Small mixing bowls are not as useful in large scale meal prep. Most of your mixing bowls should be large. Plastic Mixing Bowls — If you cannot afford multiple stainless steel mixing bowls, then having a mix of cheap plastic mixing bowls is a good compromise. You cannot use these for hot food, but you can use it to store freshly chopped vegetables or cold raw meat.

Trust me, there is no such thing as having too many mixing bowls on hand. Cutting boards large — Extra-large cutting boards are incredibly helpful when doing large scale meal prep. When you are cutting up 20lbs of chicken or chopping 8 onions, you will appreciate the extra space.

Not all kitchen storage can handle such large cutting boards. Cutting Boards pack — Having a few extra normal sized cutting boards is a good back up.

Sauté Pan — This is a great all-purpose sauté pan. It is extra deep and perfect for cooking large volumes of food. Large Stock Pots — For large scale meal preps, I recommend at least a 16qt stock pot.

Sometimes a 12qt will work if you cook less than a few dozen meals at once. If you think you will to a large amount, purchase a 16qt or 20qt stock pot. I do not recommend purchasing stock pots that are much larger than 16qt or 20qt.

Quality tends to go down for extremely large pots and they become difficult to store and clean. Instead, find quality stockpots in the qt range and purchase multiple of them for large scale meal prep.

Folding Tables — There is no such thing as too much countertop space when doing large scale meal prep. Trust me, unless you have an incredibly large kitchen, you will run out of countertop space. I often need to set up extra folding tables during large scale meal preps.

Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons , Stainless Steel Measuring Cups — Buy high quality measuring spoons and cups that will last you a long time.

These are stainless steel, easy to clean, and can be thrown in the dishwasher. Cheap plastics will accumulate oils and are harder to clean in the middle of a large meal prep. The spoons are long and narrow, which is easier for scooping inside spice jars.

The cups have spouts, which helps avoid dripping on the sides. I own two sets of both spoons and cups because I often find myself running out of measuring spoons when I am cooking meals in a weekend. Pyrex Measuring Cups — Sometimes I need larger measuring cups. I prefer Pyrex because it is incredibly durable and easy to clean.

In particular, it helps with oily sauce mixes. The oil slides right out and washes right out in a breeze. Plastic measuring cups do not clean as easily as Pyrex. Invest in long term cooking equipment that will last you forever.

Ozeri Food Scale — A food scale is essential for many recipes. Food scales are also incredibly helpful for learning how to track calories. You should be able to eyeball how much 3oz of meat is.

And while I definitely cook without measuring… ALL. with a little of this and a little of that… Baking is a different story. To make sure you get these baking recipes right, put your measuring tools to work:. Gluten-Free Vegan Chocolate Brownie Waffles.

At first, you might think food scales are just for people who are really into baking, but hear me out. A digital food kitchen scale is actually super helpful for cooking in general. You can weigh out your ingredients for a recipe so you get everything just right.

But, even beyond that, one of the greatest benefits of a food scale when it comes to healthy eating is for portion control. It takes the guesswork out of portioning and helps you stay on track with your goals. Here are a few recipes that benefit from a food scale, but also be sure to give portioning a try!

Cheesecake Factory Chocolate Cheesecake. A high-quality blender is an essential kitchen tool for meal prep, especially for those who love smoothies. Investing in a high-powered blender is important because it can make a huge difference in the texture and consistency of your blends.

Try these recipes with a blender:. A spiralizer vegetable slicer is a great tool for a gluten-free or low-carb diet. Not only can you make delicious veggie noodles that are a healthy alternative to traditional pasta, but you can also spiralize other veggies like zucchini, sweet potato, and cucumber for salads or as a crunchy addition to wraps and sandwiches.

Spiralizing veggies also allows them to cook faster, making meal prep a breeze. Try out your spiralizer on these recipes:. Shrimp Marinara Zucchini Pasta. Silicone freezing trays are a total lifesaver when it comes to meal prep, especially for those of us who like to make smoothies or juices.

These trays are so versatile, and you can use them to freeze pretty much anything you want — from pureed fruits and veggies to homemade bone broth or broth-based soups. Use these trays for perfect smoothie meal prep:. They keep your meals fresh and ready to grab on the go. Steel containers are durable and can keep your meals hot or cold for longer periods of time.

