Meal Prep Accessories

Some basics to get you started.

Cooking Equipment

For cooking equipment I recommend getting some sheet bans for baking and a rice cooker for rice and grains.

This is your standard basic rice cooker. I love these for two reasons 1) you don’t have to watch the food cook. It turns off automatically when done and sets it to warm mode. 2) You can cook more than just rice. I cook quinoa, farro, lentils, and pre-soaked beans in my rice cooker for more set-and-forget grains.

Some rice cookers have sections for steaming veggies along with your rice, and I’ve even come across some “one pot" rice cooker meals, but crock pots and instant pots are better for one pot meals.

Sheet pans are great for one-pan baking meals. You cut up some veggies like broccoli or carrot, add some potatoes or squash, and your meat or fish right on a single pan. Olive oil, salt and pepper, and you’re good to go!

Containers

I use glass containers for storing food to avoid plastics and make reheating easy. Here are two options for single ingredient containers and multi-ingredient containers.

These multi-section containers are great for keeping parts of your meal separate so they’re fresh when you’re ready to eat them. You can take these to work and heat them right up in the microwave. They’re also great for storing small amounts of leftovers separately in one container.

These single-section containers are great for single ingredients. I use the large size for cooking meals - storing rice in one, veggies in another and protein in a third. The smaller ones I use for leftovers.

Other supplies

I’ll assume you have some kitchen knives, wooden spoons, plates, bowls and silverware on hand. I won’t oversell you on scales, vacuum seal machines or other fancy equipment because I’m big on basics.

The one other piece of equipment I use all the time is a blender for making smoothies. I make a big batch for the family or to save for the next day or so.