Successful meal prep starts with the right containers
Summer is winding down, and a new school year is on the horizon, which means life is about to get a lot busier for many families. If you haven’t hopped on the meal prep train yet, now is the perfect time to explore ways to make your week go more smoothly. Having ready-made meals available in the fridge or freezer will help you eat healthier and spend less on last-minute takeout food.
There are tons of options when it comes to food storage containers for meal prep, and the container you use will likely depend on the type of food you are preparing. There are classic Mason jars for salads or overnight oats or glass dishes that can be easily reheated for lunches at work. Some containers are freezer-safe, allowing you to cook larger amounts of soups, stews and sauces to store for weeks or even months.
A solid meal prep routine starts with having the right supplies on hand. Once you have the necessary ingredients to prepare and store meals properly, you will be on your way to a more convenient and healthy weekly meal plan. We’ve gathered some options for different meal-prepping containers so you can decide which will work best for your routine.
Freezer meal prep containers
Bentgo 20-Piece Lightweight Compartment Containers
These BPA-free containers are perfect for stacking up freezer meals. They have a single compartment, so an entire meal can fit inside. The set includes lids for each container, and the containers can be microwaved, making it easy to reheat at mealtime.
IDEATECH 12-Pack Reusable Food Storage Bags
These reusable silicone bags are leakproof and available in multiple sizes, making them an excellent choice for freezing food. They are dishwasher-safe and BPA-free, making them a more environmentally friendly option than disposable bags.
Xomoo Silicone Freezer Tray With Lid
Easily freeze soups, stews, sauces and other liquid-based foods with these silicone freezer trays. Pop out a perfect cube of food to reheat whenever you need it. They are both oven and dishwasher-safe.
Glass meal prep containers
Qipecedm Eight-Pack Overnight Oats Containers with Lids
This set of eight glass containers with lids includes four 10-ounce and four 16-ounce jars. They’re slip-free and stackable, making them ideal for storing in the fridge or freezer. The set includes spoons and a reusable, erasable pen for labeling the contents of each jar.
MCIRCO Food Storage Containers with Snap-Locking Lids
These stackable glass containers come with locking lids for secure storage. They are microwave-, oven- and dishwasher-safe, which means you can bake, store and eat from the same container, reducing the number of dishes. The 10-pack includes five 13-ounce containers and five 34-ounce containers.
Ball Wide Mouth 32 Oz Mason Jars with Lids, 12 Pack
If you’re a food storage purist, nothing beats the classic Mason jar. This 12-pack of 32-ounce jars is perfect for prepping salads, oatmeal, smoothies and more. They’re reusable and BPA-free.
Meal prep supplies
If chicken is a big part of your weekly meal prep, this shredder is a must-have tool to keep on hand. It quickly and easily shreds chicken breasts so you can make soups, burritos and more.
This mini Crock-Pot is ideal if you’re looking for a hot lunch while at the office. Its 20-ounce size is enough for one person, and the food container and lid are dishwasher-safe, making it convenient to use.
Mueller Pro-Series V Blade Veggie Chopper
We all want to incorporate more fresh veggies into our diets, but let’s face it – all that chopping can be super time-consuming. Enter a veggie chopper. This gadget helps you quickly chop, slice and spiralize your favorite veggies to use in salads, soups, stews and more.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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