Food processors can help you save so much time and energy in the kitchen. With a food processor, you can chop vegetables, shred cheese, make hummus, pesto, or nut butter, and even make your own energy balls or granola bars.

I use my food processor on recipes like these:. Superfood Raw Energy Bars With Cacao. Easy Chickpea Blondies With Macadamia. We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

Learn more. It's no secret that there are many benefits of meal prepping : It's a convenient way to save time, spend less money, and eat healthier throughout the week.

But when I started meal prepping more than five years ago, it was taking way too long to get all my food planned and ready ahead of time, and it became exhausting.

Since then, I've discovered plenty of kitchen gadgets that help me meal prep more efficiently. Some of my go-to items are storage solutions, including my favorite glass meal prep containers and Stasher's reusable silicone bags , as well as time-saving appliances and cookware like the Dash Rapid Egg Cooker and this microwavable cookware from Anyday.

And I highly recommend freezing extra portions of comfort food in Souper Cubes to save for those rainy days when you don't feel like cooking—the silicone molds are absolutely worth the hype. Since I write about products for a living, brands often send me samples to test. But all of the kitchen gadgets below are things I actually bought myself, so these are my tried-and-true recommendations.

Whether you're a long-time meal prepper or just testing the waters with make-ahead recipes , these 10 meal prep tools will save you so much time and energy.

Hard-boiled eggs are one of my go-to breakfasts, but making them on the stove involves a lot of guesswork. This compact appliance from Dash cooks up to 12 eggs at once and is incredibly easy to use—no need to wait for a pot of water to boil.

Just poke a small hole on the bottom of each egg with the included tool, then pour the proper amount of water into the tray it depends on the number of eggs and how well-done you want them.

Once the music goes off indicating they're ready, simply remove and place them in a bowl of ice water for perfectly cooked hard-boiled eggs every time. I use these reusable silicone bags for practically everything, whether that's storing leftover produce in the fridge like cucumber slices and avocado halves or taking snacks on the go.

I love that they come in plenty of fun colors and sizes, ranging from 4 ounces to a half-gallon. Plus, they can go in the dishwasher, microwave, and freezer. The Stasher storage bags might seem pricey at first, but they've probably saved me money since I don't need to regularly buy plastic sandwich bags.

I've always hated chopping onions and peppers into tiny pieces, so I used to buy pre-cut veggies at the grocery store. That habit got expensive pretty quickly, so finding this Oxo veggie chopper on Amazon was a game-changer. Now, all I need to do is cut the produce in half or in quarters, depending on the size so it fits on the metal grid and then push down.

The container on the bottom holds 2. It's pretty easy to clean by hand, but it's also dishwasher-safe. Bonus: Chopping onions with this tool doesn't make me cry. The silicone trays are basically molds that turn extra portions of food into meals I can freeze and save for a later date.

Once the food is frozen, I pop out the cubes and put them in a freezer-safe bag so I can reuse the trays. The only downside I've found is that they stain easily from red sauces, but since they stay out of sight in my freezer or cabinet, it doesn't really bother me.

I cook in my microwave more often than I'd like to admit, especially when it comes to vegetables. So when another Real Simple editor wrote about Anyday's microwavable cookware last summer, I immediately purchased two to try out.

Plus, according to reviewers, cleanup is simple. Save space in the kitchen when it comes to pasta and vegetable dishes and opt for this easy-to-use strainer. One Shop TODAY contributor said that since they "don't have to hold the colander or position it in the sink, I can strain most things with one hand," which makes the cooking process much more efficient.

Plus, it makes for one less dish to wash since it's dishwasher-safe. While the Angry Mama can't help you cook, it can certainly help you clean. Whether you steam veggies in the microwave or toss your meals in there, this will clear the leftover splatter in just seven minutes.

Simply fill it with water and vinegar and then wipe the microwave clean after it's done. Avocados are a great source of healthy fats, but they can be a pain to cut. This 3-in-1 tool with over 22, verified five-star ratings splits, pits and slices the avocado with a few swift movements, so you can get to topping your avocado toast or eating your guacamole faster.

They say every good meal starts with garlic and onion or is that just me? This clever gadget chops up to two cups of onions at once, without triggering the tears. The smaller grid can be used to mince garlic, but reviewers also love the tool for chopping tomatoes, celery, bell peppers and more.

