Start meal prep
You said you would start meal prepping on Monday
What you actually need for start meal prep — 5 things to cover, each with a pick.
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Containers that all stack and share one lid size
This is the whole thing. Mismatched tubs are why the drawer is chaos and why prepped food does not get eaten.
- Check the lids are interchangeable across the set, and that they stack with the lids on
- Glass reheats better; plastic is lighter to carry
3 options — pick the one that fits, then tap through for the current price on Amazon.
Razab 24 Pc Airtight Glass Food Storage Containers - Glass Meal Prep Containers - Freezer to Oven Safe - Steam Release Valve BPA Free - Airtight Bento Boxes - Leak Proof (12 lids & 12 Containers)
Razab 30 PC Glass Food Storage Containers with Lids - Reusable Glass Meal Prep Containers for Lunch and Leftovers - Airtight & Leakproof Snap Locking Lids - Oven, Freezer, Microwave, Dishwasher Safe
Razab 35 Pc Set Glass Food Storage Containers with Lids - Meal Prep Airtight Bento Boxes BPA-Free 100% Leak Proof (15 lids,15 glass & 5 Plastic Sauce/Dip Containers)
A sheet pan or two
Most realistic weekday prep is roasted vegetables and a protein on a tray. A big flat pan is the single most used piece of kit.
- Measure your oven - the common mistake is a pan an inch too wide
- Heavier gauge does not warp, which the thin ones do
3 options — pick the one that fits, then tap through for the current price on Amazon.
TeamFar Baking Sheet Pan, Cookie Sheet Set of 2, 16" & 12.4" | Stainless Steel Baking Pan Tray Set, Non Toxic & Healthy, Mirror Finish & Rust Resistant, Easy Clean & Dishwasher Safe
TeamFar Stainless Steel Baking Sheet, 20" x 14" x 1" Large Baking Sheet Pan | Large Bakeware Set Cookie Sheets for Baking, Roasting, Cooking, Non Toxic, Healthy, Mirror Finish & Dishwasher Safe
Commercial Quality Baking Sheet Pan Set, Natural Aluminum Cookie Sheet, Umite Chef Warp Resistant Baker's Half Sheet Pan, ...
A decent chef's knife
Prep is an hour of chopping. A blunt knife makes that hour miserable and is also the more dangerous option.
- Check the length - eight inches suits most people
- Check whether it is dishwasher safe, because most good ones are not
3 options — pick the one that fits, then tap through for the current price on Amazon.
A kitchen scale
If any of the point of this is portions, guessing defeats it. A scale is also how batch recipes actually come out the same twice.
- Check it has a tare button so you can weigh into a bowl
- Check the maximum weight if you are batching
3 options — pick the one that fits, then tap through for the current price on Amazon.
Atogou Food Scale -33lb Digital Kitchen Scale for Food Ounces Grams | Full View LCD Display, Durable Stainless Steel Surface, for Cooking, Baking, Meal Prep Black
Etekcity Food Kitchen Scale, Digital Grams and Ounces, 11lb | Tare function, ideal for baking, weight loss, keto, meal pre...
Food Scale -33lb Digital Kitchen Scale for Food Ounces Grams Rechargeable | 304 Stainless Steel,Batteries and Type-C Charg...
Freezer bags or a labelling system
Half of prep should go in the freezer or it goes off. Unlabelled frozen food is food nobody eats.
- Check the bags are freezer-rated rather than only food-safe
- A marker that writes on frozen plastic is worth having
3 options — pick the one that fits, then tap through for the current price on Amazon.
500 Pcs Freezer Labels, 1 x 3 Inch Refrigerator Food Label Stickers, No Residue, Easy Peel Off, Water & Oil Resistant, Labels for Food, Freezer Bags, Jars, and Containers | No residue easy peel labels for freezer bags, jars, containers, and refrigerator food organization with durable adhesive
Removable Food Labels, 500 Count, 1 x 2 in, Blank Waterproof Stickers | No residue easy peel labels for freezer bags, jars, containers, and refrigerator food organization with durable adhesive
Freezer Labels, 300 Count, 2 Colors, 1 x 3 in, Food Date Stickers | No residue easy peel labels for freezer bags, jars, containers, and refrigerator food organization with durable adhesive