Adding more tools to your kitchen may seem overwhelming. But what if I told you there are some time-saving kitchen tools for meal prep that are game changers? Well, you came to the right spot.
While there are many different ways to prepare meals, having the right kitchen tools for meal prep and cooking better can save time, money, and space. Not to mention the versatility it provides when trying new recipes..
Let’s take a look at the absolute best kitchen tools for meal prep! You’ll be amazed at how fast and easy meal prepping is with these items.
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First, here’s a recap of the best kitchen tools for meal prep:
- InstaPot and/or Slow Cooker
- Meat Thermometer
- Vegetable Chopper
- Stainless Steel Sheet Pans
- Glass Containers
- Casserole Dishes
- Large Pots
- Food Scale
- Mini Muffin Tin / Muffin Tin
- Large Cast Iron Skillet
- Measuring Cups and Measuring Spoons
- Cutting Board
- Set of Knives
- Food Processor and/or Blender
- Glass Mason Jars
- InstaPot and/or Slow Cooker (bulk prep, great for meats, less hassle)
You probably already have one of these and maybe you need both (like me!) The InstaPot is a great selection for people who tend to cook a variety of items. For example, I love cooking cinnamon sweet potatoes on air fryer mode and then I use the slower cooker to cook bulk chicken for meal prep or a nice tenderloin. The version I have is an 8-quart however, they do have smaller size Instapots for quick meals..
However, the InstaPot isn’t just about air fryer or slow cooking. It has additional options like steaming, dehydrating and more.
The Crockpot slow cooker is a staple and is good for many dishes, bulk meal prepping or quick and easy dinners. It is my fall staple for chilis, roasts, etc.
You can’t go wrong with either and each has its own use if you can afford the space. Set it and forget it (sort of)! The only downside in my opinion, is the size. Therefore, as mentioned, I choose to have both but you may not want to sacrifice cabinet space. I get it.
- Meat Thermometer (accurate timing, withstand high temp, alarm/app tracking)
This meat thermometer is a game changer. A slight investment but hear me out alright? Gone are the days where using your iPhone alarm to know when the chicken is done. Not all of us are gifted with the ability to feel the meat to know by its touch whether or not it’s ready. Plus, even slightly overcooking your meal prep stands to make a lot of rubbery chicken (or insert other meat) to eat for the whole week. Yuck!
Additionally, I can’t tell you how many times my battery operated thermometer stopped working due to the heat or other elements it was exposed to. I can’t be the only one.
Even so, you still need to take a look at the Meater Plus Thermometer. It is a wireless thermometer that can go directly in the meat and stay for the duration of the cook time. It provides not only an accurate temperature, but it connects to an app to let you know how much time is left based on what you’re cooking and your preference. Best part? It has a case that charges it so it is ready to go when you need it next.
They even sell them in a block with 4 probes so you have one for each piece of meat you’re grilling, baking, etc. That’s a little aggressive unless you’re consistently cooking different types of meat or to different temperatures. So I just have one, but who’s stopping you? My husband is very particular on how his meat is prepared and this has been one of the best kitchen tools for cooking better and faster. A perfect gift for the grill master in your family!
- Vegetable Chopper (Dicing, slicing, bulk prep)
A vegetable chopper is a must have for meal prep, bulk salads, bulk pastas, etc. Who wants to stand there and chop up multiple peppers and onions, just to end up with a cut finger and varying sized diced vegetables? Not I. Take it from me.
Owning this chopper will save you plenty of time on preparing the most tedious part of any recipe or meal prep. It can cut, dice, slice, and stores it all in a container until you’re ready to empty it. The best part? It is small and compact so it’s a win-win in my book of the best kitchen tools for meal prep or just cooking in general.
- Sheet Pans
While this might be something you have, I’d recommend having a couple of sheet pans on hand, specifically stainless steel sheet pans. Especially if you have a double oven. You can cook multiple things on one sheet (i.e. vegetables, potatoes, and meat) and get your meal prep done in no time.
- Glass Containers
I’ve mentioned the importance of having these containers in my post on meal prepping basics but this is on the absolute best kitchen tools for meal prep. Yes, I count it as a tool because it helps ease the process of storing and lasts longer than your standard plastic containers! Go the extra mile and get yourself some that have dividers so you can keep your items separated if they need to be.
- Casserole Dishes
Casserole dishes I could argue might be similar on the list of best kitchen tools for meal prep as sheet pans but it all depends on what you cook most often. This type of dish has depth that allows you to make dishes that have more liquids or rise into a cuttable bread or casserole, which the sheet pan doesn’t provide.
Also, it will probably hold juices in better than your sheet pan, as it allows you to cook with broths or water. Totally up to you, but a very good option to have when you are meal prepping dinners for the week.
You can even divide your contents up, put them in glass bowls, lay the bowls on a baking sheet, and cook them in the oven so your meal prep is (mostly) done as soon as the timer goes off! My favorite brands are the OXO Good Grip baking dishes or when I use bowls I like these Pyrex ones. (Make sure you cook with the lid off obviously!)