This cutting board leaves little room for error. After you finish chopping and slicing, you can fold the sides inward to form a funnel that will make sure every last ingredient ends up in your pot or pan.

Not only does this TikTok-famous mash ingredients, but its sides can also be used as a spatula, separator and a strainer. It can hold up to eight different spices at once and even rotates, making it an accessible tool to have on your kitchen counter or even in your pantry.

Dash's Rapid Egg Cooker has made the rounds on the internet for its ability to make all kinds of egg recipes — from hard-boiled to omelets. It can steam up to seven eggs at once and has impressed over 9, verified five-star reviewers on Amazon.

Looking to cut carbs? This spiralizer can turn zucchini, squash and other vegetables right into noodles, so you can make healthier swaps when it comes to pasta dishes. Cleaning or washing it is also very easy.

One thing you might not have thought about when it comes to prep? Your morning fuel. This two-quart pitcher helps you make cold brew overnight, so you can pour it right into your cup and head out the door in the morning.

From soups and sauces to stews, you can make them all in big batches and freeze individual portions with these silicone cubes. They're great for anyone short on time during the week — just pop out a cube right into a bowl or plate and heat it up!

If popcorn is a popular snack in your home, might be the year you ditch the bags of butter. This affordable popper puts the ingredients in your hands, so you can make a fresh bowl of popcorn at home without the extra oils. The most tedious part about putting together a salad might be having to chop up the leaves.

With these tongs, you can slice up lettuce and drop them right into your bowl or Tupperware for a seamless meal prep. One verified reviewer wrote that they're perfect for making a quick lunch. What's a good meal without any flavoring?

Store all your spices in clear jars and stick your own labels on them to not only give your kitchen a bit of a visual refresh, but to also make it easy to find exactly what you need, when you need it — without having to dig through drawers and cabinets.

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IE 11 is not supported. When you are meal prepping, you need to think big and scalable. Sous vide cooking can scale to infinitely large spaces as you can use it for cooking inside a cooler or large tote. My record was cooking 50lbs of chicken simultaneously in a cooler thanks to a sous vide.

There is no way I could have done that efficiently with a crock pot. FoodSaver Vacuum Sealing System and FoodSaver Bags Quart Size — If you are thinking long term and saving money, then you should be thinking about big investments that saves money for food such as FoodSavers and sous vide cooking.

A FoodSaver is a vacuum sealer. It synergizes well with a sous vide for meal prep as it is necessary equipment. FoodSavers also work well when you find meat on sale.

If you know what meats you cook with often, purchase them in bulk when they are on sale. Vacuum seal them and freeze them until you are ready for a big meal prep. Their sizes are usually QT, which is way too small.

If you are new to meal prep and not sure how much you want to invest, then you can try a cheap crappy slow cooker to see if you enjoy that life style of slow cookers. Eventually though, you will probably find yourself in my shoes where you prefer to use a much larger slow cooker.

The Instant Pot 8QT is a smarter choice for large scale meal prep. Sizes do not get much larger than 8QT for slow cookers. It is an investment worth making if you want to large scale slow cook. I own two of these. The benefits of the Instant Pot are:.

The Instant Pot has many other functions available compared to typical slow cookers. A pressure cooker can cook meals at a much faster rate than traditional cooking methods. For example, a recipe that requires simmering for a few hours could be done in minutes in a pressure cooker. You only clean the single Instant Pot afterward since you can do all your cooking in one pot.

Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl — There is no such thing as too many mixing bowls when you are doing large scale meal prep. You will find yourself constantly needing temporary storage space for cooked and uncooked food.

These are the largest bowls available and can store hot food. Most mixing bowls are much smaller than this one. Small mixing bowls are not as useful in large scale meal prep. Most of your mixing bowls should be large.

Plastic Mixing Bowls — If you cannot afford multiple stainless steel mixing bowls, then having a mix of cheap plastic mixing bowls is a good compromise. You cannot use these for hot food, but you can use it to store freshly chopped vegetables or cold raw meat.

Trust me, there is no such thing as having too many mixing bowls on hand. Cutting boards large — Extra-large cutting boards are incredibly helpful when doing large scale meal prep.

