If you live a busy life, then you could definitely benefit from meal prep. This means preparing meals in advance, typically for the week ahead, to save time and money. It will also reduce the need to cook each day, which is a massive benefit if you tend to work late. However, it can take a while to learn how to meal prep efficiently.
Thankfully, this post outlines three of the best cooking tips that you must remember when you are going to meal prep. These times will ensure your prepared foods are as fresh and as enjoyable as possible when the time comes to eat them.
Invest in Quality Kitchen Equipment
One of the best things you can do to simplify meal preparation is to purchase high-quality kitchen equipment. This can include items like food processors, high-powered blenders, and sharp knives. Although these tools might be slightly more expensive, they will last a lot longer and be more effective in completing tasks more quickly, which is highly beneficial to the meal prep process.
Some high-quality equipment, like ovens with precise temperature control and durable pots and pans with even heat distribution, can significantly improve the taste and texture of meals. These features can provide more consistent results. Foods are cooked more consistently by ovens and other tools that offer precise temperature control.
However, these items do require regular maintenance. With use, they can begin to wear down over time and should be checked frequently to ensure safe usage. For example, kitchen knives can become dull with continued use, and dull blades are often more dangerous. This is why you might need a knife sharpener to keep the edges sharp and ready for use.
Plan Meals Ahead of Food Shopping
With the best kitchen equipment for meal prep, you will also need to purchase the right ingredients. A lot of the time, it is the ingredients that make meals taste the best, and this is essential for good meal prep. You want to buy the freshest of foods, but you will need to know what to buy beforehand. This is why it is encouraged to plan the meals you will be eating over the next week.
A plan of the week’s meals will allow you to avoid impulse buys and streamline the cooking process. You can write a list of the ingredients you need before you head off to the store, and this will help you buy only what you need. If you only buy what you need, then you will be minimizing the chances of food going bad before you have the opportunity to use it, which reduces food waste.
Prepare Breakfast the Night Before
While most meal prep focuses on lunch and dinner, you mustn’t forget about breakfast; after all, this is supposed to be the most important meal of the day. Many fitness influencers on social media will prepare “overnight oats” the night before to save time and ensure they hit their macros early on. Not only does this promote healthier eating habits by preparing nutritious breakfast meals, it can also save time.
Instead of cooking oats on the stove in the morning, you just need to reheat them or eat them cold. The same can be said for other meal prep breakfasts, like the recipes found here. By having your breakfasts ready to go, you are setting yourself up for success from the get-go.
To conclude, preparing your meals in advance offers a range of benefits, such as saving money and time and ensuring you make healthier choices. This post ensures you are well-equipped and ready to succeed when you begin meal prep on a Sunday night.