Must-Have Kitchen Tools For Fast And Easy Meal Prepping

Make meal prep a breeze with these kitchen essentials. These meal prep tools will save you time and effort in the kitchen.

Best Meal Prep Tools

Whether you're just getting started with meal planning or you're looking for the best gadgets to make your life even easier, I rounded up some of the best tools that every meal prepper needs! Read on for the essential kitchen tools to make the most of your routine.

Liquid Measuring Cups

My pick: Pyrex 3 Piece Glass Measuring Cup Set

Liquid measuring cups are an essential for cooking and baking. Use them to measure out water or broth when making rice, soup, pasta and any other liquid measuring.

Dry Measuring Cups & Measuring Spoons

My pick: TILUCK Stainless Steel Measuring Cups & Spoons 10-Piece Set

Portion out your spices, seasonings, flour and other dry ingredients with dry measuring cups and spoons. I especially love these food-grade stainless steel ones that stack nicely together.

Knives

My picks: Misen Ultimate 8 Inch Chef's Knife and Victorinox Swiss Classic Pairing Knife

Every cook needs a set of good sharp knives in their kitchen! A chef's knife can be used for pretty much anything and is a kitchen staple, while the smaller blade on a pairing knife is great for more intricate cutting like deseeding and coring veggies.

Bamboo Cutting Board with Prep Storage

My pick: Bamboo Cutting Board with Prep Storage

This cutting board makes ingredient prepping a breeze. Chop up different ingredient then stick them in the handy storage containers right underneath to keep your countertop mess-free.

Mandoline

My pick: PrepNaturals Adjustable Mandoline Slicer

A mandoline makes cutting vegetables so much easier. It's great for cutting potatoes into fries, julienning carrots or cabbage for coleslaw, dicing onions and so much more.

Sheet Pans & Muffin Tins

My pick: Perlli Baking Pan 10 Piece Non Stick Set

You can never have too many of these on hand! I like to get a variety pack so I can cook a whole bunch of different meals in the oven. The round cake pans work for quiches and frittatas, while the sheet pans help with sheet pan meals. The muffin tins of course are great for muffins and egg cups.

Mixing Bowls

My pick: YIHONG 7 Piece Mixing Bowls

Whether you're tossing a salad, making a marinade or baking some sweet treats, every kitchen needs a good set of mixing bowls. These ones are super durable and dishwasher-safe, and they nest together for easy storage.

Meat Thermometer

My pick: KULUNER Instant Read Meat Thermometer

You want to make sure your meat is cooked through without overcooking it! An instant read meat thermometer is a great way to see if your protein is done cooking yet. Plus, the backlit display makes it a great option for grilling.

Tongs

My pick: Hot Target Stainless Steel Silicone Kitchen Tongs

I know this tool seems super basic, but tongs really help with plating and putting all your leftovers away! I recommend having at least two or three on hand for meal prep, along with wooden spoons and silicone spatulas.

Glass Containers

My pick: PrepNaturals Glass Containers

Glass containers with airtight lids are an essential when it comes to meal prep. They're great for ingredient prep, batch cooking and leftovers. Plus, you can reheat your food in the microwave right in the container!

Mason Jars

My pick: Ball Glass Pint Mason Jars

I love using mason jars to store salads, dressings, marinades, soups, oatmeal, yogurt parfaits and more. They're great for so many different things and it's always a good idea to have a few on hand.

Reusable Silicone Bags

My pick: Stasher Reusable Silicone Storage Bags

This reusable bags are a more environmentally-friendly version of plastic Ziploc bags. You can use them to store leftovers in the fridge or freezer, then just stick them in the dishwasher when you're done. Easy-peasy!

Silicone Freezer Trays

My pick: Souper Cubes

I love these silicone cubes for freezing chilis, soups, stews, pasta sauces and other liquids. It's great for individual portions, since you can just pop one out of the cube and heat it up without needing to heat up a massive serving size.

Ziploc Bag Holders

My pick: Jokari Hands-Free Baggy Holder

These are awesome for when you're making a marinade and need to put your chicken breasts in the bag with no mess. They're also awesome for if you're making some freeze ahead recipes. You can just add all the ingredients one at a time! They will work with the disposable plastic freezer bags, or they will work with the silicone bags linked above.

Best Appliances for Meal Prep

In addition to having the right tools, you'll also need the right appliances for meal prep. I rounded up the best appliances every kitchen needs like rice cookers, Instant Pots for pressure cooking, crockpots for slow cooking, and blenders for making smoothies. Some of these have even been featured in my Holiday Gift Guide if you're looking for ideas to put on your wishlist.

Rice Cooker

My pick: Aroma Housewares 20 Cup Digital Rice Cooker

A rice cooker can cook more than just rice! Prep your quinoa, couscous and other whole grains ahead of time with ease. No second guessing or burning either! I know it probably seems like one of those meal prep tools that you don't really need, and something that will clutter up your kitchen, but I use mine very frequently and it takes the guesswork out of cooking grains. It's handy to just set it and forget it while I prep other things.

Instant Pot

My pick: Instant Pot 

I would be lost without my Instant Pot! It can quickly batch cook gigantic recipes so if I'm in a rush or have no time to cook a certain week, I will make a big batch of chicken and rice in it and I've got lunch all week long! Like the rice cooker, it's a set it and forget it type of thing. Not mandatory to have in your kitchen by any means, but it certainly helps.

Crockpot

My pick: Crockpot 

Crockpots are a lifesaver for busy weeknights – you can cook everything while you're at work and come home to a hot meal. Much like the Instant Pot, slow cookers are a dump it and forget it type of deal, and you can also meal prep giant batches of food at a time by using it.

Air Fryer

My pick: Philips Premium Airfryer XXL

You can still make some of your favourite fried dishes without all the extra fat and calories with the help of an air fryer! Make everything from tater tots to chicken nuggets and crispy brussels sprouts.

Food Processor

My pick: KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Mini Food Processor

Whether you're making homemade salsa or mico de gallo, hummus, sauces or salad dressings, a mini food processor is great for incorporating ingredients.

Kitchen Sale

My pick: Etekcity Food Kitchen Scale

Know exactly how much meat you're using for a recipe with this handy kitchen scale. It comes in handy for portioning out all your food when you're not sure how to divide everything (for more on mastering food portions, check out my blog post).

Vitamix Blender

My pick: Vitamix

I absolutely LOVE my Vitamix! It helps me make homemade sauces in a flash and you can often freeze leftover sauces for future recipes. It's also really great for smoothies and protein shakes, and it crushes ice like a pro. Though not often thought of as a meal prep tool, a blender is a great basic to have in your kitchen.

Immersion Blender

My pick: KitchenAid 2-Speed Immersion Blender

An immersion blender is a great tool to have in your kitchen for soups – you can blend right inside the pot without worrying about transferring to a blender. It's also great for sauces if you just don't have room for a blender in your kitchen.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best equipment for meal prep?

There are a range of tools and appliances that will make meal prepping easier, all of which I've listed in this post. When it comes down to the essentials, you'll definitely need a good set of knives, sheet pans, measuring cups, and containers to store all your prep in.

What are the keys to successful meal prepping?

The keys to successful meal prepping is to make a meal plan, create a grocery list, then ingredient prep or cook your recipes. You can check out my blog post on how to meal plan for more tips and tricks!

Which tools will make prep easier?

Pretty much all of these tools will make meal prep easier! A mandoline is super handy if you're cutting up a lot of vegetables, and a meat thermometer is great for knowing when your protein is done cooking. Ziploc bag holders are also great for marinating, because you don't need to worry about spilling the marinade everywhere.