Life

24 Essentials Every Vegan Needs In Their Kitchen

by Rachel Krantz

More and more people are coming around to the idea that a vegan diet is one of the best things you can do for your health, the environment, and — of course — the animals. If you're hopping on board the plant-based diet ship and are wondering where to buy vegan kitchen tools that you absolutely need in your own home, there are so many out there to choose from. And if you happen to have a loved one for whom you'd like to buy a vegan gift for this 2016 holiday season. We vegans love our food, so whether you're stocking up on the necessities of a plant-based diet or getting a cute present for your favorite animal lover, these are the best picks of the bunch.

Whether it's the necessities for sprinkling nooch on tasty stir fries, making nut milk for those soy lattes, juicing delicious veggies, or making surprisingly delicious dairy-free ice cream, there's sure to be something on this list you (or your vegan friend!) will love and use in the kitchen. On top of aiming for a variety of price points in this guide, I'm primarily recommending items I've either tried — or really want myself — as a vegan for my kitchen. So, without further fermentation (hyuck hyuck) here are 25 vegan kitchen gift ideas for 2016 any foodie, vegan or not, would love.

1. A Reminder That A Lil' Veganism Never Hurts

A Little Veganism Never Hurt Anybody Mason Jar, $9, Herbivore Clothing

Nope, it never did! You can use these adorable jars for storing any of the vegan yogurt, pickles, kombucha, or nut milk you make in the fridge.

2. The Ultimate Blender & Smart Scale

Vitamix 7500 Blender, $528.95, Amazon

If you're vegan, you either have a Vitamix, or you want one. This is the ultimate splurge for the special vegan in your life. Not only will they be able to make smoothies with this — they can also make nut milks, soup, and even flours. Pair it with Vitamix's new Perfect Blend Smart Scale & Recipe App, and they will be able to access more than 500 step-by-step, interactive recipes, perfectly measure their creations, and even sync the app with their fitness tracker.

3. A Cute Little Nooch Jar

Nooch Jar, $48, JeanetteZeis on Etsy

Every vegan knows that nutritional yeast is everything, so give them a classy, adorable handmade jar to hold your nooch in! I mean, this is just the cutest.

4. Even Your Juicer Can Be Rose Gold

Hurom Rose Gold H-AA Slow Juicer, $445, Amazon

One of the best juicers on the market, Hurom's newest H-AA slow juicer ensures you get to keep all the nutrients in your fruits and veggies, and is easier to clean than most other models out there. Even better? It also doubles as an n'ice cream maker! With a 10-year motor warranty, this is truly a gift that keeps on giving.

5. A Monthly Spice Subscription For Consistently Great Add-Ons

Raw Spice Bar's Monthly Subscription, $8 per month, Raw Spice Bar

You've probably heard those nightmare stories about ground-up bugs (and wheat, if you are gluten-free as well) being found in many commercial spices. Well, you can ensure your spices are pure with Raw Spice Bar's monthly subscription service, which for only $8 a month will deliver original, fresh new spices to your door. For your inner foodie who loves to cook, this is the gift of something that will inspire new dishes every month.

6. A Better Ice Cream Alternative

N'Ice Cream Cookbook, $17, Amazon

From Saveur Award-winning Finnish author Virpi Mikkonen and Tuulia Talvio, this book is filled with over 80 mouth-watering vegan recipes that actually seem doable — with or without an ice cream maker. I can't wait to try the unique licorice and tamari ice cream recipes, but there are also more straight-forward classics like mint-chip and vanilla too.

7. A Fully-Automatic Espresso Machine For Easy Mornings

Krups EA81 Pisa Fully Automatic Espresso Machine, $559.95, Amazon

This espresso machine grinds beans right before brewing for the ultimate in freshness. It also features an LCD screen and easy cleaning, and a relatively reasonable price-point for an advanced espresso machine. Give this to a vegan loved one, and you'll be giving the gift of never having to pay 50 cents extra for soy or almond milk in their morning latte — they can make it themselves! (Vegan pro tip: if you want a soy latte that doesn't have that weird aftertaste, look for an unsweetened brand without added vitamins. It really makes all the difference.)

8. A Handmade Wooden Memo Board With A Thoughtful Message

Handmade Wood Vegan Memo Board, $19.06, MunkyMake /Etsy

Write your grocery list on this affordable chalkboard that says it all.

9. A Nut Milk Maker For Delicious Dairy Alternatives

Soyajoy Soymilk Maker, $128.99, Amazon

If you love to DIY and buy from bulk bins, you need your very own nut milk maker! This one has five automatic, one-button functions for fully cooked milk, soup, and raw vegan milk from beans, grains, and nuts. If you've never had freshly-made nut milk, it really is a whole different universe of deliciousness than the store-bought stuff, which has way more added water.

10. A Bottle Of Vegan Wine For Guilt-Free Indulgent Evenings

Santa Margherita Chianti Classico, $21.99, Wine.com

Did you know not all wine is vegan? Luckily, Santa Margherita has made it their mission to provide high-quality vegan wines. Their Chianti makes a great host gift. It looks and tastes fancy, but the price is totally affordable.

