Even with all the time in the world to meal prep — which nobody has — without the right tools, your hard work could be wasted. Make your cooking process easy, clean and enjoyable — and keep your made-up-meals fresh, convenient and ready to eat with these 10 best pieces of equipment.
POTS AND PANS
This may be obvious, but you’re going to need something to cook on when you get to roasting and heating all this good stuff!
RICE COOKER OR INSTANT POT
These handy gadgets make grains and proteins while you’re working on something else and they’re ready to eat when you’re ready to enjoy, without watching the pot boil.
FREEZER- AND OVEN-SAFE GLASS CONTAINERS
Search for a set that can be used in the oven, freezer or microwave — and can double as storage containers in the fridge as well. Fewer dishes to clean up means more time to cook, recover from your workout — or to spend with friends and family.
SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZED SHEET PANS
Sheet pans are important for roasting items, but also handy to lay out veggies and fruits to freeze individually before bagging, for single-pan meals or for freezer storage.
A FEW GOOD, SHARP KNIVES
A paring knife, vegetable knife and a chef’s knife are all great to have and each serves a different purpose. Pick up a sharpener while you’re at it to keep those babies sharp!
LUNCHBOX
For lunches! (In case your glass containers can’t double as a lunchbox, of course.)
GALLON- AND QUART-SIZED STORAGE BAGS
These are handy for freezer storage but also for making quick-grab baggies of snacks, chopped veggies and fruit or other ingredients. Be sure to look for freezer-safe bags or reusable eco-friendly versions if you’re using them to carry snacks with you.
SHARPIES
These pens will help to mark on plastic bags or name tape placed on jars. Label, label, label, then you’ll remember what’s in your fridge!
TAPE
Removable or washi tape is great for labeling ingredients, jars and baggies once your prep is through. Write the contents and the date on the container; you’re unlikely to let that gross homemade mayo experiment linger in the fridge too long.
IMMERSION OR HIGH-POWERED BLENDER
This comes in particularly handy when making smoothies, soups and condiments but is also great to have around for all sorts of purposes.
