Whether you want to save money by bringing lunch to the office or you never have enough time during the week to cook dinner, prepare meals can save you time, help you shop smarter, make more money, and help you eat healthier.
Ask any dedicated meal prep and they’ll tell you the most important part of meal prep is planning. Allyson Spungina certified personal trainer, nutrition coach and National qualified NPC competitor, say, “Let’s have a plan! Map out your meal and snack ideas before grocery shopping or ordering online. Jessica Woo, who calls herself the Queen of Bento Boxes, agrees. “Habit is everything,” she says.
Part of planning that and creating a routine that works for you is investing in a set of pre-prepared food storage containers that fit your needs. We talked to meal prep experts about their favorite meal prep containers, plus other tips and tricks to turn you into a meal prep pro.
Glass containers like these are useful if you want a quick look at what’s inside. These aren’t partitioned, though, so they’re best suited to things like pasta or casseroles served individually. When storing ready-to-eat foods, Woo says you should “keep hot and cold items in separate containers to make it easier to reheat hot items.”
Experts agree on the importance of planning, but there are different approaches to meal preparation, and they stress that it’s not a one-size-fits-all recommendation. “I encourage people to think of meal preparation as an act of self-care rather than following rigid eating rules,” Cara Harb Street, a registered dietitian who focuses on intuitive eating. “One helpful trick I learned is to treat my meals like an assembly line rather than fully prepared individual meals,” says Harbstreet. The assembly line approach offers more options and flexibility.
“Mason jars are my favorite fridge food container,” says Kristen Hong, who documents her beautifully organized fridges and meal prep. Instagram. “Clear glass makes it easy to see what you have in the fridge, and the jars are stackable so you maximize vertical space.” She uses the 16-ounce size to store homemade dips and sauces, fresh herbs, and chopped produce to use in what she calls a “fridge salad bar.”
Another thing about Mason jars that Hong loves is that they come in a variety of sizes, so you can amass a collection to suit a variety of food preservation needs. She uses 32-ounce Mason jars for homemade soups and prepared salads, as well as for food. “This sized Mason jar is also great for storing dried beans and cereals in the dry pantry,” says Hong.
Foldable food containers are useful when you’re done eating but don’t want the bowl to take up too much space on your way home or in your cupboard. These leak-proof containers are freezer safe and are a good choice for those with limited space.
Refrigeration is an annoying part of meal preparation; These produce storage boxes help keep expensive fruits and vegetables fresh for longer.
Salads can make meal prep difficult, as you often don’t want to combine all the ingredients until you’re ready to eat. Try this leak-proof round box to prepare for your next meal, it even comes with plates and cups for salad-worthy salad dressings.
One problem with salads is that if you soak them for too long before eating, they turn into a sad, soggy mess. These BPA-free, leak-proof plastic condiment containers are great for keeping salad dressings and dressings separate from your meal until you’re ready to eat.
Spungin offers one final piece of advice for those new to meal prep: “Don’t. OK. Hungry!” She emphasized the importance of keep nutritious snacks on hand, which can help prevent poor food choices caused by hunger. Buy snacks in bulk and store individual portions in these eco-friendly boxes Stasher silicone storage bag will save money and cut down on packaging waste.
These three-compartment plastic containers are great for those who are preparing meals because you can break up your meals, microwave them, then put them in the dishwasher when you’re done.
Stainless steel bento boxes like this are great for your pocket and the environment. The eco-friendly food container comes with three removable compartments that you can swap around to plan your meals just the way you want them to.
We’ve got our eye on this BPA-free plastic set from Bentgo, not only because the carrying case is adorable, but they also include an optional compartment to form a fourth compartment. Customization is key for meal prep containers that will last you week to week.
Having a variety of different sized containers is always convenient. Pick up this 42 piece set from Rubbermaid, made with snaps that snap into the base so you don’t lose them.
Keeping meal-sized portions in the freezer can also keep you from getting bored. Kevin Curry, Founder Fit Men Cook, says, “The #1 tip I give to those who are just starting out with meal prep is that it does NOT have to be boring. Boring recipes make it much harder to stick to a meal prep routine.