11. A Fancy Stockpot For Vegan Soup

All-Clad BD55807 D5 Stockpot with Lid Cookware, 7-Quart, $349.95, Amazon

A stockpot might seem like a strange gift, but it really is one that keeps on giving. Give it, and your loved one will think of you every time they make a delicious vegan stew, and they will hold onto this high-quality stainless steel All-Clad stockpot for years and years to come.

12. Cher Has Got Something To Say On Your Morning Coffee

As If Mug, $9.24, PorcelainSouls /Etsy

Alicia Silverstone is one of the best-known vegan celebrities, so this mug is really a joke inside a joke for a vegan lover of all things '90s.

13. A Vegan Fridge Magnet

CafePress OMG a Vegan Rectangle Magnet, $2.95, Amazon

When you're a vegan, this is one of the most common and silly things you hear (it goes hand in hand with "but where do you get your protein?"). Pop this magnet in your home and smile smugly every time you open up your well-stocked fridge.

14. Everything You Could Ever Need To Blend, Blend, Blend

BELLA Rocket Extract PRO Plus Blender, $44.26, Amazon

If the Vitamix is out of your price range but you still want to give the gift of smoothie, consider the more affordable BELLA Rocket Extract PRO Plus blender, which comes with to-go cups and will help your healthy vegan friend create smoothies every morning before they head to work.

15. "I Don't Eat Anything That Poops" Apron

TooLoud I Don't Eat Anything That Poops Adult Apron, $26.95, Amazon

This apron speaks for itself.

16. Unbreakable Wine Glasses

symGLASS 12-Ounce Unbreakable Stemless Wine Glass, Set of 4, $39.99, Amazon

These glasses, developed for bartenders, are made to feel like glass, but they're actually unbreakable. As a vegan, I know I love to throw dinner parties to show that the lifestyle is an abundant one — and my guests have drunkenly broken more than a few wine glasses along the way. These symGLASS stemless wine glasses ensure that now they won't be able to, without sacrificing that expensive, heavy feel.

17. A Kombucha Brewing Kit For Healthy Hippie Habits

Kombucha Brewing Kit with Organic Kombucha Scoby, $54, Amazon

Sure, it's a vegan stereotype that we're all hippie kombucha drinkers — but it's also probably true. I know I'd be excited to receive a brewing kit so that I can stop paying $5 a bottle whenever a craving strikes.

18. The Compact Dehydrator You Never Knew You Needed

Excalibur EPD60W EZDRY 6 Tray Dehydrator, $39.95, Amazon

Vegans are all about dried fruit and veggies as snacks, so give yourself a dehydrator so you can make your own with produce that might otherwise go bad! While there are more expensive ones on the market, this one from Excalibur is well-reviewed, compact, and works wonderfully!

19. A Total Wok Gift Set

Imusa 7 Piece Wok Gift Set, $36.99, Amazon

We vegans love a good stir-fry, so give yourself the gift a new, high-quality wok, complete with all the utensils from Imusa. It's the perfect excuse to throw a dinner party with all your fellow vegans (or vegan-curious friends).

20. A Photo Of An Animal You Saved For The Fridge

Farm Sanctuary Adopt A Farm Animal Program, Price Varies, Farm Sanctuary

If you or your friend is #veganfortheanimals, this is the best gift you can get. By donating to an incredible organization like Farm Sanctuary, you can sponsor an animal and save a life in your vegan friend's name (or your own). Upon receiving the donation, Farm Sanctuary will send information about the animal you saved to your friend, including their story, a photograph, and details about their year-round visitation rights. Amazing, right?

21. A High-Tech, Loose-Leaf Tea Kettle

KRUPS FL7018 Personal Tea Kettle, $36.95, Amazon

If you're a big tea enthusiast, this electric kettle from KRUPS allows you to brew loose leaf tea easily and quickly, infusing perfectly.

22. An Indestructible iPad Case For Kitchen Usage

Catalyst Case for iPad Mini 4, $94.95, Amazon

As a vegan, I'm always using Pinterest for recipes — which means I'm also getting my dirty paws all over my iPad and nearly destroying it. Enter the Catalyst Case, which is designed to be kid-proof — but is also kitchen-mess proof. If you love to to cook off the iPad, this will ensure you don't break it.

23. "I Love You" Mug

Human I Love You From My Head Tomatoes, $17.99, Amazon

There are just way too many adorable mugs vegans would love out there, so I also have to include this one. It's such a sweet message for a loved one who eats their veggies. Or rather, their fruits.

24. Something To Hold Your Morning Milk Alternative

Alt Milk Mug, $24, JeanetteZeis /Etsy

These are just too cute. Like the nooch jars, these beautiful mugs will be a great inside (vegan) joke when they make their alt-milk lattes at home.

Bustle may receive a portion of sales from products purchased from this article, which was created independently from Bustle's editorial and sales departments.

Images: Clem Onojeghuo/Unsplash (1), Herbivore Clothing (1), Amazon (16), Etsy (4), Raw Spice Bar (1), Wine.com (1), Farm Sanctuary (1).