharp knife,\u201d Ball says. Having a good-quality knife<\/a> on hand makes the world of a difference in prep. A dull blade will never cut through that juicy heirloom tomato, the gigantic head of cabbage you\u2019re proud of growing or that huge squash from the market. Plus, worn-down knives are dangerous: they often lead to more cuts due to instability! Ball prefers the Cutco petite chef\u2019s knife, which is easy for her to control and comfortable to hold. \u201cIt’s critical for cooking well at home, whether it’s chopping up vegetables, fruits, meat, tofu or nuts.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Cast-Iron Skillet\u00a0 <\/span> <\/h2>\n
Lodge 10.25-Inch Cast-Iron Skillet\u00a0 <\/span> <\/h2>\n
\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Glass Containers\u00a0 <\/span> <\/h2>\n
Pyrex Simply Store 9-Piece Glass Container Set <\/span> <\/h2>\n
\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Salad Spinner\u00a0 <\/span> <\/h2>\n
Cuisinart Small Salad Spinner\u00a0 <\/span> <\/h2>\n
\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Mortar and Pestle\u00a0 <\/span> <\/h2>\n
Imusa Granite Mortar and Pestle Set\u00a0 <\/span> <\/h2>\n
\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Baking Sheets\u00a0 <\/span> <\/h2>\n
Nordic Ware Naturals Extra Large and Half Sheet Set <\/span> <\/h2>\n
\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Blender\u00a0 <\/span> <\/h2>\n
KitchenAid Variable Speed Blender\u00a0 <\/span> <\/h2>\n
\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Sharp Knife\u00a0 <\/span> <\/h2>\n
Cutco Petite Chef\u2019s Knife\u00a0 <\/span> <\/h2>\n
\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n