1.  Mason jars

Mason Jars are a type of storage container, typically made out of glass, which is great for things like prepping. Mason jars are relatively inexpensive and excellent for prepping things like seeds and nuts. Moreover, you can prep both solid foods and liquids in these containers as the lids tend to be very spill-proof, offering a tight seal. Buddha bowls, overnight oats, smoothies, parfaits, cakes, salads, and more are all dishes that can be stored in mason jars. Mason jars are incredibly efficient as they can be microwaved, refrigerated, and frozen. Additionally, this type of meal prep container is also friendly to the environment being that glass doesn’t deteriorate, making it reusable for an indefinite number of times.

2.  Glass meal prep containers

Like mason jars, glass meal prep containers are also a good eco-friendly option for meal prepping. And, like mason jars, the glass is very easy to clean and doesn’t stain like plastic will. Glass also doesn’t leach chemicals into food. So, that’s a major bonus! One downside is that glass containers weigh a bit more than plastic. However, the benefits for using glass meal prep containers certainly outweigh the cons.

3.  Permanent marker

When it comes to meal prepping, organization and planning is everything. Even when prepping for one week at a time, permanent markers for labeling prepped meals is an invaluable thing to have given that things often does go as we intend. Sometimes prepped dishes can slip through the cracks and escape our memory to spend more time in the freezer then originally planned. Labeling meals with a permanent market prevent such dodgy situation.

4.  Double decker containers

Compartment style containers are convenient if you don’t want some of your food to touch. You can enjoy a bowl of hot tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich without having to worry about yummy sandwich becoming soggy and icky. Containers with compartments are also helpful in maintaining portion sizes. Double Decker containers allow us to carry 2 full-sized compartments of food without having to pack a bunch of other containers. For example, you can have breakfast in one compartment and lunch in the other.

5.  Digital scale

For those who want to track their meals for nutritional and/or fitness reasons, digital scales allow you to see exactly how much you are eating. This can assist us by refining our fitness results and managing portions. Digital scales make weighing food and assessing nutritional intake a lot easier. Some smart food scales even calculate macros which can track things like protein, fat, and carbohydrate intake.

6.  Cooler bag

Cooler bags eliminate another dilemma when meal prepping on the go. A person may not always have access to a fridge or freezer to keep their food fresh. Luckily, cooler bags help in such an instance. Unlike regular lunch bag, a cooler bag can keep food ice frozen for hours. Moreover, it can keep hot food hot for hours as well thanks to the thermal foam insulation. So, not only will your food be prepped, but it will be ready to eat immediately!

7.  Stasher bags

Stasher bags are multi-purpose bags that help to keep food fresh for a long time. They are safe for microwave usage as well as safe for freezing and boiling water. Stasher bags are just as efficient and multi-purpose as mason jars. However, one could argue that stasher bags take up less space which may mean you have more space reserved in the fridge for any additional prepped meals. These bags make for a more environmentally friendly alternative to plastic ziplock bags. Many people find themselves throwing out numerous ziplock bags after usage. Stasher bags are reusable and can also be used to store non-food items if desired.

8.  Produce saver

A produce saver or produce container keeps produce fresh for a long duration. These kinds of containers usually have an adjustable vent and water reservoir to facilitate the right conditions for keeping vegetables and fruit fresh. A produce saver will keep produce fresh and edible longer. Many people are guilty of letting some of their produce go bad. This can happen more often especially when buying produce in bulk for meal prep. You may not get around to prepping all of your produce which is where the produce saver does its job.

9.  Sheet pan

The non-stick coating on a sheet pan makes the use of parchment paper and aluminum foil unnecessary. This bakeware will help to prep meat and delicious vegetables. Make healthy snacks in bulk to enjoy throughout the day. Roasted nuts, kale chips, tortilla chips, and trail mix are all some items you can make using the sheet pan. Being non-stick also makes the sheet pan much easier to clean.