When you are cutting up 20lbs of chicken or chopping 8 onions, you will appreciate the extra space. Not all kitchen storage can handle such large cutting boards. Cutting Boards pack — Having a few extra normal sized cutting boards is a good back up.

Sauté Pan — This is a great all-purpose sauté pan. It is extra deep and perfect for cooking large volumes of food. Large Stock Pots — For large scale meal preps, I recommend at least a 16qt stock pot. Sometimes a 12qt will work if you cook less than a few dozen meals at once. If you think you will to a large amount, purchase a 16qt or 20qt stock pot.

I do not recommend purchasing stock pots that are much larger than 16qt or 20qt. Quality tends to go down for extremely large pots and they become difficult to store and clean. Instead, find quality stockpots in the qt range and purchase multiple of them for large scale meal prep.

Folding Tables — There is no such thing as too much countertop space when doing large scale meal prep. Trust me, unless you have an incredibly large kitchen, you will run out of countertop space.

I often need to set up extra folding tables during large scale meal preps. Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons , Stainless Steel Measuring Cups — Buy high quality measuring spoons and cups that will last you a long time. These are stainless steel, easy to clean, and can be thrown in the dishwasher.

Cheap plastics will accumulate oils and are harder to clean in the middle of a large meal prep. The spoons are long and narrow, which is easier for scooping inside spice jars.

The cups have spouts, which helps avoid dripping on the sides. I own two sets of both spoons and cups because I often find myself running out of measuring spoons when I am cooking meals in a weekend. Pyrex Measuring Cups — Sometimes I need larger measuring cups.

Your compost bin is a meal prep tool. The hardest part can be navigating all the mediocre tools to find the most helpful items. The most basic and necessary meal prep tool you should own before starting your meal prep journey are airtight containers.

In my opinion, all containers should be completely airtight , made of glass , and they should be freezer, oven and dishwasher safe for maximum benefits. If your goal is to take individual meals to work or school, look for 3- or 4- cup containers.

I love these 2 Compartment Glass Meal Prep Containers affiliate link! If your goal is to prepare ingredients for future meals like a buffet style meal prep!

I always like Pyrex brand containers — they usually have sets at my local Target for a good price. In that post, I walk you through an easy progression of meal prep ideas and recipes. Pick one recipe or food item you know you like, but instead of eating it right away, use airtight containers to portion it out and store in the refrigerator for later.

Most foods will last up to 4 days in the refrigerator in airtight containers. And there you go, you just meal prepped! Now that you have a basic definition of meal prep and meal prep tools, I want to share my Top 5 Favorite Meal Prep Tools I Use Every Week!

What is it: First of all, I consider a sharp knife and a good cutting board to go hand in hand, since you should use a cutting board anytime you cut with sharp knife. A sharp knife and cutting board are absolutely the most important and versatile tools you can have in your kitchen.

To improve your knife skills and knowledge, I absolutely recommend this free resource from The New York Times on Basic Knife Skills. Tons of helpful videos and information! I use an Instant Pot Duo Plus 6 Qt affiliate link! How do you use it for meal prep: For me, the best part about the Instant Pot is the ability to set the cook time and walk away to get other stuff done.

You can use your Instant Pot to batch prep soups, proteins and even steam vegetables. What is it: Souper Cubes are food-grade silicone trays which allow you to freeze perfectly measured portions of food for later. They come in multiple sizes — the ones I use the most are the 1-Cup Souper Cubes Trays affiliate link!

and the 2-Cup Souper Cubes Trays affiliate link! How do you use it for meal prep: This meal prep tool is specifically made to freeze food for later.

You can freeze almost any leftovers, and Souper Cubes are the best tool to make it happen! The frozen cubes fit perfectly into a freezer gallon Ziploc bag.

What is it: Stasher Bags are another food-grade silicone tool I keep in my kitchen. Essentially, these food storage bags replace Ziploc plastic baggies and cut down on plastic waste.

I also give them as gifts during the holidays. That should show you how much I love them. Check out the massive collection on the Stasher Bag website or on Amazon affiliate link! How do you use it for meal prep: The main way I use my Stasher bags is to hold leftovers and replace Ziploc bags.

Anything from Cut produce to cheese to meatballs. I also use them to store foods in the freezer — sometimes I even store frozen cubes from my Souper cubes in the Stasher bags double meal prep tool win!

