“Abs are made in the kitchen.”
“You can’t out-train a bad diet.”
“Gotta eat big to get big.”
There’s no shortage of nutritional cliches in the fitness world. We get it. Eating right is a huge part of being fit. And if you care about your performance in the gym, chances are you spend a lot of time in the kitchen.
The great nutrition debate is often about what you eat versus how much you eat. I’d argue that how you prepare what you eat is a huge chunk of the game too.
If you can make delicious, healthy food in an efficient manner, you’ll have success in your dietary endeavors. And as someone who loves to cook, I’ve discovered that stocking your kitchen with the right tools and appliances greatly increases your chances of success.
This is far from an all-encompassing list, but here are 5 kitchen gadgets (some common, so not so common) that every fitness fanatic should have:
#1: The nicest non-stick frying pan you can afford
If you’re like most healthy eaters, you do most of your cooking on the stove top in a frying pan. That said, having a high-end non-stick frying pan is pretty much non-negotiable. Make like John Hammond and spare no expense.
You’ll want something with a non-stick surface that stands up to high heat. An aluminum body transfers heat a bit more evenly than stainless steel, but either one works. I like mine with sloped edges so it’s easier to toss things like onions and peppers, but a deep pan with a flat edge works well if you’re frying with oil. I also prefer a steel handle so I can go straight from the stove into the oven for baking or broiling.
I have a Cuisinart 14-inch and 10-inch pan. I like the 14 for making stir fry and larger dishes, while the 10 is perfect for eggs in the morning (or afternoon or night). The bottom line is you want something with a non-stick surface (Ever scraped dried egg off a frying pan? Gross.) large enough to cook large amounts of food evenly.
#2: The biggest baking sheet you can find
In the case of a baking sheet, we’re going for quantity over quality. Cooking food in bulk is one of the best ways to adhere to your nutrition plan, and a gigantic baking sheet helps tremendously.
I have a pair of 12×17 inch baking sheets that I use multiple times per week, almost always for chicken. To see how I make massive quantities of chicken in minimal time (while still managing to make it taste great), click here.
#3: Slow cooker
Low and slow isn’t just great for heavy metal. It’s also fantastic for cooking with as little hands-on time as possible.
A slow cooker is an absolute must for anyone who wants amazing flavor without having to hover over a pan or obsessively check the oven. What’s more, most slow cooker recipes involve just a few ingredients that can be thrown in together. Just set the temperature, peace out for 6-10 hours and come back with your appetite.
During grad school when I had tons of homework and studying to do every Sunday, I’d almost always make a big slow cooker meal that I let sit while I got work done. Here’s a big old slab of pork shoulder, which became pulled pork:
And one of my favorite dishes ever, Chicken Provencal (with arugula and olive tapenade):
You can get as fancy or as simple as you want with the slow cooker. If we’re talking bulk, things like soups, chilis and stews work best for high-protein, high-quantity dishes.
#4: Knife sharpener
Few things in the kitchen are as frustrating as trying to use a dull knife. Investing in a simple handheld knife sharpener can keep your knives working like new every time.
Some might say a high-end knife should take precedence over a sharper, but I’d argue that a sharp budget knife works better than a dull top-end knife any day.
I have an Accusharp sharpener and I sharpen each of my knives once a week (with 9 strokes per knife because that was my college baseball number – am I weird?). This makes chopping veggies and slicing proteins smooth and easy.
#5: Garlic mincer
The secret weapon in my kitchen is my garlic mincer. I put garlic on everything because it’s delicious and has some serious health benefits. But chopping garlic with a knife is a pain in the ass. This handheld mincer makes it easy with no knife needed. 
I use a Lee Valley garlic mincer that makes freshly-minced garlic is a simple 3-step process:
- Smash the garlic with the flat side of the mincer and remove peel
- Put the garlic in the mincer
- Twist back and forth until fully minced
Boom, fresh-minced garlic with no chopping.
Tools of the Trade
These five tools can greatly enhance your cooking (and eating) potential. If you can cook better-tasting food more efficiently, you’ll recover faster, gain more muscle and lose more fat. If you’re missing any of these gadgets, I highly suggest picking them up as soon as possible.