- Large Pots
If I was limited to two vessels to cook with for meal prep, this would be one of them. This is a great stove top option to cook your bulk rice, pasta, couscous, quinoa, steam vegetables, cook frozen vegetables, etc. The list goes on and on.
While you’re cooking the meat or main part of the dish(es) in the crockpot, Instapot, or in the oven, you can use the pots to make the sides. The best meal prep plan is one that allows you to cook all parts of the meal simultaneously.
While I’m still in the market for a good pots and pans set, my current investment is the Ninja NeverStick Set.
- Food Scale
If you are dialing in your macros or are starting to count calories, you’ll want to take a look at purchasing a food scale. Even a simple food scale can go a long way with teaching you portion sizes by weighing your food. You can simply put your bowl on the scale, make sure it is zeroed out, and then put your protein on there. Let’s say you’re shooting for 3-4 oz. of protein for your dinner, a scale is a quick way to show you how much food that is.
Also, if you’re cooking in advance for the week, this is one of the best kitchen tools for meal prep you can have. You’ll want to make sure you’re dividing the right amount of food into each container, especially if you’re calorie counting.
If you aren’t into the scale but want to still understand portion sizing, check out this free download on portion sizes. It shows you how to estimate food with just using your hands as a visual aid!
- Mini Muffin Tin / Muffin Tin
This type of kitchen item for meal prep isn’t crucial but is fun to switch things up, especially if you have kids. You can make plenty of different easy breakfast recipes and on-the-go snacks with these types of tools. I’d recommend having one or the other. With toddler-age kids, my go-to is a 48-cup mini muffin sheet and it gets used regularly.
- Large Cast Iron Skillet (stove top, oven, easy clean, safe)
I’m going to be honest, cast iron skillets scared me for the longest time. A vessel that doesn’t need soap and should be “seasoned”?
Sounds like a lot of work. Turns out though, it is one of the best pieces we use. Seasoning isn’t as scary as it sounds. Wipe out the food, give it a rinse and then put a small coat of oil on the top and heat it up for a few seconds. Let it dry and then put it away! It is a great, safe way to cook, not to mention a little added iron in your diet.
- Measuring cups and spoons
You probably already have these and if you don’t, please start here before you buy any of the above items. You’ll want to have dry measuring cups and liquid measuring cups, along with these dual side stainless steel measuring spoons!
Some people are gifted and I suppose can guess at measurements but for us regular people, get you some good cups and spoons. I recommend glass measuring cups and stainless steel spoons. They last forever and you don’t have to worry about replacing them as often as plastic.
- Cutting Boards
This is a no brainer so I don’t have much to say here. You need a set of bamboo wood cutting boards. Yes, ditch the plastic and get some that you can use without adding little pieces of plastic to your food. Need to clean it?
RInse it and put some salt on it, rubbing an open lemon to freshen it up. You can also use cutting board wax to condition it so it doesn’t crack. It takes an extra step but the trade off is worth it given the amount of plastic that can go into your food.
- Set of Knives
This might be one of the ultimate kitchen tools for meal prep to have for any type of recipes. Especially when you’re cutting items when you can’t just whip out a vegetable chopper.
That said, you need some sharp boys to get the job done. I’d recommend just a small set of knives you can prepare with and usually those come with steak knives for setting the dinner table. You can even find knives that become a part of your kitchen’s decor. Already have knives but they’re dull? Try a knife sharpener which is easy to store and super quick to use.
- Food Processor and/or Blender (Transform food into creams, grounds, mixes, etc. )
A food processor and blender are both great kitchen tools for meal prep and cooking in general. A food processor is smaller and can really help you make good spreads, sauces, and a mean guacamole. On the other hand, a blender can do all of that and more but is far larger and harder to really whip those smaller items.
My Ninja blender is great for smoothies, meal prep or freezer prep recipes. If you’re an on-the-go person, you will definitely want to look for a blender that has multiple cups you can whip up if you aren’t going to prep your smoothie ahead of time. This particular Ninja blender has plenty of attachments and can do a lot of things however, they do have smaller options if you don’t use it a lot or want a more personal size blender. This version is actually the perfect size to do food processing and blend!
You can’t go wrong with either and having at least one of these items will help you cook some easy dinner appetizers or slice and dice those veggies if you don’t have a veggie cutter.
- Glass Mason Jars
This one also isn’t a necessity however, I view glass mason jars as a safe way to store food and you can use them in so many different ways. These jars can pack a quick salad, your overnight oats, and afternoon yogurt parfait, etc.
Try storing your food in these jars too! Primarily, so that it is visible and you have a better chance of using it, but also to preserve freshness.
For example, I will cut the ends of asparagus and put water in the bottom of a mason jar to keep them fresh until I cook them. Additionally, you can cut up carrots and celery with the same steps.