These containers have built-in vents on the lid to avoid splashing too much water into the microwave while reheating your food.
Cooking in bulk and using these leak-proof, BPA-free meal prep containers for food storage will allow you to organize meals throughout the week with ease. “I choose a few protein sources like chicken and shrimp, carb sources like rice and sweet potatoes. [and] Spungin said.
These versatile freezer containers have it all: They’re microwave, dishwasher, and freezer safe, and leak-proof, BPA-free pop-tops with built-in vents let you put food in. Microwave with lid on to prevent messy splatters.
These leak-proof and freezer-safe round glass containers are ideal for storing homemade soups and stews in the freezer. This line of BPA-free food containers comes in sizes from 1 cup to 8 cups and interchangeable lids, so you can craft a set to suit your exact needs.
This planner makes meal prep simple. With a tearable shopping list and space for weekly meal planning, this pad sticks right into your fridge to help keep you on track.
Spungin assigns a day to cook, and to reduce stress, Spungin suggests scheduling meals for a day when you don’t have much else to do. “Not the extra? Pick two prep days,” she said. “For example, Sunday for the first half and Wednesday for the second half.”
Woo incorporated meal prep into his existing schedule. “I like to prepare meals when I’m cooking dinner or lunch,” she says. “Cook as if you were cooking for seven and you can freeze individual meals,” defrosts for a quick lunch or dinner.
Don’t let anyone tell you that meal prep can’t be delicious. Get this book by the author Chungah Rhee for some inspiration for your upcoming meals from breakfast to comfort food.
The idea of cooking all your meals at once can be quite intimidating. Author Cassy Joy Garcia wanted to help with that in a book that provides instructions on how to make batch cooking simple.
The experts all stress the importance of making sure your kitchen is stocked with everything you need for successful cooking. Spungin suggests investing in basic cookware, containers, measuring tools, seasonings, and cooking oils. “That way, all you need is food,” adds Curry. “And don’t forget a high quality cutting board and a chef’s knife!”
Check out our picks for best kitchen knife set and best cutting board if you are in the market for new supplies.
Woo encourages new meal preparers to start small. When you’re just getting started, she says to plan once a week “so you don’t get overwhelmed.” Likewise, she says new chefs should stick with simple recipes. “Get comfortable doing the basics,” she says. “Start with simple recipes that you feel comfortable cooking, and it will get easier over time.”
Timing can be a struggle for beginners or those who aren’t used to preparing multiple dishes at once, but a kitchen timer can solve both problems.
All the experts we spoke to loved the little gadgets to make meal prep easier. One way Woo makes things easy is by using a food cutter to cut multiple vegetables at once, whether cooked or preserved raw.
Curry also relies on small devices. “I can’t live without my Instant Pot Duo Plus and my Breville Smart Oven.” Spungin, too, swears by her Instant Pot as well as her air fryer, both of which she says save a lot of time. “Instant pots are great for cooking bulk foods like soups, peppers, stews, etc., and you can cook slowly while handling other parts of your preparation.”
Air fryer can also be a good choice if you’re looking to make your favorite dishes without excess oil or calories, as opposed to other cooking methods like deep frying.
Curry emphasizes the importance of learning to multitask in the kitchen. “When I prepare a meal, I have three, four or sometimes five things moving. I sweat. I’m dancing around the kitchen like I’m Remy from ‘Ratatouille’.” Preparing in this way not only saves him a lot of time, he says, but also makes meal prep a more engaging and enjoyable activity. Turning on your favorite music or podcast while you prepare can help time pass and make it fun. our reading review of the 5th generation Echo Dot here.
Curry has another suggestion to combat the boredom of meal prep and save time: “Don’t be afraid of leftovers. Get creative with them! One of my favorite things is experimenting with a batch of leftover rice to see what I can make quick, cheap, and delicious.” To avoid food waste, Harbstreet recommends clearly labeling prepared meals so you know how long you have to enjoy them.
