[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy. I’m a big fan of meal prepping. By cooking meals in advance, it makes it much easier to eat healthy throughout the week, even when you’re pressed for time. It can also help save you money, especially if you get takeout frequently, and ensure less food goes to waste in your kitchen. Plus, with the right meal prep essentials — and my free weekly meal plans — it’s easy to cook a wide range of healthy recipes in advance. Credit: Skinnytaste/Amazon I’ve been meal prepping for years, and there are several tools I always reach for to make the task faster and easier. I’ve listed 12 of my must-have meal prep essentials below, including my favorite meal prep containers, must-have freezer trays, the best food scale, and several other handy tools that make cooking a breeze[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]
My Top Picks
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Best Meal Prep Containers: Ello Glass Meal Prep Container Set – $31.22 at Walmart
Best Food Scale: OXO Good Grips 11-Pound Food Scale – $55.95 at Amazon
Best Freezer Trays: Souper Cubes – $34.99 at Amazon
Best Salad Dressing Containers: Salad Dressing Containers – $12.99 at Amazon
Best Vegetable Chopper: OXO Good Grips Vegetable and Onion Chopper – $22.95 at Amazon
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Reviews of Meal Prep Essentials
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1. Best Meal Prep Containers: Ello Glass Meal Prep Container Set[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]
Credit: Walmart
If you’re going to cook meals in advance, the meal prep containers are essential. I’ve tried out several options over the years, and my current favorite are the Ello Glass Meal Prep Containers, which come in a set of five. They’re made from durable glass with colorful silicone sleeves to protect the material, and the lids are airtight and leak-proof, making it possible to take your meal on the go if needed. Plus, the whole thing can go right in the dishwasher for easy cleaning.
However, if you prefer to keep the parts of your meal separate, you might like these 3-compartment containers from Bentgo. They’re inexpensive and come in a set of 10, and the BPA-free plastic can be put in the microwave, freezer, and dishwasher safely. The containers have one large compartment for your main dish, as well as two smaller sections where you can put sides, snacks, or dressings.
For general food storage, I also love this glass container set from Pyrex. It comes with 9 different class containers of different sizes that are great for saving leftovers and can be used to prep different components for your meals for the week. Plus, the colorful lids are freezer, microwave, and top-rack dishwasher safe.
Buy the Ello Glass Meal Prep Container Set: Buy the Bentgo Prep 3-Compartment Meal-Prep Containers: Buy the Pyrex Meal Prep Simply Store Glass Rectangular and Round Food Container Set:
2. Best Food Scale: OXO Good Grips 11-Pound Food Scale[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]
Credit: Amazon
It can be tricky to eyeball equal portions when you’re meal prepping, so I always like to have my kitchen scale nearby to make sure every container gets the same amount of food. I personally love the OXO Good Grips Food Scale, which has a large measuring plate and easy-to-read display. It can measure in ounces, pounds, grams, or kilograms, and the display actually pulls away from the base to make it easier to read if you’re measuring into a big bowl or container.
3. Best Freezer Trays: Souper Cubes[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]
Credit: Amazon
Whenever I make one of my soup recipes or a bunch of rice, I like to save the leftovers using my Souper Cubes. These silicone trays are incredibly useful—they have pre-portioned trays that hold a single cup of food, and you can put the whole tray right into the freezer. The lids are sturdy plastic, allowing them to be stacked on top of each other, and when you want to take a serving out, the flexible silicone makes it easy to pop out the frozen food and reheat it.
4. Best Salad Dressing Containers: VITEVER Salad Dressing Containers[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]
Credit: Amazon
Salads are a quick and easy meal to make in advance, but I don’t recommend putting on the dressing, as it can make the ingredients mushy. Instead, I like to keep the dressing separate, and these cute salad dressing containers are the perfect size. They’re made from dishwasher-safe stainless steel with silicone caps, and they each hold around 2.4 ounces. You can easily tuck the little cups into your meal prep containers, and they’re also great for condiments like mayonnaise or ketchup.
5. Best Vegetable Chopper: Cuisinart Core Custom 4-Cup Mini Chopper[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]
Credit: Amazon
Some meal prep recipes, such as my Rainbow Quinoa Salad, require quite a bit of chopping, and if you want to speed up the process, the Cuisinart Core Custom 4-Cup Mini Chopper is a handy tool to have in the kitchen. Instead of dicing the ingredients with your chef’s knife, you can simply place them inside this small food processor and whirl away for perfectly size-MUST HAVE TO SAVE TIME diced vegetables. It’s a must-have tool to save time if you like making chopped salads, sauces, salsa, or any dishes with a lot of chopped vegetables.
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