8 Kitchen Tools for Effortless Meal Prep (Beginner Friendly)
If you’ve ever wanted to start meal planning and having food ready for the week, you are going to need some good kitchen tools for meal prep! But before you make the investment in stocking your kitchen, you may wonder what some of the benefits of meal prepping are.
Preparing meals ahead of time is one of the best things you can do for your budget, health, and time. When you already know what you’re going to be eating in the upcoming week, you can:
- Buy only the groceries you need (and cut down on food waste)
- Make healthier choices now so you don’t give into temptation later
- Save time cooking and washing dishes multiple times each week
- Make a budget for what you will spend on groceries each week
- Save time in the mornings packing lunch for work
1. Knife Set
Every chef, even an amateur one, needs a great knife set. This means a nice set that usually includes:
- Chef’s knife
- Bread knife
- Paring knife
Trying to use the steak knives that came with your silverware set simply won’t cut it. When chopping produce and meats, you want something that will cut through easily and can get through large quantities quickly.
The best part is you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on this! There are lots of knife sets that are very affordable and work really well. This is the knife set I’ve had for the past 4 years and I absolutely love it.
When choosing a set, the only real recommendation I have is that you choose one that comes with a sharpener. Your knives will start to get dull over time! Being able to sharpen them on a regular basis will make your prep much easier.
2. Cookware Set
If you’re going to be cooking each week, you’ll obviously need a great set of pots and pans! Similar to knife sets, there are a ton of different of different options to choose from at all different price points.
Many chefs and cooks have different opinions on the best material for pots and pans, particularly depending on what you’ll be cooking in them. My personal recommendation if you’re just starting out is to go with a non-stick cookware set.
This is for a few reasons:
- Foods that cook quickly will not burn and get stuck
- You can use them to achieve all kinds of cooks (searing, sautéing, etc.)
- They are incredibly easy to clean
- They are typically the most affordable
I also highly recommend getting a set that all goes together as opposed to buying individual pots and pans like you can at a store. That way, you should have every size and shape you need along with the lids that perfectly fit with all of them. They also nest together nicely in a cabinet or drawer when putting them away.
Other options for cookware you might want to consider include ceramic, stainless steel, cast iron and carbon steel.
Ceramic Cookware
This type of cookware is similar to nonstick cookware in the fact that it features a smooth, non-stick finish on the inside. They are also easy to clean and compatible with induction cooktops. Many chefs also love ceramic cookware sets for their aesthetic look.
The downside to these types of pans is that the non-stick coating is not as durable as it is in a regular non-stick pan. This means that it’s much easier to scratch or wear it away when cooking, which could lead to issues with food sticking in the future.
Stainless Steel Cookware
Many chefs love this type of cookware for its ability to retain heat well and achieve many different cooking methods. Unlike non-stick and ceramic cookware, stainless steel cookware is oven-safe and can be used for baking.
One con to having this type of cookware is that food is much more prone to stick, so you will need to use a lot of butter or oil. They can also leach metals into acidic food and are prone to corrosion.
Cast Iron Cookware
Perhaps the most intimidating for beginners, cast iron cookware is relished for the incredible sear it’s able to give to a steak or a piece of chicken. This type of cookware is durable as well as relatively inexpensive.
The disadvantages of this type of cookware is that it can be more temperamental and require seasoning and special care to keep them in good condition. They cannot be washed just using soap and water, or else they are prone to rusting.
Carbon Steel Cookware
Finally, carbon steel cookware is very similar to cast iron cookware – the difference is that it’s thinner, lighter, and does not conduct heat as evenly (due to its thinness). It is a cost-effective option which might be appealing to beginners.
Cons to this type of cookware include the fact that they have to be seasoned like cast iron cookware, but require seasoning more often. They may also be reactive to acidic foods.
Whatever type of cookware you choose, just make sure it’s one that fits your budget and has the features for the types of cuisine you plan to cook!
3. Meal Prep Containers
This goes without saying, but you’re going to need some good storage containers if you want to start doing meal prep for the week!