These larger Stasher Bags are also a great size for make-ahead meal kits, prepped for the fridge or freezer. What is it: While mason jars were originally meant for canning and preserving food, you can use them for meal prep and food storage too!

These glass jars have specially designed screw thread tops for the band which holds the steel lid in place. I also like to use mason jars to store snacks that could otherwise be crushed! Don't be playing around with old, dull knives!

That is one recipe for disaster! Having sharp knives will save you lots of time during prep! We recommend looking for a stainless steel set since they last longer! The Anolon knives are definitely next level so, if you're still working on your knife skills, try this set for about fifty bucks.

When you are creating meal preps based on your macros , it is important to measure your serving sizes! And for most of us who are following recipes during meal prep, measuring out the ingredients will be important too!

Have you ever just tossed in 'extra' chili flakes because you felt like it can we say TOO HOT!! A macro counters ' essential kitchen tool! Even though you can get away with measuring cups and spoons in most cases, for the most accuracy you will want a digital food scale.

These are also ideal for measuring out your proteins which do not easily fit into a measuring cup. This may seem obvious or to some not necessary , but having items such as a whisk, tongs, spatula, wooden spoon, silicon spoon, ladle, slotted spoon, can opener, etc.

will be very important in making your meal preps easier to create! From flipping meat to whisking eggs, to mixing muffin batter -- having a well-rounded set of utensils will have you prepared to make almost any recipe you find!

Have you ever tried flipping chicken with a spoon? We don't recommend it. Almost every recipe you make will involve some chopping, cutting, dicing, etc. so this tool should be within an arm's length at all times!

You can opt for plastic or wood. However, we recommend having one board for your fruits and vegetables and another for cutting meat to alleviate any cross contamination. Mixing bowls aren't just for mixing up the batter for baking recipes like baked oatmea l. They can be used for everything from making meatballs , marinating proteins, making dressings and even storing big bowls of salad greens for a quick grab and go lunch!

We like to use stainless steel or durable plastic set that comes with pieces. We chose the glass bowls because they are easy to clean, dishwasher safe, and look good on camera when you're making those tasty style food videos. From draining pasta to rinsing beans, fruits, vegetables this kitchen tool will make it super simple to eat fresh, clean produce!

Say goodbye to bad chemicals and hello to crisp rainbow veggies! You can opt for a stainless steel or plastic one. A grater is a meal preppers dream gadget!

It can allow you to add tons of flavor to any recipe with just a few swipes! Think lemon zest, shaved chocolate on top of oats, fresh nutmeg in meatloaf Or, go with the more traditional use and use it to grate cheese for your skillet recipe , shredded potatoes for your sausage lover's hashbrown casserole or zucchini to make a zoodles meal prep!

With this grater, you will have a multitude of sizes available to you at any time! PRO TIP: Use this grater to make cauliflower or broccoli rice in a hurry!

Every household, whether you cook or not should have a good set of baking dishes! You don't need a full set, but having a few sizes such as an 8x8, 9x5 loaf pan, a muffin pan, a 9in round cake pan and 13x9 inch on hand will allow you to create almost any recipe -- from baked french toast to stuffed cabbage.

We recommend going with a good non-stick set. Skillets are one of the most versatile stove top tools. With a bit of oil or fat you can cook almost everything in a skillet! From stir fry's to sauteed apples for overnight oats. It can all be done in a non-stick skillet!

Hands down this has to be our favorite tool! It can go from your stove stop straight into your oven to make creating one dish recipes a snap! And, less to clean up!

They can be a bit of an investment, but if you take good care they will last forever! You can find cheaper ones at places like HomeGoods and TJ Maxx. From making your favorite grains to making sauces, braising meats and creating delicious soups, stews and chili's these are a few kitchen tools you most definitely want to have on hand!

With a set of 3 saucepans and good 3 or 5 quart saute pans you can make almost anything for a week's worth of healthy non-salad lunches!

If you read our article on sheet pan recipes that will change your life then you know what we are talking about! Imagine tossing all of the ingredients you need for 5 meals onto one pan and baking them in less than 30 minutes!

Thank you sheet pans! You can also make things like homemade granola , sweet potato french fries and spaghetti squash on a sheet pan!

We recommend getting so you can make all your meals in less than 30 minutes almost!