One of the biggest questions I always get is what are the 10 best meal prep tools. That’s a very logical question as with starting anything new, knowing what to have on hand is always the hardest.
As a beginner, you definitely wouldn’t want to invest in kitchen tools or gadgets that will end up not getting very much use at all. However, having the right tools in place will allow you to be more organized and set you up for success while eliminating stress and frustration down the line.
I adore kitchen tools that are multifunctional, provide double duty and can be used to save time in the kitchen. Through the years I’ve learned that not all kitchen tools are created equal. Some can be a huge waste of money while others are truly worth the investment.
TOP 10 BEST MEAL PREP TOOLS
SMALL APPLIANCES
- Blender – One of my favorite tools to use for prep is a blender. I currently use the Ninja blender that has multiple attachments. It can blend, chop and puree all from one base. Blenders perform a variety of functions like blending smoothies, pureeing soup, chopping and dicing vegetables. Definitely an investment piece but worth it in my opinion.
- Multifunction Cooker – I LOVE slow cookers, but I also love a good rice cooker as well as a pressure cooker. What’s great is that when you have one appliance that can do it all. I’m in absolute love with my Instapot as it’s all of those in one and so much more. I find myself using it weekly for my meal preps as it takes all the guesswork out of cooking. Talk about a workhorse in the kitchen.
COOKWARE/BAKEWARE
- Pans – having a variety of pans is a must for meal prep. From sheet pans, roasting pans, square pans. They are a great use for baking, roasting, broiling any of your food. I also have muffin tins in my bakeware collection as well. I promise a muffin tin can be used for more than just cupcakes! Think egg white muffins, french toast muffins, shepherds pie and the list goes on. It is one of my most used tools in the kitchen hands down.
- Skillets – Both non-stick and cast iron skillets come in handy during meal prep. Non-stick skillets are a must as it helps with easy clean up after you’ve cooked your meals. I also love using a cast iron skillet for my proteins (chicken, flank steak, turkey) as it gives a nice sear and crust on the meat. For both skillets you will want to choose ones that can transfer from the stove top to the oven seamlessly.
- Cutting Board – So many cutting boards, not nearly enough time! Cutting boards are another great staple to have in your meal prep arsenal. Having a few different kinds on hand will be helpful for various tasks. I use larger wood cutting boards for chopping my onions, garlic and vegetables. I prefer using plastic cutting boards for handling any raw meats. While I’m all about saving time in the kitchen, I’m also a big proponent of food safety as well.
UTENSILS
- Knives – a good set of knives will go a long way in your meal preparation tool kit. The key is to have a set of sharp knives. A dull knife can be a hazard in itself. If you’re not ready to invest in a complete set of knives, there are 2 knives in particular I would recommend you have on hand. A chef’s knife and a santoku knife. A chef’s knife you will use for cutting your larger, studier vegetables like onions and potatoes. The santoku knife chops and dices smaller vegetables like garlic and celery. You will use both of these non-stop throughout the week.
- Measuring cups – measuring cups are handy tools to help you measure out recipe ingredients. They also come in handy if you are portioning out your meals into containers and want to use what I call the “scoop” method. I generally have both standard measuring cups and smaller measuring spoons.
- Tongs – tongs are perfect for scooping, flipping, and handling all of your food while cooking. They are also useful to use when portioning out your meals.
- Spatulas – spatulas are a staple for meal prep. I use both the ones that scrape and the ones that flip.
- Meal Prep containers – This one goes without saying, right? You can’t be successful at meal prep if you don’t have any storage containers for all the cooking you just did. Utilizing a variety of sizes will assist in storage options. Use larger ones to hold all of your food once done cooking then the smaller ones for individual portioning out of meals.
Those are my 10 best meal prep tools to get you started on this exciting journey. If you’re looking for some healthy recipes to get you started, I’ve linked to this article that gives over 30 recipes for meal prep. I’ve also linked to a few of my own meal prep recipes for meal prep breakfast burrito, protein banana walnut oat muffins, and meal prep egg white muffins 3 ways.
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