8 Useful Kitchen Tools That Make Meal Prep So Much Easier

After a hard day at work, the last thing most people want to think about is cooking dinner. Many people use the weekends to meal prep for the weeknights, but this task can feel arduous after a while. Instead of dreading the Sunday prep or the weeknight cooking, here are eight incredibly useful kitchen tools to keep you from stressing about what to make for dinner.

1. Weekly Meal Planning Pad; $12

When it comes to meal prepping, thinking about the days ahead and what you’ll want to eat is essential. This weekly meal planning pad from Two Tumbleweeds makes it easy to plan out your days and create a usable shopping list. The magnetic 6-inch by 9-inch notepad comes with 50 pages outfitted with the days of the week on the left-hand side, so you can organize your thoughts. It even features a grocery list, which you can tear off to take with you to the store.

Buy it: Amazon

2. Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Pressure Cooker; From $70

The ultimate meal-prep gadget is something that can do the work for you while you’re doing something else. This Instant Pot Duo model has seven-in-one functions, so it can slow cook, make yogurt, and cook rice while you’re doing other chores. Depending on how many people you're cooking for, you can get the device in 3-quart, 6-quart, and 8-quart sizes. If you’re still on the fence about this popular item, take a look at what almost 140,000 reviewers have to say; many claim that while there is a learning curve to mastering this device, it's great for one-pot meals and side dishes.

Buy it: Amazon

3. Vegetable Chopper; $27 with on-page coupon

Whether you have joint issues, feel anxious using a kitchen knife, or just want to involve kids in the kitchen, chopping veggies can be hazardous. This vegetable chopper can eliminate the jump scares while efficiently and consistently slicing your food. This particular model comes with four interchangeable blades that can small dice, large dice, spiralize, and make ribbons. The compartment below the blades catches all your newly sliced vegetables for a clean and contained system.

Buy it: Amazon

4. Rubbermaid 42-Piece Set Food Storage Containers; $29

Now that you’ve diced and sliced all your vegetables, they’re ready to be stored until you want to use them. This 42-piece set of containers from Rubbermaid comes with various dimensions, so you can pick whichever size is appropriate for your recipe. They also come with lids that fit on multiple containers of the same size and stack on other lids.

Buy it: Amazon

5. YouCopia StoraLid Food Container Lid Organizer; $17 with on-page coupon

With all these new containers, you’ll need something that keeps your storage from turning into a junk drawer. The YouCopia StoraLid is like a filing system for your lids, so next time you’re meal prepping, you’ll know exactly where the top you need is instead of rifling around and getting frustrated when it doesn’t match the container you’ve chosen.

Buy it: Amazon

6. Stasher 4-Pack Reusable Storage Bags Bundle; From $36

For those who like to pack meals for lunch but don't enjoy carrying around heavy-duty plastic containers, Stasher bags might be a good alternative. The flexible, reusable silicone material makes it easy to store sandwiches, snacks, and other foods to eat when you’re hungry. They’re also great if you’re meal prepping school lunches and don’t want to waste plastic bags each day.

Buy it: Amazon

7. Bee's Wrap Assorted 3-Pack; $14 with on-page coupon

Tired of wasting single-use cling wrap to cover half-used avocados or tray bakes? Bee’s Wrap is a reusable alternative that can help mitigate your impact on the environment. Bee’s Wrap is made from 100 percent organic cotton and natural beeswax to create a food wrap that's not only reusable for up to a year but also washable and biodegradable. This particular bundle comes with wraps in three sizes: small, medium, and large. All are available in a honeycomb pattern, or in three other cute designs.

Buy it: Amazon

8. Souper Cubes; $37

During the cold winter months, a bowl of soup can warm your insides up, while also providing an easy and nutritious solution for meal prep. Souper Cubes are similar to ice cube trays, but this freezer-safe silicone option holds four 1-cup portions of soup or bone broth that are ready for you to thaw when you’re hungry. The clear lids fit tightly to the trays to prevent freezer burn.

Buy it: Amazon

Sign Up Today: Get exclusive deals, product news, reviews, and more with the Mental Floss Smart Shopping newsletter!