These come in a variety of styles and materials, so my recommendation is to consider the following:
- How you will reheat the food
- The size of the meals you will cook
- How many different elements the meal has
- Price point
Glass meal prep containers are great because they’re versatile and can be put in the oven – on the other hand, they are more expensive and more fragile.
Plastic meal prep containers containers are great because they can be washed and re-used, but they are not oven-safe and need to be replaced more frequently.
You can also choose containers with dividers to separate the different elements of the meal. These are great for things like salads that you don’t want to get soggy from being all mixed together in the same container.
4. Cutting Board
Now that you have a knife set, you’ll also need a good cutting board to go with it! Cutting boards come in all different kinds of sizes and materials.
Some even have special features like a detachable tray that allows you to collect scraps as you’re preparing food (check out the Cup Board Pro – it was featured on Shark Tank and I absolutely LOVE this cutting board!).
Whichever model you choose, I recommend getting one that’s nice and large so you can have plenty of room for prep. I also recommend getting one that has a groove around the inside (like this Extra Large Bamboo Cutting Board) to prevent spills when you’re cutting juicy things.
Lastly, I also recommend that your cutting board is dishwasher safe – when you’re cooking a large batch of meals for the entire week, you’re definitely going to want to save time on doing the dishes!
5. Blender
This initially may seem like more of an advanced tool, but there are so many uses for a blender that can make meal prep go incredibly smoothly. Blenders are great for being able to make soups, sauces, and dressings, and there are many affordable models to choose from.
If you’re just cooking for yourself or maybe for two, you can get a personal blender like a Nutribullet. They are very cost friendly, easy to clean, and just the right size for a smaller number of meals.
A good regular-sized blender is the Ninja BL660 – it also doubles as a personal blender if you’d like to have that as an option as well.
If you don’t mind splurging a little bit and want one of the best blenders on the market, Vitamix is definitely the way to go. I have one of their Explorian Series and don’t know how I lived without it before.
In addition to being able to whip up sauces and dressings in seconds, this powerhouse blender can even break down frozen fruits into sorbets and soft-serve ice cream textures. I love using mine to make Banana Nice Cream.
6. Cooking Utensils Set
Utensil sets are awesome because they can come with so many awesome kitchen gadgets! The types of utensils that are usually included are:
- Serving spoon
- Slotted spoon
- Spatulas
- Whisk
- Tongs
Some sets even come with things like a pizza wheel, ice cream scoop, and cheese grater – all things you will likely need for a recipe someday if you keep cooking.
There are many, many sets to choose from, but I personally love this Silicone Kitchen Utensil Set – for a very reasonable price, it comes with all of the utensils and tools you could ever need.
7. Baking Tray
This is another piece of cookware that’s essential for fast meal prep with as few dishes as possible. They’re great for baking (obviously), roasting, and broiling. This means you can make easy one-pan meals, or cook proteins in the oven like salmon or chicken without worrying about undercooking.
As far as choosing a pan and the best material, many chefs seem to prefer aluminum baking pans for their conductibility and durability. There are also great non-stick pans to choose from if you don’t want to take the extra step of putting down parchment paper or some other kind of liner before baking.
I recommend getting a few different pans that are different sizes. This way, you’ll have some variety depending on the size of the meal you’re making as well as freedom to have multiple pans in the oven at the same time.
8. Mixing Bowls
A good set of mixing bowls is crucial for any meal prep routine! They’re essential for baking things like breads, cookies, and muffins – but they also serve as preparation vessels for things like whisking eggs, mashing potatoes, or tossing vegetables in a marinade.
These can come in either plastic, glass, or metal. Which is best for you will again depend on what types of meals you plan to be cooking, as well as what you plan to use the bowls for (for example, glass bowls can be used with a double-boiler to melt chocolate).
There are also cool nesting bowl sets (I own one that I use religiously) that come with two mixing bowls, a fine sieve, and a colander (as well as a bonus set of measuring cups and spoons). These are great if you want a variety of different bowls that can serve different functions.
Conclusion
Learning how to cook large meals and have food prepped for the week is an amazing way to save money, learn a new skill, and improve your eating choices. The 8 essential tools we’ve covered in this post will make your meal prep routine quick, efficient, and hopefully fun!