10.Vacuum sealer

A vacuum sealer can be used when prepping foods you’d like to freeze and keep fresh for a long period of time. For what it can do, a vacuum sealer is very inexpensive. There are more expensive vacuum sealing machines available. However, an inexpensive one does a great job keeping air out of the packaging. With microwavable meal prep bags, one could even make their own frozen dinners.

11.Dash egg cooker

This item is used solely for one purpose, which is cooking eggs. More specifically, the Dash Egg Cooker makes cooking the perfect boiled eggs very easy and quick, with minimal effort. There’s no need to worry about cracking into undone eggs. Some egg cookers have a variety of advanced features, ensuring you get the perfect medium or hard-boiled eggs. If peppered, some cookers come with an egg bowl which allows you to make poached eggs, scrambled eggs, or even omelets.

12. Ninja blender & food processor

Blenders and food processors are a wonderful addition to have in your meal prep set-up. Ninja blenders and food processors happen to be some of the best as Ninja blenders feature high-quality blades that cut through even the toughest food items. These items are essential especially if you plan on meal prepping things like soups, smoothies, and shakes. You don’t have to worry about bulky smoothies or soup. The Ninja blender and food processor will give your meals a thorough mix so that all food ingredients are dissolved into a deliciously smooth texture.

13. Slow cooker

To reduce time and clean up, slow cookers happen to be one of the best kitchen appliances. As it pertains to meal prep, you can save even more time preparing your food by using a slow cooker. Slow cookers typically only require one-step preparation. Just put all your food ingredients in your cooker and you’re done. This appliance can be used to prep meals such as soup, sloppy joes, garlic mashed potatoes, etc.

14. Instant pot

While the slow cooker is very efficient in minimizing preparation time, there are still some things a slow cooker may not be able to do as well as an instant pot. An instant pot is a slow cooker, pressure cooker, steamer, warmer, and rice cooker. You can even saute food and make yogurt in an instant pot whereas you can’t with a slow cooker. The slow cooker is mainly used to slowly cook meals at a low temperature.

15. Measuring cups and spoons

Whether meal prepping for fitness goals or convenience, measuring cups and spoons are a must. To get more of an idea of the nutritional quality of your food, measuring utensils help to give an exact picture of everything we are consuming down to the measurements of each and every ingredient you use.

16. Mandoline kitchen slicer

The mandoline kitchen slicer isn’t a common kitchen item you’ll see around. However, it is growing in popularity for its efficiency. This kitchen slicer is able to quickly slice vegetables and fruit. Dice tomatoes and onions within a matter of a few seconds. The kitchen mandoline slicer allows you to dice, chop, and even grate food, wonderful for preparing toppings.

17. Large cutting board

A good cutting board can prove to be a major asset in your meal prepping endeavors. A cutting board provides the perfect surface to prepare all of your meals whether small or large batches.

18. High-quality kitchen cutlery

Kitchen cutlery is just as important as good quality containers when it comes to meal prepping. One of the main highlights and objectives of meal prepping is to conserve time with food preparation. Poor-quality kitchen cutlery can hinder this goal incredibly. Imagine how difficult and frustrating it is to cut up fruits and vegetables in bulk while working with a rusted knife? Thus, it’s important to invest in a good set of knives to avoid spending extra time.

19. Removable label

Organization makes storage much less an intimidating task. Removable labels come in handy especially when you are cooking in bulk. Meaning that you’ll likely have plenty of containers. Hence, removable labels allow you to keep track of your prepped meals as you go about your day without having to spend time wondering what’s what.

20. Meal prep journal

A meal prep journal is helpful when it comes to documenting things like nutrition, portion sizes, recipes, and meal prep hacks. A meal prep journal can also be used to journal all of your fitness and health goals. For example, if you’re goal is to consume your specified number of calories daily for the purpose of muscle building, then a meal prep journal can help monitor daily caloric intake. In your journal, you can also write down calories for a measurement of food as a quick reference tool. For instance, you can write down how many calories are in a cup of cooked brown rice.